In high school, he was a tall shooting guard who could also play the point. In college, he put on some height and weight and became a standout center. And if he gets a chance to play at the professional level, he’ll likely make another switch, this time to small forward.

Adaptability, solid fundamentals, and versatility are attributes Andrew St. Clair have used particularly well in his basketball career.

Currently the starting center for the 8-3 Colby-Sawyer College Chargers, the 6-foot-5, 205-pound pivot man is leading the team in scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots.

Not bad for a former rangy guard from Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield.

St. Clair, a 20-year-old junior sports management major, has come a long way since his days bombing away from 3-point range for the Huskies. He is averaging 19.5 points and 10.7 rebounds per game while also becoming Colby-Sawyer’s career blocked shots leader with 105.

The recent outstanding play by the Chargers center has not gone unnoticed. St. Clair was named the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference player of the week and Commonwealth Coast Conference player of the week Dec. 6 and 7.

St. Clair, the CCC’s player of the year and an Academic All-America Men’s Basketball College Division All-District I second team selection last season, credits former MCI coach Bill Brooks for helping him become the player he is.

“He’s the whole reason I’m here right now. I can’t say enough about what he did for my game,” St. Clair said. “I wouldn’t be the player I am if not for him.”

It helped that St. Clair grew another inch in height and added another 25 pounds since his first college semester, but he still had a lot to learn to become a successful post player.

“Being a guard all those years helps me in terms of being a good passer and recognizing offensive switches and plays faster, but the toughest part is playing defense and matching up with bigger players,” St. Clair said. “Although I really like the offensive rebounding battles that go on in the blocks.”

Ironically, the former 3-point bomber at MCI hardly ever ventures near the arc anymore.

“I don’t know that I’ve taken a 3 this year… Maybe one,” he said with a laugh.

In fact, he has taken only one 3-point shot this season. It was unsuccessful.

St. Clair would love to play professionally in Europe after graduation next year, but he knows for that to happen, he’ll have to make yet another transformation.

“Every step’s been something different so I’m sure that will be as well,” St. Clair said. “What will help me be a good forward is learning to play center plus my background as a guard.”

Nickerson on top of World

Colby College All-American skier Warner Nickerson is in Innsbruck, Austria, this week to compete in the 2005 FIS World University Games Jan. 13-22.

The Colby senior is one of six male skiers competing for the U.S. team in downhill, slalom, giant slalom, and Super-G events. He’ll miss the opening alpine ski race at the Bates Carnival Jan. 21-22, but skiing at the site of the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics will help him toward his goal of securing a spot on the U.S. Ski Team.

“After graduation, the best-case scenario would be being on the U.S. Ski Team and training in Park City, Utah,” said Nickerson in a press release. “I’m pretty close right now, but I still need to put together some results.”