Lewis Athletics
Luke Rinne, Director of Athletic Communications
ROMEOVILLE – Lewis University head men’s basketball coach Scott Trost announced on Monday that Connor Niego (Western Springs, Ill./Lyons Township) has been added to the roster. Niego, a Division I transfer from Holy Cross, is eligible to play immediately.
“We are very excited and fortunate to add someone of Connor’s ability at the semester,” Trost said. “He is 6-foot-8 and is capable of playing multiple positions. He has a high basketball IQ and a competitive desire that will enable him to be a really good player for us.”
Niego appeared in 63 games with 32 starts averaging 6.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per contest in three seasons at Holy Cross. Last season he played in 31 games, starting 28 times, played 30 minutes per game and averaged 8.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per contest with the Crusaders. He grabbed 54 of his 157 rebounds on the offensive end of the court.
Niego ranked 15th in the Patriot League in offensive rebounds, 17th in total rebounding and 25th in minutes played. He led the team in rebounding eight times, steals five times, blocked shots four times, scoring three times and assists three times. Niego scored in double-figures 14 times.
He played for head coach Tom Sloan at Lyons Township High School in La Grange, Ill. Niego served as team captain during his junior and senior seasons. During his junior year he averaged 18 points, 9 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots per game.
Niego scored over 1,000 career points, while finishing second all-time in school history in rebounding and sixth in scoring. He earned team MVP honors as a senior and was named to the All-West Suburban Silver Conference team three times and was a three-time Academic All-Conference selection.
He adds to the Niego legacy at Lewis. His father Joe and his mother Julie both played basketball at Lewis in the 1980s as did his uncles Charlie, Tom and Mark. His dad and his three uncles all started together for the Flyers and all of them scored 1,000 plus points in their Lewis career. His dad was drafted by the Houston Rockets in the fourth round in the 1987 NBA Draft.
The Niego brothers were featured in a Sports Illustrated story in 1986. USA Today and NBC National News both highlighted the brothers who once scored every point in a Lewis game and helped the program to a 14-0 start in the 1985-86 season en route to a 25-5 record that year.
The Flyers are scheduled to return to the court Sunday (Jan. 3) as they travel to Kansas City, Mo., to take on Rockhurst at 3 p.m.