Plainview, Texas - From Canaries, St. Lucia to Plainview, Texas, the journey Megan Nestor has experienced in order to play college basketball has been an unexpected blessing in her eyes.
 
Nestor didn’t grow up playing basketball. Instead, she played a sport called Netball – which has similarities to basketball except there are no backboards on the goal and you cannot dribble or run while in possession of the ball. 
 
Nestor competed in netball for the St. Lucia national team beginning at 11 years old. She worked her way up to eventually become a captain of their U-23 Senior Team.
 
“I got a call from my netball coach, and he was like you’re getting a full scholarship to go play basketball,” recalled Nestor. “I didn’t like basketball. My stepdad was always trying to get me to play basketball for years, but I was always like no because I didn’t like the aggressiveness, even though I’m an aggressive player now.”
 
Nestor had plans to graduate from nursing school, but those plans never came into fruition after the school was forced to close its three locations. Basketball provided Nestor with a second opportunity to graduate and get her degree, which she described as a blessing.
 
“It all worked out, because all of my credits were able to transfer over and allow me to graduate in two and a half years with my bachelor’s degree,” said Nestor. “I look at it as God giving me another opportunity to finish school since I didn’t finish nursing school. I thought this might be His way of telling me I need to finish school was by playing basketball.”
 
Nestor was nervous when she got the call about coming to Wayland Baptist for basketball, saying, “I really was in shock, because I don’t know basketball. I couldn’t dribble the ball. I could shoot, because you need to be able to shoot in netball. I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into coming here. It was honestly just a leap of faith and what God had in store for me.”
 
As one would expect, Nestor took a little bit of time getting acclimated to the game. Over 14 games her freshman season, she averaged 0.9 points per game and 2.0 rebounds per game in limited playing time.
 
Over that first off-season, Nestor put in overwhelming hours to catch her game up to speed with the typical college basketball player. Those hours of work paid off in unexplainable fashion as she put her name on the map in the Sooner Athletic Conference with a dominant sophomore season.
 
As a sophomore, Nestor played in 31 games and averaged 15.9 points per game on 55% shooting from the floor, while also hauling in 13.5 rebounds per game – good for 3^rd in the NAIA. Nestor also brought in 6.7 offensive rebounds per game, which led the NAIA.
 
On January 20^th, 2024, Nestor rewrote the Flying Queens record book for rebounds in a game after her overpowering performance against Langston – going for 32 points and 24 rebounds. Nestor went on to also set Flying Queen records for total rebounds in a season (417) and rebounds per game (13.5). 
 
This eye-popping development garnered multiple awards for Nestor following the 2023-24 season. Nestor earned NAIA Third Team All-American, NCCAA Third Team All-American, SAC Defensive Player of the Year, and All-Sooner Athletic First Team recognition.
 
Nestor’s development in two years - from an athlete who has never played basketball to an All-American – helped her achieve one of the biggest honors of her life, which was having her jersey displayed at the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tennessee as part of the “Ring of Honor” recognizing college and high school All-Americans from around the country.
 
“To go from not knowing the ins and outs of basketball and having one of my jerseys in the Hall of Fame is just crazy. I’m so humble about it, because I know what is given to you in life can be taken from you, but I’m really grateful to have never given up.”
 
“It all started when we went to California over Thanksgiving, and I had a double-double in both games and was getting blocks and rebounds,” said Nestor referencing when she noticed a turning point in her development.
 
Nestor continued by talking about Flying Queens Head Coach Jason Cooper, “I’m so thankful for Coach Cooper, because I feel like he saw my potential before I even did. My first year, I didn’t have an idea about basketball, and he could’ve been like I don’t want you anymore. He saw the potential in me and had the faith in me, and after those games in California, I really just had the confidence and started ballin’ after that.”
 
Coach Cooper reciprocated this sentiment from Nestor with a feeling of gratitude, “Megan Nestor, affectionately known as “Big Meg,” arrived at Wayland Baptist with little basketball experience and a background in netball. Adjusting to the faster pace and physicality of the game was no small challenge for her. In fact, at first, she struggled with the most basic skills even staying on her feet.”
 
Coach Cooper continued, “But what Megan lacked in experience, she made up for with an unmatched work ethic and determination. She poured herself into the grind – spending countless hours in the gym, weight room, and on the track both with her coaches and on her own. Through blood, sweat, tears, and sheer perseverance, she transformed herself from a beginner to an NAIA All-American and a Flying Queen Record holder.”
 
Now, Nestor is considered a veteran leader on this Flying Queens squad that has jumped out to a terrific start this season. Nestor has led the Queens to an 11-1 start and an 8-1 SAC record by averaging 19.3 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 61.8 FG%, 0.8 bpg, and 2.0 spg.