TALL TASK: Defending Northville’s Helner a challenge for Mustang foes
Fresh off his stellar season with Northville’s football team, Nick Helner is ready to be a leader for the Mustangs’ hoops squad.
Sure-handed, agile and a shot-maker, Northville’s Nick Helner would undoubtedly be a difference-maker on football fields and basketball courts if he was 5-foot-9.
Considering the talented two-sport and academic standout is 6-foot-4 only makes it a taller task for opponents to contain the athletic Mustang.
A reliable receiver for Northville’s record-setting football team, Helner was a season-long go-to target for quarterback Isaac Pace, who would frequently launch spirals in Helner’s direction, confident No. 12 would make things happen.
Helner hauled in scoring passes in the Mustangs’ playoff victories over Brighton and Detroit Catholic Central, out-leaping smaller and — against the Bulldogs — multiple defenders to put exclamation points on several Northville scoring drives.
Two-sport threat
Hoops-wise, Helner is one of a handful of proven returners to a program that has earned back-to-back Class A district titles for the first time in 40 years.
“Nick was our starting four-man last year during our late-season run and he really blossomed as the season went on,” said Northville basketball coach Todd Sander.
“He started the season as kind of a grinder, rebounder and defender, but he evolved into an offensive threat, knocking down some big 12- to 14-foot shots for us.
“Nick is coming off a great football season — he’s a really good all-around athlete — and he’ll be able to handle playing multiple positions for us.”
Helner’s experience is priceless
Hit hard by graduations and the absence of two high-scoring players who moved out of state during the off-season, the Mustangs will be counting on Helner’s experience and versatility this winter.
“Nick missed our first few practices due to football and while he recovered from a broken finger he suffered during the football season, but once he returned, myself and the rest of our coaching staff were impressed by his motor and his understanding of how hard you have to play to compete at the varsity level,” Sander added.
When asked which sport — football or basketball — he prefers, Helner delivered a straight-forward answer.
“Whatever season it is, that’s the one I like best,” said Helner. “I’ve been playing both sports for as long as I can remember and I’ve always had fun playing them.”
Helner said he’s eager to help fill the void left by the departure of Huang and Adamson, both of whom shared the role of premier basket fillers.
“With Justin and Carlos gone, it’s going to open up more opportunities for all of us,” said Helner. “My strength is probably my mid-range jumper — take one dribble and go up with it. I also want to make more of a difference on the defensive end of the court this year, too.”
Stellar student
Helner has generated as much success in the classroom as he has in athletic venues during his three-plus years at Northville High School.
Armed with a stellar grade-point average, the fan of science and math plans to attend college at Michigan State University, the University of Colorado or a smaller school where he can play football.
“I’m looking at studying bio-medical engineering or business in college, but I’m not positive yet,” he said.
Helner noted one certainty regarding his post-high school life:
“I’m definitely going to miss being with my friends every day at practice and at school,” he said. “The friendships I’ve built here have been amazing.”
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
