When it comes to consistency, look no further than both the men’s basketball team and its leader, starting forward and senior captain Nick Pelletier ’08. A serious presence in the paint for the past three years, Pelletier has been having a monster final season. The Amherst, NH native is close to averaging a “double double” this season, with 13.3 points per game and 8.3 rebounds per game. These two stats rank 13th and 4th in the NESAC, respectively.

Considering his imposing stature (6’6”), Pelletier displays astonishing versatility in his play. He has been running the court and hitting jumpers all season, stepping out often to hit J’s that have become a solid part of his shooting repertoire. Of course, Pelletier’s dojo is his block: his savvy swing moves are a steady scoring option, and his tenacity in crashing the boards has been giving Wes offensive opportunities since November.

A contributor from his freshman year, Pelletier has improved every season and now seems to be maxing out his potential. While everyone else was home on their couches, Pelletier started off the month of January as NESCAC player of the week. Additionally, he was named MVP of the Jim Beaudry Classic tournament, in which he scored 32 points with 24 rebounds. Four of those points came in the final two minutes of the tournament’s championship game, icing the victory for the Cards. Pelletier has led the team in rebounding in four of its six games in January. He also led in scoring in two out of six January games.

Perhaps fitting for a four-year starter, Pelletier capped off this phenomenal month with a career high 27 points to go with 12 rebounds (his ninth “double double” of the season) on Feb. 2 against Tufts University. Fast becoming Mr. Clutch, Pelletier’s final three points of the game came on a three pointer with 1:11 remaining to break the 76-76 tie and seal the Cardinal win. As if that wasn’t enough, Pelletier became the 17th player in Wesleyan basketball history to score 1,000 points for their career.

For becoming a card-carrying member of this exclusive club and generally dominating the court, Nick Pellitier is the male athlete of the month.