Carl Nicks (basketball)
Orlando Carl Nicks (born October 6, 1958) is an American former National Basketball Association (NBA) player. Amateur career A 6'1" guard, Nicks played high school basketball at Englewood High School in Chicago and then signed to play college basketball at Indiana State. Nicks played sparingly in his first season, averaging 2.2 ppg in 24 games played. In academic trouble with a 1.6 GPA, Bob King, the head coach, recommended that Nicks leave the Sycamores and go to a junior college to work on his academic and basketball skills. He spent the 1977–78 season at Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, Florida, where he averaged 22.4 ppg. Nicks credited the experience, stating, "I wanted to play basketball. I respect the game. I know I can play this game. I know I can play this game at the highest level. I knew that. So I went down there and I grinded. I was isolated and it made me grow up." With a 3.5 GPA in hand, a focused Nicks returned to Indiana State, averaging 19.3 ppg, earning the nickname "Mr. Intensity." Nicks combined with teammate Larry Bird in 1978-79, and helped lead Indiana State to the championship game in the NCAA