ST. LOUIS -- On the corner of Compton and Lafayette sits a school few may recognize.
"St. Louis Christian Academy is a great school,” Jordan Nesbitt said.
“Oh man, we've been here forever, since 1952,” said St. Louis Christian Academy head coach Casey Autenrieth with a smile.
Inside that great school lies a basketball team again. One that few know about for now, said Autenrieth.
“Some people know us, some people don’t. But you’re going to hear about us, you’re going to get to know us,” Autenrieth said.
Helping Lead the charge for the Cougars and putting the team on the map, a coach's dream. 6’7, combo guard Jordan Nesbitt.
Nesbitt said he's listed as a guard but can play every position on the court, he also compares his style of play to a four-legged animal.
"I'm a different player, you know what I'm saying? I'm a dog, that's what I do," Nesbitt said with a smirk.
“To us, we think he’s one of the best basketball players in the country,” Autenrieth said.
In all but a handful of games this season, Nesbitt and his brothers take their show on the road as they play a national schedule.
"I think getting out on the national level for us kind of put us in a niche market," Autenrieth said. "We're a small school but we like to compete with the big boys."
But this isn't exactly done on purpose. St. Louis Christian Academy doesn't have a gym to call home, and Autenrieth said they are blessed to be able to practice in the gym they have on campus.
So not only do the Cougars travel to play tough competition, they seek it out in St. Louis. They play in several big-name area tournaments, but perhaps their biggest matchup will be when they take on the daunting Vashon Wolverines at Vashon, a matchup they won't be backing down from.
“If you want to be the best you got to beat the best. If you want to be the man you got to beat the man,” Nesbitt said.
“He doesn’t have any fear. He loves competition, he’s a tough kid,” Autenrieth said.
And since SLCA does play such tough competition all over, Nesbitt is finally starting to see the fruits of his labor.
“After that game against Prolific, I feel like I am getting that attention I deserve and I appreciate it. it’s a God blessing thing,” Nesbitt said.
While only a junior at SLCA, some people may be sleeping on this walking bucket, But Nesbitt said it’s time to wake everyone up.
"I’m coming for everybody, anybody and I can’t wait. They gon get the best player out of me," Nesbitt said.
"Nothing is surprising to us," Autenrieth said. "We think he’s just starting to break the surface of what he can do. He's got an opportunity to really really take it to the next step now this year and put his name out there with some of the best players in the country,"
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