CAA Men's Basketball

William & Mary's Nathan Knight Makes Legit All-America Push

William & Mary's Nathan Knight Makes Legit All-America Push

William & Mary senior Nathan Knight has put together an All-American worthy season, and looks to lead the tribe to its first ever NCAA tourney.

Mar 5, 2020 by Kyle Kensing
William & Mary's Nathan Knight Makes Legit All-America Push

Only two players in Div. I basketball approach the end of the regular season ranked in the top 20 for both scoring and rebounding. 

Watch The 2020 CAA Men's Basketball Championship Live Here

William & Mary’s Nathan Knight is one of them, and the Tribe big man has his team heading into the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament with the foundation necessary to make the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament. 

Knight closed the regular season at 20.6 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, one of the most impressive individual lines in all of college basketball – even if Knight made it look routine throughout the campaign. 

“The production he’s had night in and night out, it’s almost like no one even talks about it anymore,” said William & Mary coach Dane Fischer. “Because he’s doing it – 20-plus, 10-plus – on a nightly basis.” 

Indeed, 12 times on the year, Knight has gone for 20 or more points and 10 or more rebounds. Twice, he’s produced at least 30 points with at least 10 rebounds. 

While it’s easy to take such consistent production for granted, Knight’s efforts shouldn’t be: He’s in such an exclusive class for a reason. And as college basketball award season approaches, Knight boasts a resume worthy of serious All-American consideration. 

The scoring and rebounding numbers alone warrant his name in the conversation, but Fischer’s quick to point to another area of the Tribe big man’s contributions that separate him. 

“The thing that he’s done this year for us really, really well: He’s really anchored our defense,” Fischer said. 

In addition to being one of only two players in the top 20 for both scoring and rebounding, along with Austin Peay’s Terry Taylor, Knight is the only players who also ranks in the top 100 for blocked shots. He has swatted away 1.5 shots. 

While a slight dip from the previous two campaigns, Knight’s presence in the middle of the William & Mary defense this season is arguably better than in years past for a reason Fischer notes. 

“He’s really committed himself to play aggressively on defense, but without fouling,” Fischer said. “One of the key stats for our team this year is that we’ve played 31 games, and he’s fouled out once.” 

It’s one thing to have a marquee player on the roster, but only if he stays on the floor. Knight fouled out four times in 2018-19 and seven in 2017-18. 

Slicing that number down to one is as meaningful of a statistic as his points and rebounds. It also provides another interesting data point for his All-American candidacy, putting Knight in company with leading national Player of the Year contender, Iowa’s Luka Garza. 

But perhaps the strongest pitch Fischer can make for Knight as an All-American has nothing to do with the center’s stat line. 

Coming into the coach’s first year at the helm, Knight was a prominent pillar for building a new roster, but a single piece for an otherwise unknown roster. The Tribe were tabbed to finish seventh in the preseason CAA poll. 

Heading into Washington D.C. as the No. 2 seed, William & Mary smashed those expectations. The Tribe could not have done so without Knight. 

“It starts with Nathan, being the one [who’s] leading the charge,” Fischer said. “For all the individual accolades he has received and will continue to receive, he’s had such great focus this year on just being a really good leader and helping this team be as good as it can be, and everyone has followed suit with that.” 

Should his leadership take the Tribe to their first NCAA Tournament, there can be no denying his deserved place with another individual honor as an All-American.

Related Content