‘I’ll miss how tight this community is’
Matt Nachamkin, 17, a Haldane senior who in April was named the Class C co-player of the year by the New York State Sportswriters Association, will play basketball next year for Williams College in Massachusetts.
Did you get tall gradually or in a spurt?
During the pandemic [in 2020] I grew 4 inches. It was fun to go back to school and see people’s reactions. I grew a few more inches after freshman year. Recently my doctor said I’ve plateaued at 6-6, but I’m hoping for one more inch. My grandfather was 6-6, my dad is about 6-3, my brother is 6-8 and my mom is about 5-11. I guess that’s where I get my height.
Have you had basketball heroes?
My grandpa, Boris Nachamkin, played in the NBA in the 1950s, for the Rochester Royals. He used to shoot with my dad and me on our court in the driveway. We put a plaque on the backboard in his honor when he died. It’s inspirational when I shoot there.
Who’s a bigger fan, mom or dad?
They’re fans in different ways. My dad was an All-American in Division III soccer, and my mom played Division I volleyball. They’re athletic and understand sports. They weren’t around basketball much but learned it through my travel and high school games. My mom sits in the Haldane section and watches with her friends. My dad sits where there are no fans because he’s so focused, so invested and wants me to succeed. I’m just thankful they are supportive, come to a lot of games and are my two biggest fans.
Is the state final still on your mind?
Both years stick with me [the Blue Devils lost in the title game in 2023 and 2024]. Both teams had great chemistry. I was a good contributor last year but was nervous on that big stage. This year, I was more comfortable. I think about a moment in the last few seconds of the final. Down by three, I got a rebound and was dribbling up the court. It would have been a real heave, though you never know. But a guy tapped the ball out of my hands. I try not to focus on that.
What will you remember about the team?
Our camaraderie. We had so many good laughs and jokes. There’s a restaurant in Glens Falls, O’Toole’s, that we went to last year. Our goal was to get back to the state final, so we named our group chat “The Road to O’Toole’s.” Everyone bought into making it back to that restaurant. They gave us green O’Toole’s shirts.
Any thoughts on a career?
I may study economics. I’m president of the Haldane Geography Club and we play an online game called GeoGuessr; you figure out where you are based on clues. That interests me. A dream situation would be to travel the world while doing something math-related.
What’s on your mind as graduation approaches?
I was walking off campus with a friend, talking about the end of classes and finals. It was symbolic; we were leaving campus but we’re really heading out after graduation. I’m so lucky to have grown up in a community like this, and having gone to Haldane from kindergarten through high school. Graduating and leaving is big on my mind. I’m excited for the future, but I want to enjoy these last few months, walking around town, going to sporting events and restaurants, and soaking things in while I’m at home. I’ll come back for breaks, but I’ll miss how tight this community is.
