Status: Senior forward for the Syracuse men's basketball team. The East Region No. 4 seed Orange will play dangerous Vermont in their NCAA Tournament opener.
Ht: 6-8 Wt: 219
DOB: July 8, 1982 in: Philadelphia, Pa.
Childhood Heroes: "Penny Hardaway, I liked Shawn Kemp, Tracy McGrady and Kevin Garnett."
Hobbies/Interests: "PlayStation, play video games ... all day." [laughs]
Nicknames: "Hak, Hot, Skinny, they call me Helicopter, Stretch."
Early Basketball Memory: "Just playin' basketball on the monkey bars. I used to play basketball on the monkey bars. Because the older guys wouldn't let us on the court and me and my friends used to go over and play basketball on the monkey bars. So that's when I first started dunking and everything." [smiles]
Favorite Movies: Gladiator and Friday.
Favorite TV Shows: CSI and Law & Order.
Musical Tastes: "Rap and R&B."
First Job: "Was a counselor at a summer camp, at a local place in Philadelphia."
First Car: "Chrysler 300. (Color?) Silver."
Pregame Feeling: "Nervous. Nervous no matter what. Just can't wait to get out there and play."
Favorite Meal: "Spaghetti."
Favorite Breakfast Cereal: "Ah man, that's a tough ... Cookie Crisp." [smiles]
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: "Strawberry."
Greatest Sports Moment: "Definitely winning the national championship (2003)."
Most Painful Moment: "Not making the tournament my freshman year (2002)." Funny Basketball Memory: "I got stuffed before, a couple of times. That's always funny. Just seeing myself get hung on the rim." [smiles]
Embarrassing Basketball Memory: "Probably losing to Pitt last year. We lost to Pitt in a blowout (66-45 at the Carrier Dome)."
Toughest Competitors Encountered: "Definitely Pitt (Syracuse lost twice to Pitt this season)."
Favorite Vacation Spot: "Jersey shore. That's about the only place I've ever been." [laughs]
Childhood Dream: "Always play in the NBA."
Favorite Athletes To Watch: "Tracy McGrady, Kevin Garnett, Randy Moss, Serena Williams, Bernard Hopkins."
People Qualities Most Admired: "Just outgoing, friendly, funny, funny people."
Major: Retail management and consumer studies.
Family: Dad, Kenneth Nichols; mom Queen Warrick; brothers, Bill, Tyrell; sister, Ciera.
| Scoop Malinowski is a CBS SportsLine contributor. He created The Biofile interview feature in 1992. You can read more Biofiles at www.thebiofile.com. |  |
