Top 5 Power Forwards in the WCC

Dec 28 2011; Spokane, WA, USA; In front of his home town Portland Pilots forward Ryan Nicholas (32) is introduced before a game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the McCarthey Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

No. 4- Ryan Nicholas (Portland)

By David Thompson

Being asked to replace a Portland great like Luke Sikma is a tough job. That is exactly what Portland senior Ryan Nicholas was asked to do when he was recruited to the Bluff. Losing a player who not only could score and rebound, but also was the leader of a team that had more than 60 wins over three seasons can be a lot to ask but Nicholas has done a pretty solid job. The ALL-WCC honorable mention has led the Pilots in both scoring and rebounding each of the past two seasons, averaging 13 and 8 last season. Not only did the 6-7 forward battle down low, he also showed great range shooting almost 38% from deep, and over the last 15 games connected on half of his three-point attempts (24-48). Nicholas truly is a jack-of-all-trades and always seems to be making the right play. He will need to provide plenty of scoring, rebounding, and leadership if Portland wants to jump into the upper half of the WCC.