Nirvaan Misra’s Journey to 1,000 Points: A Legacy of Hard Work and Inspiration
Seattle Prep senior shines as one of the school’s top scorers while inspiring the next generation in the Indian community.
SEATTLE – When Nirvaan Misra was a young athlete competing in soccer, flag football, and basketball, his father, Sandeep, asked him a pivotal question.
“Is there a sport you want to focus on?”
Misra, now a senior at Seattle Prep, didn’t hesitate: “Basketball,” he said.
From that moment on, father and son poured their energy into the game they love.
“Every day he would take me out to the court by my house,” said Misra, who has been playing since he was 3 years old.
Through rain – lots of rain – sun, and the myriad other weather conditions the Pacific Northwest offers, Misra worked on his game before eventually transitioning to the local YMCA.
The countless hours Misra spent in the gym have helped him become one of the most prolific scorers in Seattle Prep history, an impressive feat for a school that has produced NBA players like Spencer Hawes and Martell Webster.
Earlier this season, Misra eclipsed the 1,000-point mark and currently ranks 11th on the school’s all-time scoring list with 1,073 career points. He’s chasing Nic Lynch, who went on to play at Lehigh and USD, for 10th place (1,120 points).
“It’s a great feeling because I’ve always looked up to guys like Braeden Smith and Tyler Mrus,” Misra said. “To finally get that status, where you score 1,000 points and put your name in the record books … it means a lot.”
Fellow senior Beckham King also has a chance to crack the 1,000-point plateau, sitting at 938 career points.
Always a scorer, Misra has become an increasingly integral part of Seattle Prep’s offense each season. Not only is he a volume scorer, but he’s also known for clutch plays, like the three-pointer he hit in December to tie the game against Eastside Catholic in the waning seconds of the Panthers’ come-from-behind victory.
“It’s just about putting in that work and showing it in the game as a scorer,” he said. “I love this team. I love this school.”
While Misra works daily to ensure he’s the best player he can be, he’s also motivated by something bigger than himself. He wants to serve as a positive role model in the Indian community.
“I have a community in Sammamish, a bunch of Indian kids who want to be like me,” Misra said. “I tell them, ‘You just have to put in that work. Anyone can play out here. Anyone can play in the Metro League, on a great team like Seattle Prep, if you put in the work.’”
Misra has undoubtedly put in the work. In fact, chances are, he’s in the gym getting shots up right now.
Metro League Hoops: Best Ticket in Town
If you love basketball, it doesn’t get much better than the Metro League. Last night featured several great games, with O’Dea avenging a loss to Seattle Prep and Rainier Beach continuing its dominance by knocking off Garfield for the second time this season, extending its win streak to 11 games.
“I know, for us, we’re in a dogfight every night, no matter who it is,” O’Dea coach Jason Kerr said. “Now that we’re a tiered league, there is not a single night off. You’ve got some really tough teams. Some records might look a little different, but these are actually top five or top 10 teams in the state. They’re also getting battle-tested, which will help in the long run.”
One of the things I’ve enjoyed most about the league this season is the unselfish potential of each team. After watching Rainier Beach, O’Dea, Eastside Catholic, Garfield, Seattle Prep, and Roosevelt, it’s clear they all understand the importance of sharing the basketball.
“I feel like we’re not a score-first team,” O’Dea senior Breylon Webb said. “We’re big on drive-and-kick, sharing the ball. We just have really good team chemistry. I know where my guys’ spots are, so I can find them. They know where to find me.”
Woodinville Girls Continue Winning Ways
I caught the final quarter of Woodinville’s 73-33 win over North Creek, and the Falcons are rolling. It’s impressive how many players contribute (four players are averaging more than 8.5 points per game) to their success, so it’s no surprise the program boasts an unblemished 16-0 record so far this year.
Jazlyn Wilkerson and Hayley Quiggle lead the Falcons, averaging 19.5 and 14.4 points per game, respectively.
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