Hill-Green an old-school talent for Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, July 6, 2018 | 5:06 PM

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The Tribune-Review and the TribLive High School Sports Network are profiling each member of the 25-player Trib HSSN Preseason WPIAL Football All-Star team.

The players will be recognized at 2 p.m. July 24 during HSSN Media Day at Kennywood Park.

When Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic football coach Pat O’Shea looks at Nikhai Hill-Green, he views someone who plays football the old-school way — tough and nasty.

He also sees a leader and a very determined player.

“He plays the game angry,” O’Shea said. “He leads by his work ethic, and he’s strong in his faith. He won’t see many players like him.”

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound junior inside linebacker was named a captain his season. O’Shea said Hill-Green will become more involved in the offense at either slot back or running back.

“He has the natural ability to make things happen,” O’Shea said. “He played more on offense than we planned as a sophomore.”

Hill-Green said he hates to lose, which is why he plays with an edge.

He’s been spending most of his summer trying to improve his game.

“I need to improve my football IQ,” Hill-Green said. “I want to know everyone’s position so I know what they’re doing. I also need to improve my speed and my reaction time.”

Hill-Green and his teammates also like to emulate the style Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier played with.

“I just want to be the best that I can be,” Hill-Green said. “We played in the Pitt and Penn State seven-on-seven camps, and we improved as a team.

“We need that work because we’re in Class 3A next season. I’m looking forward to the challenge of playing against larger schools. I want to see if I can dominate them like I did in Class 2A.”

Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, which finished 10-3 overall and went 7-0 in the Class 2A Midwestern Conference last season, will compete in the Class 3A Big East this year. The Trojans will be joined by Burrell, Deer Lakes, Derry, Elizabeth Forward, Freeport, Mt. Pleasant, Uniontown and Yough.

Rivals rates Hill-Green as the No. 3 junior class prospect in Pennsylvania behind Southern Columbia wide receiver Julian Fleming and Mars defensive end Michael Carmody. He’s also rated as the 28th best junior prospect in the country as an athlete.

Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at pschofield@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Schofield_Trib.

Tags: Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, North Catholic