Saints pick up a transfer
Belmont University guard Hopkins set for graduate year at Siena
The Siena men’s basketball team has received a commitment from graduate transfer guard Nick Hopkins of Belmont University, quickly filling the scholarship that became available when Don Carey departed last week.
Hopkins said he committed to
Siena head coach Carmen Maciariello on Monday. Hopkins, who is 6 feet and 175 pounds, will be eligible to play immediately with one year of eligibility remaining.
“I just felt like it was a great fit for me because of the connection I built with Coach Carm and the entire staff,” he said. “I remember the first conversation we had, he wasn’t even trying to sell me on the school. We were basically talking basketball, X’s and O’s. That’s what really caught my attention. He was just being like a normal person with me. He wasn’t trying to persuade me to go to his school. He was just talking basketball with me.”
He said he pleasantly surprised the Siena coaching staff with how quickly he committed during a video conference call.
“I said, ‘Yeah, coach I’m ready to join the team,’” Hopkins recalled. “They were like, what? Everybody started cheering.”
Hopkins announced last Thursday he was entering the
NCA A transfer portal, just a day before Carey decided to leave the Saints as a graduate transfer.
Coming off the bench in all 33 games, Hopkins averaged 5.6 points per game and shot 35.5 percent from the field and 33.1 percent from 3-point range last season for the Bruins, who went 26-7 and won the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season and tournament titles before the season was called off due to the coronavirus pandemic.
His commitment was first reported by Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.
“Belmont will always have a place in my heart and I formed a relationship with the coaches and teammates that will last a lifetime,” Hopkins said. “But my reason (for leaving) was to just seek an opportunity and a bigger role with another program. Given the opportunity, I believe I can have a lot of value and bring a lot of experience to a very successful team in Siena.”
In 2019, Hopkins played for the Bruins when they beat Temple in an NCA A First Four game before losing to Maryland 79-77 in the first round.
“Since I’ve been to the NCA A Tournament before, I feel like every player in college is trying to get to that point and I’ve been to that point and I know, OK, it takes some extra reps,” Hopkins said. “You’ve got to be there not just physically, but you’ve got to be there mentally. You’ve just got to stay in the game and want to get to that level. That’s why a lot of teams stay successful, because they have that building block. They have that foundation, or that winning culture.”
He said he thinks he’ll fit well into Siena’s offense, which used four-guard lineups last season.
“I’m a combo guard, but I’ll probably play off the ball with (point guard) Jalen (Pickett),” Hopkins said. “I feel I can complement his game because a lot of teams are going to be on him since I think he won (MAAC) Player of the Year. I feel I can space the floor, be ready to knock down shots . ... I just know how to space the floor. That’s my biggest attribute. I can space the f loor, my experience, and I can bring that leadership on the court and off the court.”
Hopkins fills Siena’s final remaining scholarship for the 2020-21 season. He might have to come up to Siena earlier than many other students. Tennessee is on New York’s travel advisory list, which requires people visiting from those states to selfquarantine for two weeks upon their arrival. Siena begins classes on Aug. 24.
“I’ve never been to New York, so it’s going to be a new experience for me,” Hopkins said. “Have to get used to the cold weather. I’m going to have to get a couple of jackets.”