Frustration started to set in around this time last year for Auraum Nuiriankh.
The Arundel forward had a storybook senior season, leading the Wildcats to a 21-4 record and their first county title since 1995. A Baltimore Sun All-Anne Arundel County first-team selection, Nuiriankh did everything that was asked of him and more. Still, an offer to walk on at the Citadel and a smattering of Division II interest was all he could muster.
"I was still in contact with a couple of schools, and they would say 'We hear great things about you. We'll see how our recruiting goes,'" said Nuiriankh, who was fully qualified academically coming out of high school. "It was really frustrating. Me and my AAU coach just kept calling schools and sending out tape."
When no Division I offers came, the 6-foot-5, 190-pound Nuiriankh decided to delay college for a year by attending prep school. At Charis Prep in Wilson, N.C., Nuiriankh found the right place to improve his game and finally attract the kind of interest he felt he deserved."I've got [offers from] Sacred Heart, Iona, Robert Morris, Buffalo -- they haven't officially offered me yet but they're my No. 1 school," Nuiriankh said Tuesday. "Albany, they offered me back in the early signing period. That's it for the offers. Charleston Southern, Tennessee Tech, Albany -- they haven't offered again for the regular signing period -- Maryland-Eastern Shore, Northeastern University, those are the ones that call me consistently."
Nuiriankh has been a fixture in the starting lineup for Charis (33-5) since the beginning. On a team with at least five future Div. I players, Nuiriankh averages about 17 points, seven rebounds and three assists per game. He hopes to lead Charis to the national prep school championship, which kicks off tournament play Thursday.
For Arundel coach Jeff Starr, seeing Nuiriankh finally receive recognition from colleges is overdue, but extremely rewarding.
"He played forward and center for us, and he's been playing shooting guard down there," Starr said. "It's a more natural position for him at the next level. ... I'm happy he's getting some looks. He sacrificed a lot of personal stuff for the benefit of our team. So I hope colleges can see that attribute as well as his playing ability."
Nuiriankh has visited Sacred Heart and will take trips to Robert Morris and Buffalo after the conclusion of Charis' season. A decision should come soon after.
While his recruitment wasn't ideal, Nuiriankh now sees the benefits of his year at prep school.
"I would have rather just been a signee straight out of high school," Nuiriankh said. "I definitely felt like I could play. But I'm doing a lot better. I grew an inch, got a lot stronger, have improved my ballhandling and my [overall] game. So I like the decision I made."
Baltimore Sun photo by Doug Kapustin / December 30, 2008