Q&A with 2017 Niceville High School graduate, pro basketball player Trey Diggs
NICEVILLE, Fla. — After leading Niceville High School to back-to-back district titles his junior and senior years, basketball guard Trey Diggs went on to play for Florida Southern and Northwest Florida State College before earning a scholarship to Division I Bowling Green State University. As a guard for the Falcons, he played three successful years with an impressive record and a collection of awards, including 2019-20 Male Newcomer of the Year and 2020-21 Mid-American Conference’s Sixth Man of The Year. His skills on the court put him at 8th all-time in BGSU history in made three-point field goals, and most recently, earned him his pro title, signing with Feyenoord Rotterdam, in the Netherlands.
Tell me about your time playing college basketball.
Trey Diggs: I played for Division II Florida Southern University as a freshman, and then transferred to Northwest Florida my sophomore year. Then I got offered a scholarship to Bowling Green State University, and I couldn’t have asked for a better school to be at. I was only supposed to play for two years, but when Covid hit, I was granted an extra year, which allowed me to play three years total. It was a great experience.
Tell us about the process of getting signed with a pro team.
Diggs: After my college basketball season ended, I hired an agent and he went to work. He came back to me with a few offers, and then we had to decide which option was best. Overall, I knew that Feyenoord was the best fit for me.
How did your time playing basketball at NHS prepare you for where you are now?
Diggs: It took time during those years to figure out my work ethic, and what it was going to take to get to the next level. I was around a few guys at Niceville who really pushed me to get better and helped me out quite a bit. The only thing I was really focused on was getting a college scholarship, because I knew if I got a scholarship it would give me a better chance at playing professionally in the future.
And you got that scholarship?
Diggs: Yep, I did, to Florida Southern University.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Diggs: My parents always told me that the work I put in at night and in the morning, those hours you put in when no one is watching, is what counts toward how well you perform when people are watching. That has stuck with me.
What is one of the biggest challenges you faced and overcame?
Diggs: The biggest challenge I’ve ever faced is being away from home and my family my freshman year of college. It was the first time I’d ever been away from home and my parents. I even got to a point where I was ready to give it up and be done just so I could go home. But, I had an amazing supporting cast in my two best friends and my parents being there on the phone with me whenever I needed them, pushing me along. Obviously, I would have regretted the decision to leave school. All the work I had put in to get where I was would have been for nothing. It probably took me about 2 and a half months to adjust to being away from home before I felt ready to stick out this new chapter. It’s funny, because after I started to enjoy college, I just wanted to stay!
What is your ultimate goal professionally?
Diggs: I want to come back to the states and play in the NBA. This is just a different avenue to that. Going overseas, getting good numbers, and then coming back and playing in the NBA is the ultimate goal.
How long have you played basketball?
Diggs: I started playing organized basketball in 6th grade. I was a military kid, and we were in South Dakota at the time.
Did you play any other sports?
Diggs: I played baseball, basketball, football, and track. I played football all through high school for Niceville, and was on the track team as well.
Do you have a pre-game ritual?
Diggs: I pray two times. I used to meditate prior to games as well, but now I do it either the night before or the morning of.
What do you do outside of basketball?
Diggs: I actually love to golf! I like golfing, fishing, hanging out with my family when I’m in town, and when I’m not in town, I’m hanging out with my friends.
What advice would you give to your 6th grade self, just starting to play basketball?
Diggs: I would tell myself to trust the process and that it’s not all going to come to you overnight. Trust that God has something in store for you. You may not understand it right now, but eventually you will.
Is your family making plans to visit you overseas?
Diggs: They’re excited, and already made plans for Christmas – we’re having Christmas in the Netherlands! My brother will probably come out before then, but the whole family will be there for Christmas.
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