Whether it's the stroke of a pen on a final exam or the stroke of the ball as it leaves his fingertips, Nick DiClementi is always locked in.
 
Mason's graduate student walk-on joined the Patriot roster in the fall of 2017, and immediately made an impact in practice with his deft shooting touch and encouraging personality.
 
Now, a year later, he holds two impressive records within Patriot basketball lore.
 
First, he owns the Patriots' top mark for 3-pointers hit in a daily 5-minute practice drill, with 78 made in less than 85 attempts.
 
And in the classroom, DiClementi carries a perfect 4.0 GPA.
 
He's never received less than an A in any class, and graduated summa cum laude this past winter with a degree in government and international politics.
 
With such a pure shooting touch and natural gift in the classroom, it would be easy to assume things have always come easy to DiClementi.
 
But his journey to Div. I basketball team has been a trying process.
 
It's one that he's put trust in, and one that's provided him with a mindset in which he truly takes nothing for granted.
 
DiClementi first picked up a basketball when he was five years old. He played both basketball and soccer growing up but started to focus more on basketball as he approached high school.
 
While attending Middleburg Academy in Leesburg, DiClementi began to understand the delicate balance of managing a rigorous basketball schedule with a demanding course load. He performed admirably and credits his family for helping him develop the proper academic mindset.
 
"My parents were never over the top with me," DiClementi said. "They put enough pressure on me where they would let me know how much studying was important, but not more than that. Their philosophy was to make me realize that on my own so I could motivate myself. They helped me a lot."
 
DiClementi had a successful high school basketball career but was never the star of his team. He stood just 5-11 heading into his senior season and did not grow to his current 6-6 stature until his sophomore year of college.
 
He had some opportunities to play Division III basketball, but instead decided to enroll as a regular student at an in-state college. He was down to George Mason and William & Mary, and opted to stay close to home and become a student in Fairfax.
 
Once he settled in, DiClementi began to explore the process of becoming a walk-on player for the Patriots.
 
During his freshman season, the team had a full roster and did not need any additional players. But heading into his sophomore season, new head coach Dave Paulsen was looking for guys to round out the roster.
 
Unfortunately for DiClementi, he had broken his ankle the previous summer and was not cleared yet to participate in full basketball activities.
 
The team did not hold tryouts during his junior year in 2016-17, and DiClementi began to worry that his goal of playing college basketball may never come to fruition.
 
But as Mason's roster transitioned heading into 2017-18, DiClementi would be afforded one last opportunity to make his dream a reality.
 
He earned his tryout that fall and performed well. Coach Paulsen did not guarantee him a spot, but had him join the team for a week and see if he had the dedication necessary to become a part of the program.
 
The week-long experiment proved successful, and DiClementi officially became a member of the Patriot roster.
 
"It was a dream come true," DiClementi said. "For four years, it was what I had been waiting for. The process was immense but I was so appreciative of every part of it. It's not in my nature to not work hard. I value every second I get to play in practice or in a game."
 
That drive has made DiClementi a vital part of the Patriot scout team. He often takes on the role of the opposing team's top shooter or wing in practice, learns their tendencies and matches up against Mason's starters and key reserves.
 
He can truly devour a scouting report and eagerly watches tape of opponents ahead of time to imagine who he'll be simulating in practice a week or two later.
 
But DiClementi's most talked about contribution to the scout team?
 
He has a nearly photographic memory.
 
DiClementi can recall the free throw percentage and 3-point percentage of anyone on the opposing team, from the star to the reserve that sees two or three minutes per game.
 
Mason strength & conditioning coach Robert "Handy" Handerahan has worked with the team for nearly 25 years and is still in awe of DiClementi's natural gift.
 
"In all my years sitting on a college bench, I've never come across someone who's had that type of memory," Handerahan said. "During game situations, Nick sits to my left and we talk about game strategies. I'll look over to him and say, 'Who should we foul in this situation?' And he'll look on to the court and say, 'No. 3, he shoots 52.1 percent from the free throw line.' The numbers are incredible. I'll go back and look at the scout in the locker room after the game, and he's always right."
 
That recall of the scouting report can come in handy during a game.
 
