Credit to Tasia Lowe

Senior Aidan Nevins poses for a boys basketball photo during media day.

Most high schools in the state of Missouri are under the athletic rule of MSHSAA (Missouri State High School Activities Association), so rules and regulations are the same for every athletic event in the state. When it comes to transferring schools, rules get complex. 

“The only problem for me with transferring schools was that the state didn’t let me [play] because of the transfer rule,” senior Aidan Nevins said.

Nevins is entering his first year playing varsity basketball due to his transfer from St. Dominic to North following his sophomore year. During those first two years at St. Dominic, Nevins played on the junior varsity team. When he made the transfer to FHN, MSHSAA rules stated that he was unable to play on the varsity team, however, he was allowed to play on the junior varsity team.

“The coaches were super supportive in helping me transfer and join a new team,” Nevins said. “The team made me feel welcome, and they were all super excited to have me on the team cause they knew we were going to be pretty good.”

As many players join the varsity team before their senior year, this was not the case for Nevins. Many of his teammates felt his skill was ready for the team in his junior year, but were disappointed when they found out he was unable to. 

“We all tried our best to make him feel welcome,” junior teammate Cohen Oster said. “We were excited and didn’t want to treat him any different just because he was on the other team.”

While being good enough to be a part of the varsity team, as his teammates explained, Nevins took this opportunity to enhance his skills and serve as a leader on the junior varsity team. It was a minor setback for him, but he used the past year to prepare for a major comeback in his senior season. 

“The most frustrating part about not playing was that I knew I had the potential to play,” Nevins said. “The coaches kept motivating me to get better so that I could come back senior year and be where they needed me to be.”

The FHN junior varsity roster had a successful year with Nevins during the 2024-2025 season. The junior varsity squad beat tough teams such as Fort Zumwalt West, Francis Howell Central, and Troy Buchanan twice, all of which are in one of the best conferences in the state. As successful as it was, the varsity team and coaching staff are excited for what Nevins brings to the team in the 2025-2026 season.

“Aidan is a reliable player,” Oster said. “If he has the ball in his hands, I know we can trust him. He also has good passes and a pretty good shot.”

Although it wasn’t in the cards for Nevins to play varsity longer, he is sure to make this season one to remember.

“Everyone is friends on the team, and it was an easy transition from JV to varsity with the team that I have,” Nevins said.