Relationships key for Willardson, who eyes resurgence with Weber State women’s basketball
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- Utah Tech center Nicole Willardson, left, shoots against a contest from Utah Valley’s Halle Nelson on Jan. 18, 2025, in St. George.
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- Utah Tech center Nicole Willardson (25) pivots to shoot in a game against Pitt on Dec. 21, 2024, in St. George.
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- Utah Tech center Nicole Willardson, left, shoots a 3-pointer over Weber State’s Rose Bubakar on Nov. 16, 2024, in St. George.
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- Nicole Willardson
Growing up in the small town of Richfield, Utah, relationships were always important to Nicole Willardson.
That was amplified when her father, Kendall, died after collapsing while playing basketball in 2013. A scholarship with his name is given to five or so high school students from central Utah each year who exemplify his life, “a man who was passionate about his family and community, serving others, sports, and the healthcare industry,” Mid-Utah Radio wrote in 2017.
Those connections Willardson has, both with her immediate family and her hometown community, are paramount and are the same reason she dialed in on Weber State women’s basketball. After two years at Utah Tech, the 6-foot-4 post player is now signed to play for the Wildcats.
“The bonds I made with people in that community are just very important to me,” Willardson said. “I really want to keep those relationships … which is something that Weber and the coaching staff are big into as well.”
She remembers playing basketball as young as second or third grade and, despite being a region MVP in volleyball or winning state championships in the shot put and discus at Richfield High, basketball always won out as her first sports love.
“Growing up without a father, a lot of people stepped into that role for me, and a lot of that came from basketball coaches,” Willardson said. “A different kind of bond I had with those coaches that I didn’t get to have anywhere else, and I really appreciate that and love every one of those coaches I’ve had who have helped me grow on and off the court.”
Willardson was a two-time selection as a Utah All-State basketball player at Richfield. Averaging 19 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game and becoming the school’s all-time scoring leader as a senior, she led those Wildcats to several deep playoff runs.
Between her basketball-playing brothers and her coaching mentors, and in memory of her father, Willardson said seeing “what else I could do with basketball” became her top athletic priority when deciding what summer circuits to play in and what sport to pursue in college.
Utah Tech afforded her the chance to stay close to home, as does Weber State now. It helped that, when Willardson entered her name into the transfer portal, longtime Utah Tech assistant Nicole Yazzie was soon headed to Ogden to link up with former teammate Jenteal Jackson to coach at Weber State.
“She really believes in me … and seeing the trust that Yazzie has in coach Jackson, I really respect that. That was important to me … and ultimately gives me a level of respect (for Jackson) without knowing her yet fully,” Willardson said.
Keeping those relationships close to home meant Utah Valley and Southern Utah were top competitors for Willardson this time around, and she said she had plenty of interest from schools like UNLV, Pepperdine and Pacific. But the extreme belief and detailed plans Weber State has for her quickly won out.
Such interest deserves a deeper look since, after all, Willardson averaged just 1.7 points and 2.9 rebounds in 11.8 minutes per game this season. Willardson and Jackson can easily explain why both are excited to make the post player a Wildcat once again.
“I played as a true five (center) in high school. At Utah Tech, we ended up playing a five-out system … and I’ve been longing to get back to playing inside and having more of a post presence,” Willardson said. “Coach Jackson said, come play with your back to the basket, come out and set screens, pick and roll, pick and pop, all the kind of stuff you see a five doing. I’m really excited to do that again.”
Willardson, Jackson says, has a comfort shooting outside and her vision is pretty clear for what Willardson can do for the Wildcats.
“She’s 6-4 and her mobility is really elite for that size. She’s going to be great in our system,” Jackson said. “So she can pick-pop and be a strong screener for us. Just really excited to work with her because she hasn’t got the opportunity to show what she can do with back-to-basket touches. We’ll definitely put her in positions to be successful there, and that will add to her scoring. We’ll dial in on reps and footwork to make her successful in both scenarios.
“There were times we needed a little more size last year to match some of the posts in our league and we definitely have that now. I think she’s going to enjoy it, her production will go up playing her game and doing the things she’s best at, and see her elevate.”
Yazzie recruited Willardson to Utah Tech and is experiencing the move to WSU as well.
“She works hard, she’s a giver, she’s a great teammate and I know she’s really excited for this,” Yazzie said. “She got a lot of interest when she went into the portal so I’m really excited that we’re going through this journey together.”
Willardson has studied exercise science at Utah Tech and found Weber State is a great fit there, too, as she looks at focusing on athletic training and rehabilitation sciences to finish a degree.
With studies and relationships lining up, her on-the-court prospects at Weber have Willardson buzzing.
“I loved every second at Utah Tech, I love the people, but that system is something I was searching for and I found in Weber,” she said. “I know they’re going to develop me and get me exactly where I want to be. I’m excited to get to work and … think it will be a great fit. I’m really excited to have this chance and opportunity.”
Willardson is the third addition this offseason for Weber State women’s basketball, joining Montana State sophomore guard Hannah Robbins and junior college wing/forward Celestine Segretain as transfer commitments.
The Wildcats are aiming to add three more players, Jackson said. Given the team’s returning group of sophomores and redshirt freshmen, she said all three are likely to be incoming transfers.
