Lincoln-Way Central’s Nick Brzezniak had never tried out for basketball until he was in seventh grade at Manhattan Junior High. Vincent Perillo, who was the coach, convinced him to play.

At the time, Brzezniak was considered to be tall. The early returns, though, weren’t good.

Yes, he was 6-foot. But …

“I was terrible,” Brzezniak said. “I dribbled with my head down. I shot with two hands.

“But in eighth grade, I dedicated my whole life to basketball. I went to the gym every day, and after eighth grade going into freshman year, it was all day every day.”

That was has paid off for Brzezniak, who had another big day Saturday.

Lincoln-Way Central’s Nick Brzezniak (22) makes a free throw against T.F. South during a nonconference game in Lansing on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (John Smierciak / Daily Southtown)

The 6-5 junior forward scored nine of his game-high 20 points in the fourth quarter, sparking the Knights to a 49-40 nonconference victory over host T.F. South in Lansing.

Brzezniak, a transfer from Lincoln-Way West, added five rebounds and two steals for Lincoln-Way Central (20-9). Nolan Morrill, the SouthWest Valley Red’s defensive player of the year in football, complemented his typical standout effort on the defensive end with 10 points.

Jadyn Raggs and Orville Cross Jr. scored 12 points apiece and Cross added seven rebounds for T.F. South (8-20).

It has been quite a week, meanwhile, for Brzezniak. He has a running joke with Lincoln-Way Central coach Brian Flaherty about his production after halftime.

Lincoln-Way Central’s Nick Brzezniak (22) ties to strip the ball from T.F. South’s Tim Adenrele (34) during a nonconference game in Lansing on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (John Smierciak / Daily Southtown)

“I usually stop scoring in the second half, as coach says,” Brzezniak said, referring to Flaherty. “But I’m starting to get back into it.”

It showed Tuesday when Brzezniak scored 10 of his 19 points in overtime. He split a pair of free throws with five seconds left, but Lincoln-Way East’s Jaymon Hornsby hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer to sink the Knights in a 54-53 SouthWest Suburban Conference decision.

Brzezniak followed that up Friday by making both of his free throws with 15 seconds left as the Knights hung on for a 38-37 SouthWest Suburban Conference win over Stagg.

Saturday, however, late free throws didn’t play a role in the win. Lincoln-Way Central led 33-32 heading into the fourth quarter when Brzezniak went to work on offense, scoring nine of the Knights’ 16 points after he had gone scoreless in the third.

Lincoln-Way Central’s Nick Brzezniak (22) drives past T.F. South’s Daniel Mobley (12) during a nonconference game in Lansing on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (John Smierciak / Daily Southtown)

“My teammates helped get me open more,” Brzezniak said. “The defense started playing me tighter and I went to the basket more.”

It’s exactly what Flaherty wants to see.

“That was our joke that he would start off scoring in the first half and stop in the second half,” Flaherty said of Brzezniak. “But he’s been coming through at the end a lot.

“He has the ability, at times, to do whatever he wants on the court. We’re trying to get that through to him to develop a more aggressive mindset.”

Still, Morrill admires Brzezniak’s ability to take the ball to the basket.

“He’s a great player,” Morrill said. “He can score better than anyone else on the team. He can shoot the ball really well.”

Lincoln-Way Central’s Nick Brzezniak (22) battles for position against T.F. South’s Orville Cross Jr. (24) during a nonconference game in Lansing on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (John Smierciak / Daily Southtown)

The sixth-seeded Knights are playing pretty well heading into the playoffs, clinching back-to-back 20-win seasons. They host a regional and open up play in the Class 4A Joliet West Sectional on Feb. 25 with a rematch against Stagg in New Lenox.

Flaherty hopes that Brzezniak can help the Knights put together a strong run.

“He’s going to be a real good player,” Flaherty said of Brzezniak. “He’s a student of the game. He has the physical tools and plays with a high IQ, too.

“The biggest thing with him is that he loves to play basketball. He will be anywhere there’s an open gym once the season is over.”

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/15/nick-brzezniak-lincoln-way-central-basketball/