Why NFL star Christian McCaffrey was at MUS with Stanford signee Brandon Nicholson
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is best known for his football playing ability. But on Friday, he was looking to spruce up his hooping skills while in town for a wedding.
The groom, former Stanford and Tennessee quarterback Keller Chryst, is marrying Sandy Smith, a Hutchison alum who played lacrosse at Stanford. Through connections, Chryst was able to set up some pickup basketball games at neighboring Memphis University School.
Stanford alumni, including San Fransisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, visited MUS today and took some time to talk to Stanford football signee Brandon Nicholson ’24! #GoOwls pic.twitter.com/7Ug7vVrcAn
— MUS Athletics (@OwlBuzz) February 23, 2024
When word got around that McCaffrey, just coming off the Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, was going to be at MUS, the administration set up a chance for Brandon Nicholson, a Stanford football signee, to meet McCaffrey, who played with the Cardinal, and some of the groomsmen who are also Stanford alums.
"First word that comes to mind is star-struck,” Nicholson said. “Somebody of that caliber, plays football at the highest level, basically one of the best running backs in the game right now. For me, that was amazing.”
Nicholson, who is also a star basketball player at MUS, didn’t get to play with them, but did get a chance to pick their brains, including McCaffrey’s, about playing at a high academic, Power Five school.
"I was already excited to go there,” Nicholson said, “but meeting these types of people in person, just knowing they’re supporting you and want you to do well. Going to a place like Stanford, it is not easy.”
He added McCaffrey has a nice jump shot, too.
"He was out there hooping a little bit,” Nicholson added.
Nicholson and MUS look to keep their TSSAA basketball playoffs run alive this weekend when they play at Briarcrest at 6 p.m. Saturday. The winner will play in next week’s Division II-AA tournament. The loser is eliminated.
Reach Wynston Wilcox at wwilcox@gannett.com and on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, @wynstonw__.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Why NFL star Christian McCaffrey was at Memphis University School
