St. Joseph-Ogden’s Nolan Grindley plays a vital role in team’s success

By Will Payne

High school, college, and professional team sports all share one thing in common: every successful team needs players who set their egos apart for the betterment of the squad and set an example through their work ethic.

Nolan Grindley, senior guard at St. Joseph-Odgen fits this description perfectly, and has been a vital member of the Spartans ever since he entered the program four years ago. Although he hasn’t seen the court much so far during St. Joseph-Ogden’s 16-4 season, Grindley has been a contributor in several different ways.

Head coach Kiel Duval has nothing but high praise for the senior, as he detailed how Grindley impacts those all around him on and off the court.

“Nolan is a guy who doesn’t get a lot of playing time, but he is without a doubt the best teammate that anybody could ask for,” Duval said. “He’s the best teammate on our team, and I would say the best teammate in the school. He comes to practice every day, works as hard as anybody, and knows his minutes are going to be limited. And as a senior, you don’t find kids like that anymore.”

Over the past 10-15 years, basketball has seen a huge shift in how the game is played across all different skill levels. Gone are the days of feeding the ball into the post and knocking down mid-range jumpers. Now, most teams around the country require that all five players on the court can shoot three-pointers, with the analysts pointing to the fact that it is the most efficient way to score the basketball.

From the perspective of a former player, I think this change in the game has caused players to become less team-oriented and a little more ego-centric about their play. Instead of focusing on good ball movement and playing solid defense, many players today are obsessed with their individual statistics and how they appear to the scouts.

Duval regards Grindley as “the best teammate”, and that shows not only in games but in practice. The head coach is proud of how Grindley carries himself and wants those around him to succeed.

“Nolan is the first guy off the bench when somebody does something awesome. He’s excited for his teammates, and he’s always the guy to be pushing everyone to be better in practice.”

When Nolan steps on the court, it is clear the lengths he has gone to improve his game, especially since this past off-season. Duval mentioned the senior has spent time not only in the gym, but in the weight room to hang with the tough Illinois basketball competition. 

“He handles the basketball a little bit. Nolan plays the one (point guard), or the two (shooting guard) at times. He can guard perimeter players, and he’s become a lot stronger in the off-season, which has helped him out.”

This nose-to-the-grindstone attitude Grindley has did not just appear out of thin air. Nolan has been in the St. Joseph-Ogden basketball program for the past few years and mentioned that learned from some of the hardest-working players.

“Chance, Payton, Grimsley, and many other older guys that graduated two years ago showed us as sophomores how practices were supposed to look.”

For many younger guys making their way up through the ranks, coach Duval finds it imperative that his players have a tough mental attitude. Duval knows that sometimes the difference between winning and losing a close game is making the right decision at the right moment.

“Their mental approach to every game is so important. We do have young guys and they don’t quite understand how important that mental approach is to the games. Although they might not think it’s a big deal in practice, when it gets to game time, that detail comes out.

Grindley plans to attend college, but he is still deciding on what University and the subject of study, however, he will be ever-grateful for the experience he’s had in the St. Joseph-Ogden basketball program. 

“To be a part of the SJO program means to be committed to the team as well as to be a family.”