Santa Barbara’s Nelson is a two-sport standout

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For those who don’t think that there’s a strong contingent of NCAA Division I college basketball recruiters interested in what happens during Friday night football games in Santa Barbara County, think again.

There’s a logical explanation as to why a hoops scout would be more concerned with looking at a box score for touchdowns, receptions and yards after the catch (YAC) instead of points, rebounds and assists. And simply put, that explanation is Roberto Nelson.

Yes, the same Roberto Nelson who’s widely recognized as one of the top prep basketball prospects in the 2009 class. The same 6-foot-4 junior who’s made a seemingly effortless transition from the hardwood to the gridiron and has been at the forefront of the resurgence at Santa Barbara (4-1 overall), a team that managed only one victory in 10 games last season.

‘When you can put an athlete of Roberto’s caliber on the field, he’s going to make you instantly better,’ Dons football Coach Will Gonzalez said.

But Nelson, pictured left, has his priorities. ‘I’m a basketball guy first, no doubt about it,’ he said.

You can’t argue with his numbers on the field, though. Nelson, in his second year on varsity, leads the team in yards receiving (296), points (36) and touchdowns (6). And his four interceptions rank him among the top 20 in the state. Not too shabby for basketball player who averaged 22.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals a game as a sophomore.

A productive summer on the travel-ball circuit opened even more eyes. Rivals.com ranks Nelson at No. 69 among juniors in the country and Scout.com has him at No. 75.

‘It amazes how Roberto has been able to excel in both sports. Let’s face it, he’s gifted,’ Dons basketball Coach Chris Hantgin said. ‘There’s this preconceived idea about how things are supposed to play out in his future with basketball being the vehicle. There’s more opportunities out there for him.’

Indeed there are. Nelson has been contacted by several basketball powerhouses, including UCLA, North Carolina and Ohio St, but doesn’t plan on making a decision anytime soon. For now, he’s focused on football, which has to raise some level of concern for his suitors.

‘Yeah, at some point I might have to choose one sport because there’s a lot of contact on the field,’ Nelson said. ‘I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been told about the contact. But hey, I’m having too much fun right now to think about it.’

But in the meantime, scouts from across the country will continue holding their collective breath on Friday nights and run to scour the internet and newspapers each Saturday morning, just to keep tabs on Nelson. Recruiting sure has changed.

- Sean Ceglinsky, guest blogger

-- Image by Stephen Osman/Los Angeles Times