Perhaps this shouldn’t be surprising, but the secret to success may be music and peanut butter.

That’s Rogers City senior Nick Freel’s pregame ritual, which he credited for his recent ascent into the pantheon of basketball players with at least 1,000 career points.

But perhaps it’s more than music and peanut butter. Freel also shows dedication, flexibility, and humility.

Freel’s worked toward passing the 1,000-point mark since seventh grade, he told News freelancer Ben Murphy for a recent story. He’s willing and able to play any position on the court and maintains a positive attitude while developing and sticking to a game plan ironed out with his coach. He’s averaged about 25 points and nine rebounds per game this season alone.

“He just has a drive for the game and a love for the game,” head coach Matt Ponik told Murphy. “He loves to compete and you can see it in how hard he competes in how bad he wants it.”

Congratulations, Nick Freel. Keep up the good work, and keep setting an example for student athletes everywhere.