Bio

Ariel Nickell hails from Cumberland Gap, Tennessee, and is a product of Claiborne High School. She attended Alice Lloyd from 2010-2014, where she graduated with a Health and PE Education Degree. As a four-year member of the Lady Eagles, she completely rewrote the record books.

She showed a preview of things to come as a freshman. In her inaugural year, she finished third in the league in scoring and averaged 16.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. This helped lead the club to the championship game of the KIAC Tournament. For her efforts, she was recognized with several Player of the Week honors and was the only freshman in the league named First Team All-Conference.

Her game only elevated as a sophomore. That season, she led the squad to a third-place conference finish while pumping in 22.5 points and grabbing 9.5 rebounds per game. Both of these numbers led the conference, and her scoring average was fourth nationally. Not only was she recognized with numerous Player of the Week honors, and she was voted as the Conference Player of the Year, named NAIA DII Second Team All-American, and voted First Team All-American by the USCAA. Additionally, she was named the Female Athlete of the Year by the entire KIAC.

Her junior year was even more impressive. She propelled the Lady Eagles to 18-wins while leading the nation in scoring at 25.9 points per game. She also finished second in the country in rebounding at 12.9 per outing. Naturally, she recognized with numerous Player of the Week honors, and for the second consecutive season, she was voted as the Conference Player of the Year. Additionally, she was also named an NAIA DII Third Team All-American and chosen First Team All-American by the USCAA. Logically, she was once again named the Female Athlete of the Year by the entire KIAC.

As a senior, she left her mark in Lady Eagle history. On the season, she led the club to another 17-win season while finishing second in the nation in scoring at 25.6 points per game. She also led the country in rebounding with a 13.3 average. In addition to her multitude of Player of the Week honors, she was voted as the Conference Player of the Year for the third consecutive season. Additionally, she was named once again as an NAIA DII Third Team All-American. To the surprise of no one, she garnered the Female Athlete of the Year honor for the third time by the KIAC.

When her illustrious career had reached its conclusion, she had produced staggering numbers. During her 115 games in the royal blue and white, she had poured in an all-time school record of 2,587 points, grabbed a school-record of 1,241 rebounds, and recorded 221 steals. Her career averages during that time were: 22.5 points, 10.9 rebounds, and two steals per outing. These are all records as well. She is the only player in school history to be named First Team All-Conference for four seasons and named NAIA DII All-American for three seasons. She is also the only athlete in school history to be chosen as the KIAC Female Athlete of the Year, and she received that honor three times as well. She also was a solid student who was regularly on the Dean’s List.

She currently resides in Cumberland Gap, Tennessee, and has served her community for the past six years as a member of the Bell County Board of Education. She currently teaches at Yellow Creek School, the Lone Jack School, and is the head girls basketball coach of the Claiborne County Lady Bulldogs.

She was accompanied on the floor by her mother, Kim Gipfert.