Zach Nelson hits BYU and Utah State

Yuba City's Zach Nelson has been hitting the road a bit lately, specifically Logan, Utah. But he is also talking with BYU and visited Salt Lake City this past summer:

BYU basketball prospect scores 56 in a game
Darnell Dickson
Daily Herald
March 1, 2010

I read a story by Talo Steves on totalbluesports.com about a kid BYU basketball is recruiting. His name is Zach Nelson (he's 6-foot-8) and he plays at Yuba City (Calif.) High School. So I searched for some stories on him online. He averages about 25 points and 15 rebounds a game. And it turns out that in February, he scored 56 points against Natomas.

Wow.

The most amazing thing about the performance? He got the 56 points in just 20 shots. He made 18 of 20 from the field and rebounded his two misses, scoring on putbacks.

Go here for the remainder.

Here's the Talo Steves article referenced above -- a Scout sub is required.

and

Recruits soak in Spectrum
Jared Eborn
Deseret News
March 7, 2010

When it comes to convincing a potential Aggie that Utah State is the place to be, Stew Morrill has 4,000 of the best salesmen he could hope for -- the USU student section.

During Saturday's regular season finale, Utah State had a pair of potential Aggies in the building and the ear-splitting, heart-pounding atmosphere made a big impression on at least one of them.

Zach Nelson, a 6-foot-8, 215-pound senior from northern California's Yuba City High was on an unofficial visit to USU with his father, Brad. Nelson is an explosive scorer who led the Honkers (yes, that's the real mascot for Yuba City) all season and had a monster game of 56 points, 17 rebounds and five blocked shots recently...

Go here for the remainder.

Rocklin takes down Yuba City

Zach Nelson and Yuba City tried but couldn't prevail:

Rocked by Rocklin
Fans enthusiastic, but Honkers fall
Ashley Gebb
Appeal-Democrat
February 27, 2010

A collective heartbreak echoed through the Honkers gymnasium Friday night when the Yuba City boy's basketball team was dealt a 77—70 blow by Rocklin in overtime.

The loss — which many proclaimed was unfair — was not from a lack of energy and enthusiasm. Honker fans hemorrhaged brown and gold through the last seconds of the clock as they cheered on the team in its third and still-unsuccessful bid to reach the semifinals...

Go here for the remainder.

Here's more of a game report.

Zach Nelson gets noticed

Joe Davidson offers a feature on a kid who receives no statewide recognition, but should:

For one night, Yuba City player was can't-miss kid
Joe Davidson
Sacramento Bee
February 11, 2010

It was one thing to try to ward off a swarm of athletic defenders who fronted him, backed him, growled and even hissed.

And there was the added element of proud pop in the seats with his eyebrows raised and jaw dropped. Or buddies nearby flashing signals, forming 44 or 52 with their fingers. Not plays, mind you. How many points Zach Nelson had to that moment for the Yuba City High School boys basketball team. When it was mercifully over Feb. 3, when the Natomas defenders were reduced to heavy breathing, bent over and tugging their shorts, Nelson was in a similar state of disbelief.

Fifty-six points...

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Zach Nelson score 56

It doesn't matter at what level -- 56 points is a load!

When Zach attacks
Senior standout scores 56 points to lead Yuba City to win
Ryan Klocke
Appeal-Democrat
February 4, 2010

Zach Nelson stood at midcourt in his street clothes and tried to make sense of what he just did. He was pleased but dumbfounded, making it hard for him to find the words to describe one of the most dominant performances in Yuba City High history.

"I don't know," he said. "The ball kept on going in the basket."

Did it ever.

Nelson scored an almost unfathomable 56 points on Wednesday in the Honkers boys basketball team's 87-78 victory over visiting Natomas. He went 17-of-18 from the field, drained 19 free throws and set what athletic director John Ithurburn is sure to be a school record in the process, though it could not be confirmed by press time...

Go here for the remainder.

Zach Nelson continues his season-long tear

Zach Nelson plays way up north and therefore out of sight of the major media but he is enjoying a spectacular season:

Honkers win with ease
Y.C.'s Nelson unstoppable in the paint, too much for R.V.
Andy Arrenquin
Appeal-Democrat
January 28, 2010

Sometimes it's best to let a sleeping giant lay.

If anyone was a critic of Yuba City High's Zach Nelson, they were quickly silenced on Wednesday night.

In a battle of the Tri-Country Conference's two top teams, the 6-foot-7 Nelson proved that he may just be the most underrated basketball player in the area by erupting for 30 points and clearing 20 rebounds to lead the Honkers to an easy 79-54 victory over cross-town rival River Valley in front of a raucous crowd at Honker Gym...

Go here for the remainder.