Camdyn Nelson has been surrounded by great expectations during her high school career.
The Greenwich, Conn., native was following in the footsteps of her older sister, Mackenzie, who led St. Luke's to a Class B championship in 2023 before heading off to Virginia Tech. Nelson soon grew her own reputation as a player, and with it came the spotlight befitting a high-major college prospect and prep school star.
Through it all, Nelson has kept her focus narrow. The Syracuse commit said she felt more pressure from herself than any outsiders. And Nelson let that motivation fuel her as she led St. Luke's to the Class B final this winter. The Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year earns our Class B Player of the Year award after averaging 17 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals per game as a senior.
"I would say (the pressure) was more just from me, just wanting to get better," Nelson said. "I think that just also comes from how competitive I am and just always wanting to improve."
AWARD SEASON:Â See our All-Class B teams and individual honors
Nelson's her combination of blazing speed, court vision and ability to get to the basket make her one of NEPSAC's most electric playmakers. In the past, she was more the quiet, lead-by-example type. That doesn't always work for point guards, and Nelson knew she needed to use her voice, especially in preparation for college.
Becoming a vocal leader is easier said than done. Nelson had to learn how to say what she meant without reacting too much out of emotion. She said even short on-court messages like "ball" or "help" provided simple reps that got her in the habit of talking more.
"Just talk. It doesn't matter — you might say the wrong thing or it might not come out right, but just continue to talk and you'll just improve," Nelson said. "Just like anything, the more you do it, the better you'll get at it."
Nelson also wanted to reach another level on the court. She worked on being a better decision-maker with the ball and a more confident three-level scorer. Nelson was the steadying force for St. Luke's during a bumpy, 14-11 season.
Even as a No. 5 seed entering the playoffs, the Storm were considered a contender. Nelson showed why immediately by tossing in 30 points on the road against Lawrence Academy. Her semifinal effort might have been even more impressive: 23 points to help St. Luke's turn a double-digit deficit into a 72-58 win against St. George's. But she wasn't carrying the team; Emma Sollenne (18 points) and Olivia White (15 points) also led the way.
"This is what we set (as) a goal in the beginning of the year, and this is what we wanted," Nelson said. "We were put in the position, so just go out there, give it all — and we were going to win it together. We weren't going to win it individually."
Nelson will join Jasmyn Cooper, our Class AAA Player of the Year, at Syracuse. Mackenzie remains her inspiration and has helped Nelson along throughout the recruiting and training process. When Nelson was ready to commit to Syracuse, she asked her sister about how she'd know it was the right fit. As Nelson prepares for college, she's already asking Mackenzie about the drills and expectations she runs at Virginia Tech.
"I think independently, which I don't think a lot of people see, is just her work ethic that really motivated me," Nelson said. "Like those days that I didn't want to go to the gym, but she was, so it was like, 'Well, I need to go.' ... I always look to her for advice and always look up to her."
