Former Utah State Basketball Players Donate Back To Their Alma Mater

Former Utah State University basketball players Nate and Jon Wickizer have made a major gift of $100,000 to the USU Athletics Department it was announced Tuesday [June 16, 2009] by athletics director Scott Barnes.

With the Wickizer’s generous lead gift, the university has developed plans to renovate and expand the off-court facilities within the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum to build a sustainable and successful future. These renovations will enhance space for practice and game day preparation for men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball, and enhance the opportunity to excel in the classroom through newly created study and lounge spaces.

 

“Basketball was a huge part of our lives, and Utah State is a wonderful place to get an education and play basketball,” said the Wickizers. “We both met our wives at USU and to this day we still take our families to home games and watch the unbelievable program that Stew Morrill has built. We are happy to give back in some small way.”

 

The Wickizer’s gift will provide funding directly for the renovations of the existing men’s basketball locker room and the creation of a new student-athlete lounge and study area. A fundraising campaign is also being launched to secure additional gifts to complete the men’s basketball off-court facilities as well as a women’s basketball and volleyball film/meeting room, locker rooms and lounge area.

 

“The Wickizer gift is a wonderful statement by two former student-athletes about the importance of investing in the future of our program,” said Barnes. “This commitment will serve as a springboard for this critical initiative and I believe others will follow because of their generosity.”

 

“Our locker room area is outdated in terms of recruiting and this gift from Nate and Jon will allow us to rectify that situation,” said Utah State men’s basketball coach Stew Morrill. “It’s wonderful that the Wickizer brothers are inclined to give back to their university and basketball program. We are proud of their success and appreciate their commitment and generosity.”

 

Nate Wickizer played at Utah State from 1992-95, while Jon played from 1993-96, and both were members of the Big West Conference all-freshman team following their first seasons at USU. The brothers grew up in Woods Cross, Utah, with Nate attending Kearns HS and Jon attending Woods Cross HS.

 

During his career, Nate led Utah State in blocked shots three consecutive seasons and still ranks second all-time in school history in total blocks (148) and blocks per game (1.6), while Jon led the team in free throw shooting during his senior season (.804) and still ranks 13th all-time in school history with 113 games played.

 

Both Nate and Jon currently live in Davis County, Utah, and are employed by Cache Valley Electric. Nate and his wife, Heather, have four children: Samantha (10), Matthew (9), James (6) and Spencer (2), while Jon and his wife, Tera, have five children: Katelyn (10), Kennady (7), River (4), Kwincy-Bell (2) and Rock (1).

 

For more information about the renovations or to pledge a gift, contact the USU Athletics Department at (435) 797-1850.

 

Additional Aggie sports news is available at the Athletics homepage Web site.