By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
Bradley Nies (NIECE) is a senior at De Pere High School who currently plays basketball for the Redbirds. He also played football this past fall.
In his spare time, he likes to hang out with friends and play video games.
Nies’ future plans include attending UW-Platteville to study engineering, with playing basketball as a possibility.
Name: Bradley Nies
Nickname: Brad
School: De Pere
Sports: Basketball, football
Parents: Karen and Tim
Twitter: @BNies71
Tell me about your family.
“My mom grew up in De Pere and my dad in Greenleaf. I have an older brother named Brian and an older sister named Liz – they both attend UW-Madison.”
Do you come from a sports family?
“Oh yes – sports have always been a big thing in our household. Brian did some football, basketball and track in high school. Liz played volleyball, basketball and softball and was on the state runner-up basketball team her senior year. My mom played basketball in high school and in college her freshman year at Northern Illinois and her sophomore year at St. Norbert. My dad walked on for football at Madison for a bit.”
Did you do any other high school sports besides basketball and football?
“I played baseball my freshman and sophomore year, and last year I did track and field. I’ll do that again next spring.”
What events do you compete in?
“Shot put and discus.”
Is there a sport you wish you had done?
“I can’t skate very well, but I think hockey would have been cool.”
You could have played college football?
“I was offered from Northern Michigan University (Marquette, Michigan), but they didn’t have my major, so I decided to go academic and attend Platteville.”
What is your most memorable sport’s moment?
“This past summer in an AAU basketball game, I hit a three-quarters court shot to win the game in overtime. We were tied and I got the rebound after the other team missed their final shot. I shot it as quick as I could and it went in.”
What’s it like playing for Coach Winchester?
“He has involved the bigs more this year. He’s a great guy – easy to talk to, but when it comes to basketball, he won’t tolerate anything less than 100-percent effort.”
When the Milwaukee Bucks Rim Rockers came to De Pere, you had a part in their show.
“I held the ball up as high as possible when one of the Rockers came jumping by off the trampoline. He told me not to move and I was scared out of my mind – I was just hoping I didn’t flinch. I thought he was going to hit me when he jumped.”
Which teammate should star in his own reality TV show?
“Ethan Hohol – He does a lot of funny stuff at practice and I think his life would be funny, too.”
If you could have lunch with any historical person, who would it be?
“Milwaukee Bucks player Giannis Antetokounmpo. It would be fun to talk basketball with him.”
What three words best describe you?
“Competitive, quiet, happy.”
How will Brad Nies be remembered at De Pere?
“As that tall guy who played basketball.”
Spring or fall?
“Spring.”
Chocolate or vanilla?
“Vanilla.”
Cats or dogs?
“Both.”
Booth or table?
“Booth.”
Basketball or football?
“Basketball.”
Favorites
Food: Pizza
Board game: Monopoly
Phone app: Snapchat
Cereal: Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Favorite girls’ sport to watch at De Pere: Basketball