Transfers tend to have successful careers in collegiate sports. Baker Mayfield to Oklahoma, Hank Gathers to Loyola Monument and Russell Wilson to Wisconson. Colorado Mesa University’s latest transfer, Kenzo Nudo, is looking to have some success of his own after coming over from Grand Canyon University.
Nudo spent his freshman year playing basketball for the ‘Lopes in Phoenix, AZ, who are renowned for their basketball team, but this took a toll on Nudo. During this time, not only did he suffer a ruptured Achilles, which put him out for most of the year, but he also had sports hernias in both hips leading to multiple surgeries.
For most athletes, this would be the end to their career. For Nudo, it almost was. Frustrated and recovering, he decided to take a sabbatical from playing.
“I took a step back from basketball. I thought I was done…and I quit. After 6 months I missed the game way too much.” says Nudo.
After some thinking, the former GCU Lope decided to join his former high school team and CMU guard, Brandon Hoffer. The two went to Chaparral High School together in Scottsdale, AZ. Nudo claims Hoffer was part of the process in deciding to come to Grand Junction.
“They said that it would be great to have me here and obviously I bought in… I love playing with Brandon and we have really good chemistry together,” Nudo said.
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In his senior season at Chaparral, Kenzo averaged 21.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. In his time with GCU, Nudo played nine games in 2016-17 and averaged 3.9 points before the injury.
“He’s definitely just as good, maybe better. He’s a little bigger and stronger now.”
Now Nudo has joined the Mavericks mid-season in a rare situation because he only adds more depth to a talented CMU team that is trying to succeed with their first-year head coach Mike DeGeorge.
After coming off a serious injury involving the Achilles and then transferring to a school is in the middle of the season who has already found their stride is such a challenge to overcome. Nudo had to come in and adjust to a brand new system, coach and teammates.
“It could either go two ways; it could go really good or really bad,” Hoffer said about Nudo coming in at this point in the season. “I think the team all embraced him, and they are excited to have him. He can do a lot for our team and help us.”
I think it is safe to say Nudo has already made a steady impact for the Mavericks in the eight games Nudo has played. Back on Jan. 26 against Westminster College, Kenzo put up 30 points and made five three-pointers in only 18 minutes on the court.
The Mavericks currently have a 14-7 record and with less than ten games left in the regular season, they are in a crucial spot because they can either find themselves in a solid position in the standings for the RMAC Tournament or find themselves not being in the tournament at all. If Nudo keeps playing like he did against Westminster, it will only help the chances of CMU.
“Big thanks to Coach DeGeorge for believing in me and bringing me here…and I want to give thanks to my teammates and my coach for trusting in me and supporting me. It’s all because of them” Nudo said.