To Brother Rice’s Joe Niego, a second straight slow start would have been a worst-case scenario.
The 6-foot-7 senior forward wasn’t going to wait for the Crusaders to find their rhythm, either. He decided to become the catalyst his team needed early on by playing with increased aggression.
“We had a slow start in the loss Friday against St. Ignatius and that just haunted us the whole game,” Niego said. “The way the ball felt (Sunday), I knew nobody could guard me.
“When the ball was in my hand, I felt like we had a good chance to score.”
And score Niego did. He tallied 13 of his career-high 22 points in the first quarter Sunday, sparking a 51-38 win over Lincoln-Way East in the Team Rose Shootout at Mount Carmel in Chicago.
Junior guard Aiden Henderson chipped in with six points for Brother Rice (6-2), which put 11 consecutive points by Niego to good use in jumping out to a 16-2 lead in that first quarter.
Junior guard KaiJay Brown scored nine points for Lincoln-Way East (3-4). Senior guard Jaymon Hornsby and sophomore forward Marcus Gordon added eights points apiece.
Niego, meanwhile, used an early 3-pointer to ignite every facet of his game, according to senior guard Charlie Wizgird.
“That was a tough game against a very well-coached team Friday and we knew we had to come out fast,” Wizgard said of St. Ignatius. “And Joe’s a much more confident player this year.
“He takes most of our shots for a good reason. He’s great at setting up and making big plays.”
Senior guard Zach Grabowski pointed out that Niego’s play was an adrenaline surge the Crusaders needed against the Griffins.
“Joe’s a jack-of-all-trades,” Grabowski said. “The threes or driving the paint, he can do it all. Everything he does just brings up the whole gym and the mood of the whole team.”
Last season, Niego saw action in 31 games for Brother Rice’s Class 3A state runner-up team, but he ended up scoring just 31 points.
“I played behind five college players last year,” Niego said. “They showed me how to do it and how to go after things. I mean, every game we played, the place was packed.
“That showed me what I had to do to get better and what I worked on over the summer.”
Niego is the last in the line — the fourth brother of his family to make his mark. Older brothers Josh and Quinn had standout careers at St. Xavier. Nick is a junior guard at St. Francis in Joliet.
His five cousins, all named Niego, created their own family dynasty at Lyons. Joe Niego has also embraced the lineage and expectations to go with his name at Brother Rice.
“I always think about the pressure I have,” Joe said. “I had my brothers and my cousins who played basketball and volleyball in college and I had to be the one to go to the next level.
“Pressure makes diamonds, and having all of those family members compete at that level showed me what I had to do.”
The youngest of his cousins, Jackson, plays at Illinois Wesleyan, a program that has shown recruiting interest. Joe Niego is also interested in playing with his brother at St. Francis.
Whether bloodlines or personal friendships, the game is built on chemistry and connections. Niego, Grabowski and Wizgird are childhood friends who have played together since adolescence.
His father and his uncle are also identical twins, only deepening an elemental bond.
“Just growing up, seeing my brothers in the backyard, that just showed me what you put into the game is what you get out of it,” Niego said. “I’ve been super fortunate to have my family and basketball because I don’t know where I’d be without them.
“I love being a Niego.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