Last season at George Washington, Mason needed to foul in the closing minutes of the game. Paulsen asked his staff who from GW had the lowest free throw percentage, and assistant coach Aaron Kelly [who had the scout] started to glance at his sheet.
 
But before Kelly even had the chance to respond, DiClementi identified the player and the exact free throw percentage.
 
With a split second inbounds pass upcoming, the Patriots were able to foul the right player.
 
When DiClementi first joined the team, Paulsen would quiz him the night before the game on the opponent scout. Paulsen would rattle off names and see if DiClementi could recall the correct percentages. After three road trips and perfect scores on each, Paulsen gave up – there was no way to stump Nick.
 
DiClementi also has a knack of keeping practice enjoyable with his quick wit and logic.
 
Heading into this season, the Patriots have a goal of committing 12 or fewer turnovers each game.
 
To get the point across, during the team's summer practices, Paulsen puts 12 balls on a rack, and one is removed each time the team commits a turnover. Once the rack is empty, practice ends and the team must complete a series of taxing sprints to end the day.
 
This past week, Mason was down to its 12^th ball, and Paulsen prepared the team to run. But as Patriot players put their heads down and braced for the conditioning session, DiClementi piped up and said 'Coach you said 12 or fewer turnovers. Not less than 12. We're still OK.'"
 
He was right, and the team finished practice without penalty.
 
"The guys went crazy," Paulsen said. "In addition to how he helps us in practice, clearly he's also a budding lawyer. He busts my chops and fits in great with the team. The guys get a kick out of it and they really like him. He's an outstanding teammate."
 
With his perfect 4.0 GPA, DiClementi actually is considering law school and has the potential to attend an Ivy League institution. For now during his playing career, he's enrolled in Mason's graduate sport management program, which also fulfills another career passion of his.
 
DiClementi likes the idea of a law career, but also enjoys scouting and personnel work so much that he's considering a career in coaching. Or, he even thinks about combining both tracts and becoming a sports agent or working in the athletics industry in some capacity.
 
But for now, he's focused on doing everything he can to help the Patriots while enjoying the unique opportunity to play Div. I basketball.
 
"He doesn't take anything for granted," Paulsen said. "Sometimes we all have to look around, take a breath and realize how lucky we are. We get caught up in some of the mundane day-to-day aspects of life. All of us, from players to coaches, are so lucky. We're involved in Div. I basketball in the Atlantic 10 Conference in front of a great crowd of supportive people. We're all incredibly blessed and Nick remembers that on a daily basis."
 
His effort in the classroom also personifies what it means to be a student-athlete, and that work ethic serves as an excellent example within the program.
 
"He dispels the myth that there isn't enough time in the day," Paulsen said. "He's a great model to our guys academically. He provides a constant example that you can take care of your business in the classroom while also being a committed basketball player."
 
Heading into 2018-19, DiClementi certainly is making the most of his opportunity.
 
In addition to helping the team each day in practice, he's looking to make his "50 in 5" record even more substantial. While continuing to give former 50 in 5 champion Otis Livingston II some gentle ribbing for being the one to break his old record, DiClementi is looking to usurp the all-time mark under Paulsen: 88 out of 94, set by former Mason graduate manager and sharpshooter Bryson Johnson while he was at Bucknell.
 
In addition, this summer, he's playing in Georgetown's famed Kenner Summer League. DiClementi is getting a kick out of the experience, as he is a part of a team that features two major recruits for the Hoyas: James Akinjo and YouTube mixtape sensation Mac McClung.
 
McClung has upwards of 30,000 Twitter followers and has commanded a full and boisterous house in McDonough Arena, where fans erupt with each gravity-defying dunk or acrobatic shot McClung converts.
 
"Given where I was three or four years ago, it's surreal to be on a court where people are there in droves with cameras everywhere," DiClementi said. "I've never been around social media sensations. I'm on the complete opposite of the totem pole as a walk-on, but it's fun to be a little bit on the other side, at least for the summer."
 
As he heads into his second year of Division I college basketball, you can certainly say that DiClementi is enjoying the ride. And the Patriots couldn't be happier that he's a part of it.
 
"The role our walk-ons play is so vital to team chemistry," Handerahan said. "They're ingrained with everything that goes on in the locker room and they add life to a team. Nick's embraced that role and has truly made the most out of it."
 
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