DC 2 VCU - Nyk Lewis & Blake Harper

<p> Game Related Show — Episode 82 | Nick Lewis &amp; Blake Harper | VCU Basketball</p><p>This week, Game Related traveled to VCU to sit down with current players Nick Lewis and Blake Harper for a special full-circle episode.</p><p>Nick and Blake both played at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C. and are now teammates at VCU — a journey that hits close to home for us. Lorenzo and I also played together at Gonzaga before becoming college teammates at Niagara University.</p><p>The connections go even deeper.</p><p>VCU head coach Phil Martelli Jr. was one of our assistant coaches at Niagara, while VCU Athletic Director Ed McLaughlin was our AD at Niagara. Both have also joined us previously on Game Related.</p><p>But while Nick and Blake ended up at the same place, their paths to VCU were completely different.</p><p>Blake had a standout freshman season at Howard University, transferred to Creighton, and ultimately found his way to VCU.</p><p>Nick arrived at VCU as a freshman, earned A-10 Rookie of the Year honors, and made the decision to stay for his sophomore season despite having other opportunities.</p><p>This conversation gives us something different: the perspective of current college basketball players navigating the game right now.</p><p>We talk about:</p><p> Why Nick chose to stay at VCU Blake’s journey from Howard → Creighton → VCU High-major vs. mid-major basketball The transfer portal and finding the right fit High school rankings and expectations Staying vs. transferring Individual and team goals What today’s college basketball experience is really like from the players’ perspective</p>