Beacon photo by Paul Archipley

Kamiak senior Nick Weiss signs a letter of intent Friday to attend the University of Illinois where he’ll play wheelchair basketball and major in computer science engineering.

High school athletes across America dream of the opportunity to play for a Division 1 college.

Nicholas Weiss of Mukilteo will get his chance.

On Friday, Nick signed a letter of intent to play basketball at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The twist? Nick was born with cerebral palsy, and he’ll be playing on the Fighting Illini’s wheelchair basketball team.

The Kamiak High senior was recruited by several universities. Illinois rose to the top in part because of its highly-regarded head coach, Mike Frogley, and its reputation in the computer science fields, Nick’s chosen major.

In fact, said Eric Weiss, Nick’s father, Bill Gates told a U of I audience at a recent commencement ceremony that Microsoft hires more computer scientists from that university than any other.

Nick, 17, has been playing wheelchair basketball for the past four years. His averages this season – 23 points, 12 rebounds per game – stack up against the best.

In addition, he has maintained a 3.6 GPA in high school.

Between his academic and athletic accomplishments, it’s no surprise universities were interested.

This year was tougher on the basketball court. Most of his teammates from the previous seasons graduated, so Nick had to get used to new players and step up at the same time.

“Nick has been doing a mentorship role this year,” Eric said. “He stepped up as a leader on the team.”

“I wasn’t used to how they played at first,” Nick said. “But now we’re clicking.”

Anyone who has watched a wheelchair basketball game knows it’s not for the faint-hearted.

They play by the same rules, using the same 10-foot high hoop. Collisions are inevitable.

Nick has developed such a reputation that opponents typically double-team him, so he’s fighting through two others in wheelchairs as he races up and down the court.

“It’s rough out there,” Eric said.

Nick doesn’t let his disability stop him from doing the things he wants to, and he’d counsel anyone, disabled or not, to take the same approach to life.

“You have to make the best of it,” he said. “I don’t look back.

“I love basketball. You keep doing the things you love, and it’ll be fun.”

Coach Frogley, known as “the Frog,” of course, won father over as much as son on their visit to Illinois.

“Not only is he a phenomenal coach,” Eric said, “but he has the most optimistic perseverance and character.

“He’s someone you want your kid to be like.”

Frogley is equally effusive about his new recruit.

“At U of I, we always recruit with the three A’s in mind: attitude, academics and athletics,” Frogley said. Nick rated highly in all three.

“He is a very good student. U of I is a very good school academically. Also, ultimately, we recruit our student-athletes with graduation in mind.

“We want them to come here and graduate first and foremost so that when they are 40 years old they have a purpose and are living a quality life,” he said.

Frogley also was impressed with Nick’s athletic skills.

“But what I like best is the way he combines intelligence with hustle,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to coaching that combination.”

Frogley not only coaches; he lives by example. He’s in a wheelchair, too.

Finally, the coach likes the way Nick conducts himself.

“He is always respectful. I really have to give his parents a lot of credit,” he said. “They raised a great young man.”

So Eric feels comfortable about Nick’s decision.

“He has 16 kids to look after,” Eric said of Frogley. “So when you’re sending your first born half way across the country, you have some comfort knowing someone is going to be there to help him make good choices.”

And he’s pleased Nick has the opportunity.

“It’s a stellar program, and an opportunity to do things that really motivate him,” Eric said.

Nick’s ready. “I don’t just want to be a wheelchair athlete,” he said. “I want to play in college.”

And the fact he gets to study computer science at one of the nation’s most prestigious universities? Gravy.