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Overview

Nichols' long-range shooting ability made him a dangerous weapon for the Orange in the powerful Big East Conference.

The only player to start all 35 games in 2006-07 for Syracuse, he scored in double figures in 32 of those contests, including 17 games with at least 20 points. He boasts a string of making at least one 3-point shot in each of his last 40 games dating back to the 2005-06 campaign.

At St. Andrews High School, Nichols was rated the 50th-best prep basketball player by ESPN.com. He was a three-time Street & Smith's Magazine honorable mention All-American, leading his team to records of 20-11, 22-10 (claimed the New England prep school championship in 2000-01) and 25-8 (finished second in the New England Prep School Athletic Conference in 2001-02). He completed his career ranked third on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,809 points, as St. Andrew's retired his number 34 jersey.

Nichols was a member of the 2002 USA Development Festival East Team that finished 3-2 and earned the silver medal, as he averaged 14.8 points and 5.6 rebounds in five games. He added third-team Parade All-American accolades, as he helped his club to the New England Prep School Athletic Conference title, tallying 15 points and 13 rebounds in the championship game against Lawrence Academy. As a senior, he averaged 18.6 points and 8.9 rebounds a game and St. Andrew's finished 28-8.

In 2003-04 at Syracuse, Nichols appeared in 26 games as a reserve forward. He scored in 18 of those contests, making at least one 3-pointer in 10 of those clashes. He averaged 4.2 points and 2.2 rebounds in his first season with the Orange. As a sophomore, he competed in 27 games, starting the team's first eight contests, but missed three clashes with a back injury. He was limited to 12.9 minutes per game, averaging 3.9 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.

Nichols ranked second on the team in scoring average (13.3) and had the third-highest rebounding mark (5.8) during the 2005-06 campaign. He posted the sixth-best scoring average improvement in SU history and fourth-best in the Big East Conference, going from 3.9 a year ago to 13.3.

During his senior year, he earned Associated Press All-American honorable mention. He was named first-team All-District by the Basketball Times, National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and United States Basketball Writers of America (USBWA). He was a first-team All-Big East Conference selection, as he led the Orange in scoring average (18.9), 3-point baskets (100), free-throw percentage (.850) and minutes played average (34.8).

Nichols led the Big East in overall scoring (18.8 points per game) and finished third in scoring average in conference games (17.9 per game). He became the school's 48th player to accumulated 1,000 career points and finished his career ranked tied for 28th. His 205 career 3-pointers rank third at Syracuse behind Gerry McNamara (400) and Preston Shumpert (249). His 100 3-pointers represented the second-best total by an SU senior, just three behind McNamara's total a season ago.

Scouting Report

Positives: Lanky athlete, but shows good bone structure, decent wingspan and reach, minimal body fat and room on his frame to add more bulk...Lacks the size to play power forward at the next level, but has adequate power to compete for the ball off the boards... Has a very quick release point and the range to consistently connect behind the arc, having produced at least one successful 3-pointer in each of his last 40 games...Spot-up shooter, but shows good power driving to the basket to draw contact...Has very good confidence in his ability to connect from the perimeter, forcing the defense out of the paint to pressure him...Still a work in progress creating his shot coming off screens, but shows no hesitation firing the ball up and over a face-up defender...Could be quicker with his feet in transition, but does a good job of making the most of his shooting opportunities and will not force the ball just for the sake of getting off a shot...Nimble enough to find the open areas on the floor to get his shot off...Better defender along the perimeter than in the paint...Contorts his body and makes good adjustments shooting in tight areas...Shows excellent length and arc getting his shot over taller forwards...Has the lateral agility to step out and unleash the ball and he surprises a lethargic defender with that release...Adequate scoring in transition, but when he gets to the outside, he has a soft, effortless shot...Demonstrates an effective fade-away jumper when driving to the top of the key...Uses his wing-span efficiently as a shot-blocker and also utilizes his reach well to attack the offensive boards for the rebound...Has a high release point and good ball rotation working at the free throw line.

Negatives: One-dimensional player who is best shooting from mid-range, as he lacks the ability to connect off the dribble...Has good strength, but lacks good vision and needs to recognize the weak-side defenders better and locate the open teammate to pass the ball to when covered...Struggles to gain position at times when asked to defend in the paint...Turnover prone when he keeps the ball on the floor too long, as he is marginal shooting off the dribble...Can score in streaks, but needs to do it with more regularity...Gets too comfortable with his long-range shooting skills, preferring to go for the 3-pointer than drive into the lane...Not the type that will be able to create his own shot at the next level...Strong player for his size, but needs to add more bulk, as he struggles when trying to box out his man...Goes through streaks when he will dip his elbow when shooting, causing the ball to flutter and lack ideal arc...Defenders can alter his shot when he takes too long in getting it off...Goes through stretches during a game where he will disappear and he loses focus when not involved in the offense...Must work on setting his feet better before shooting; when he fails to set them, he shoots the ball flat.

Compares To: JASON KAPONO, Miami. Nichols was one of the big surprises at the Orlando pre-draft camp. He lacks the size and bulk to be a power forward and fails to use his natural strength well to combat even smaller opponents. Is strictly a spot-up shooter, but he can score in bunches. His problem was consistency until the second half of his senior year. Like Kapono, Nichols is the type that will be a nice fit as the sixth or seventh man, but there are too many concentration and defensive deficiencies to see him as a starter any time soon.

Orlando Pre-Draft Camp Measurements:

7-0 1/4 Wingspan...8-9 Standing Reach...6.2 percent Body Fat...32.5 Vertical Leap...185-pound benchpress: 16 reps...10.39 Lane Agility...3.38 Court Sprint (3/4).

High School:

Attended St. Andrews (Boston, Mass.) High School, playing basketball for head coach Mike Hart...Rated the 50th-best prep basketball player by ESPN.com...Three-time Street & Smith's Magazine honorable mention All-American, leading his team to records of 20-11, 22-10 (claimed the New England prep school championship in 2000-01) and 25-8 (finished second in the New England Prep School Athletic Conference in 2001-02)...Completed his career ranked third on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,809 points, as St. Andrew's retired his number 34 jersey...Member of the 2002 USA Development Festival East Team that finished 3-2 and earned the silver medal, as he averaged 14.8 points and 5.6 rebounds in five games...Added third-team Parade All-American accolades, as he helped his club to the New England Prep School Athletic Conference title, tallying 15 points and 13 rebounds in the championship game against Lawrence Academy...As a senior, he averaged 18.6 points and 8.9 rebounds a game and St. Andrew's finished 28-8...Named All-New England and earned all-tournament recognition at the King of the Bluegrass Tournament, the Glaxo Smith Kline Holiday Invitational and the National Prep School Invitational...Named to the all-tournament team in the Slam Dunk to the Beach Classic...Named 2003 Rhode Island Gatorade Player of the Year and EA Sports Roundball Game All-American.

Personal

Speech Communications major...One of ten children of Janice and Dana Mallory...Born Demetris Tiaunt Nichols on 9/04/84 in Boston, Massachusetts.

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