CORNING'S PROUDFOOT MADE THE TOUGH CHOICE IN LEAVING FOR WESTERN RESERVE (May 27, 2026)

BY BRIAN FEES
Southern Tier Sports Report
For Nolyn Proudfoot there was a tough decision to make.

On one hand he had a chance to go to Western Reserve Academy Prep, a school that had one of the top 10 prospects in the nation this past season. It would be an opportunity to push himself, and prepare himself for what college will be like. 

On the other hand, he’d have to leave his teammates and friends.

In the end Proudfoot knew he had to make the tough choice. 

“It was a really tough decision leaving Corning,” Proudfoot said. “I knew leaving my friends, family and people that supported me was the reason why it would be tough. I know it will be a hard adjustment at first, but I know it will be the best for me and my family so I had to make the decision.”

For Proudfoot leaving Corning also means missing a chance to play with his brother, Carter, for Carter’s senior year. 

“It was great playing alongside my brother for my final two seasons with Corning,” Proudfoot said. “He was a big reason why I took the leap to go to prep school. All of the hours in the gym, battling it out 1v1 is what drove me to be a better player, and it made me a better player. I will miss him and playing with and against him.”

From seventh grade through this past season, his sophomore year, Pruodfoot scored over 1,700 points and was a multiple-time all-state player, who led the Hawks to the state final four this past year. 

Now, he’ll make his way to a school that had been looking at him for a while. 

“It wasn’t a hard decision to choose Western, since eighth grade they had been recruiting me,” Proudfoot said. “I made the decision because the strength program and the coach and also the quality program and coach they have, Matt Garvey, is dedicated to making me the best player possible that he can make out of me. 

“And, playing against a full roster of D1 talent is what drove me to pick Westner. I play high level tournaments in the summer on the EYBL circuit, even though it is hard for me, I know having those six months of basketball season at WRA playing close to 30 games and multiple high level summer league tournaments against other high level prep schools will help me.”

While Proudfoot has been an all-state star in high school, he knows that in college you have to earn every minute. And, he’s ready to start doing that now at Western Reserve, where he’ll have to fight for minutes with other future Division I players. 

“At Corning, playing every minute, contributing in a large amount, but I knew to be ready for Division I talent right as I get to college, I know playing time and shots and opportunities must be earned. It’s tough, the sectional chips, the final fours, but I want to earn and work for what I get and I know I already do, but to get to a high level this is what I need to do, no matter what anyone says.”

One of his future teammates will be Luka Ioannisci, a former Maine-Endwell standout.

“It will be great to go off and play against a former STAC opponent, especially one that is a high level player like Luka,” Proudfoot said. “I’ve played with him for a while in summer leagues and we used to play in the same AAU organization.”

Proudfoot has enjoyed every minute he spent playing for the Hawks.

“The last four years have been amazing,” he said. “I am so fortunate for the opportunities I’ve been given by coach (Mike) J (Johnston Jr.) and coach (Bill) Hopkins and I wouldn’t trade anything for it. I want to thank my teammates for pushing me always, if it was basketball, or not.”
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STSR FILE PHOTO. 

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