Nick Bass has been behind the microphone as the public address announcer for Sandhills Community College basketball games for the past three seasons.
A product of Union Pines High School, he is scheduled to graduate at the end of the current semester with an Associate in Arts Degree. East Carolina, UNC-Wilmington and the University of South Carolina are on the list of schools where he’d like to continue the pursuit of a career in broadcast journalism.
“This has been a really good experience, being in front of people and talking to people,” he said before a recent basketball game. “It’s been something that I was kind of nervous about doing. It has really been nice being around the program and being a part of it. Putting down on a college resume that I was the public address announcer for the past few years is nice as well.”
Bass, who has donated his time, has also served as the announcer for some of the Lady Flyers volleyball matches.
“Nick has been invaluable the last three years,” Athletic Director and Basketball Coach Mike Apple says. “He is professional, as dependable as they come, and has gotten better every year. I think students doing these sorts of things are such an asset to an athletic department and a great resume builder for the student.”
Going back to his early youth, Bass’ non-student activities included roller hockey, both for recreation and competing in youth and, more recently, in adult leagues. That interest, coupled with aspirations to become a journalist, has led him to become a contributor to the Cardiac Canes and Dobber Prospects, Carolina Hurricanes fan sites.
Contributing to Dobber Prospects has provided him with access to media credentials, and in March, he will travel to the University of Maine to cover two hockey games.
During the three years that Bass has been the announcer, the basketball team has compiled a home record of 50 wins and nine losses. He was asked about a couple of games that stand out.
“The big one to me was the game last year against Davidson-Davie that was on ESPN,” he says. “My family that normally doesn’t get to see me do this stuff got to hear me and that was really cool. Another was in my first year, doing the Region 10 championship game, when Kendall Wooldridge took over in overtime. That was an exciting one.”
A busy period of his life includes being employed part-time by Staples in Aberdeen. The son of Brad and Susan Bass, he has a sister, Amanda.
~Written by Sandhills Sentinel contributor C. Bergmann. Photo by Donna Ford.
