BOCA RATON – Nicole Whitaker has been the true definition of what a student-athlete in her senior season.
Before signing with UCF, Whitaker had a few others offers to consider as she was being courted by the likes of FIU, VCU, Troy, and Towson.
“I chose UCF because I like it’s proximity to home,” Whitaker said. “I also really loved the staff, team, the available opportunities for my potential degrees, and the support staff — the athletic trainers.”
Whitaker sports a 3.72 GPA, which has made her such a commodity for college coaches. It’s something that Whitaker takes pride in.
“If I’m not doing what I need to do in the classroom, then I wouldn’t be able to practice, play, or throw,” Whitaker said. “I don’t want to be the ‘dumb athlete.’ I take pride in saying I’m a student-athlete, not an athlete-student.”
What Whitaker is doing is nothing short of amazing, but it’s nothing new to her. Whitaker has been a two-sport athlete since the sixth grade during her time at Don Estridge Middle School.
“I don’t like the idea of sitting around for too long and feeling like someone is outworking me,” Whitaker said. “Although it is hard to train for track during basketball season, I make it work.”
The senior has clearly earned the attention she’s garnered from colleges. But she never imagined that she would be able to compete at the Division 1 level.
“Definitely not!” Whitaker said. “Three years ago I thought I was going D3, maybe even D2. Going D1 wasn’t even in the picture.”
Although the senior is signed and set for her career at the next level, she’s not getting complacent at all. It’s clear that she wants to go out with a bang.
Whitaker explained her mindset and motivation for her senior season at St. Andrews.
“I want to give everything my best and not leave anything on the court or field this year,” Whitaker said. “I want to do my best in basketball because it will be the last season in my 11 years that I’ve played ball for a team.”
Whitaker would expand further.
“For track I want to dominate and beat my school record again,” she said. “I want to make it one that’s hard to break.”
Finishing the mission and reaching new heights are part of Whitaker’s goals for her senior year on and off the athletic stages.
Basketball is in season for the senior right now, and she’s hoping her team can have a stronger bond with each other and win the district championship for three years in a row.
At the conclusion of basketball season Whitaker will be back on the field for throwing (shot put and discus). She hopes to win a state title (at least 150) and put up numbers that will completely shatter her old school records.
Inside the classroom the senior plans to maintain or increase her 3.72 GPA and to keep apprehending new information everyday.
Outside of the classroom and sporting arenas Whitaker plays a major role in the Boca Raton school community. Whitaker is the president and founder of two clubs at St. Andrews: Scots Media Club and Black Student Union — it’s the first BSU at Saint Andrew’s.
Below you can find some of Whitaker’s most recent accomplishments for track and field and basketball for the senior’s time at St. Andrews.
Track accolades: 2017 All-American for discus, St. Andrew’s School record holder in discus (140-11) and shot put (36-7), earning 2018 state runner-up in discus for her first state finals appearance, 2018 regional runner-up in discus, 2017 and 2018 district champion in discus, 2018 first-team for discus in the Sun-Sentinel and Palm Beach Post, No. 2 state-ranked junior in 2017 for discus.
Basketball Accolades: 2014 state champion with the Jupiter Jaguars, two-time district champion for St. Andrew’s (2017 and 2018), second team selection for the Palm Beach Post.
More accolades may be on the way as Whitaker was recently nominated by St. Andrews for the Pathfinders sports award.
Note: The Pathfinder High School Scholarship Awards are presented each year to high school seniors in Palm Beach and Martin counties who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in 18 academic, vocational and athletic categories. These seniors are nominated by their schools, they do not self-apply. The Pathfinder Awards program is one of the largest and most comprehensive high school scholarship programs in the state.
