Nine-Year Old with Basketball Pedigree Outscores All Shooters at Annual National Elks Free Throw Competition

Gabriel Nazelli shot 20 free throws out of a perfect score of 25 Saturday morning, December 4, 2011, at Livonia’s Community Recreation Center.

The Detroit Country Day third grader competed in the youngest group of Boys 8-9. The Elks National "Hoop Shoot" Free Throw Contest is open to boys and girls, ages 8 to 13. If Gabe continues to advance to the National Championship held in Springfield, Mass., this spring, he would be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Gabe’s hardwood pedigree goes back to the 1981 Elks Hoop Shoot. His father, Christopher Nazelli, entered the annual event as an 11 year old. Chris captained the1989 Stevenson High School basketball team that beat the number 5 state-ranked Plymouth Salem Team in the District final 81-79. Nazelli scored 24 points in that game and blocked the final shot at the buzzer to preserve the victory. Until recently, Chris held the Michigan High School record for Shooting Percentage at 71%.

At the age of 16, Chris went to Sweden between his sophomore and junior years as an exchange student. He joined the local basketball team that competed against teams from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany and all the Scandinavian countries.

In 1985, Chris was selected to the first American Youth Basketball Team to compete in the Soviet Union against Leningrad Spartak. That team was assembled and coached by his father, Dennis Nazelli, Gabe’s grandfather. Coach Nazelli began coaching in the Livonia recreation leagues; was hired to coach the Girls Varsity program and Boys Assistant Coach at Dearborn High School; in 1988, he was hired by Schoolcraft Junior College Athletic Director, Ed Cavanaugh for the women’s program; in the summer of 1988, Dennis assembled the Michigan College All-Star Team to compete in Helsinki, Finland, against the National and Olympic Teams of Turkey, Sweden and host Finland. U of M stand-out forward and future NBA All-Star Forward, Glen Rice was selected as the Tournament’s MVP.

Elks Lodges bring so much more to their communities than just a building, golf course or pool. They are places where neighbors come together, families share meals, and children grow up.

Elks invest in their communities through programs such as the Annual Hoop Shoot contest that help children grow up healthy and drug-free, by undertaking projects that address unmet need, and by honoring the service and sacrifice of our veterans.

Gabe Nazelli’s favorite NBA player is the Piston’s Center, Ben Wallace, whose son is Gabe’s classmate and friend. With these basketball pedigrees, future Country Day opponents might want to start rethinking their scheduling decisions.