Nate Sestina

Nathan Michael Sestina (born May 12, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for Fenerbahçe Beko of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL) and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for the Bucknell Bison and the Kentucky Wildcats.

Nate Sestina
Sestina in September 2023
No. 77 – Fenerbahçe Beko
PositionCenter / Power forward
LeagueBSL
EuroLeague
Personal information
Born (1997-05-12) May 12, 1997
St. Marys, Pennsylvania
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight234 lb (106 kg)
Career information
High schoolCameron County
(Emporium, Pennsylvania)
College
NBA draft2020: undrafted
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021Long Island Nets
2021Hapoel Holon
2021–2022Merkezefendi
2022–2023Türk Telekom
2023–presentFenerbahçe Beko
Career highlights and awards
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com

Early life and high school career

Sestina was born in St. Marys, Pennsylvania and grew up in Emporium, Pennsylvania. As a senior at Cameron County High School, Sestina averaged 22.6 points and 14 rebounds per game and was named the North Tier Conference Player of the Year. He finished high school with 1,703 points and 955 rebounds, a school record.[1] Sestina committed to play college basketball at Bucknell over offers from 11 other schools.[2] He became the first Division I basketball player from PIAA District 9 since 1990 and the first division I athlete of any kind from Cameron County since the 1970s.[3]

College career

Sestina suffered a season-ending shoulder injury four games into his freshman year and used a medical redshirt.[4] He averaged 4.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game over 31 games as a reserve player during his sophomore year. As a junior, Sestina averaged 6.5 points and 3.9 rebounds and 14.9 minutes played per game.[5] He became a starter going into his senior year and enjoyed a breakout season, averaging 15.8 points (6th in the Patriot League) and 8.5 rebounds per game (2nd in conference) and was named to the second team All-Patriot League.[6][7] Following the end of the season, Sestina entered the transfer portal for his final season of eligibility as a graduate transfer. He was ranked the third-best player in the transfer portal by ESPN.[8] Sestina committed to transfer to the University of Kentucky.[9]

Sestina angling for a rebound in 2020

In his first game with the Wildcats, Sestina scored seven points and grabbed a team-high six rebounds in a 69–62 win over top-ranked Michigan State and hit a key three-point shot in the second half.[10] He broke his left wrist six games into the season against Lamar, causing him to miss four weeks and three games.[11] Sestina was averaging 7.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in 27.8 minutes of play at the time of the injury.[12] Sestina returned in a game against Utah on December 18 and was scoreless. In the next game versus Ohio State, Sestina scored a season-high 17 points even though Kentucky lost 71–65.[13] He scored his 1,000th career point during a 13-point game against LSU on February 18, 2020.[14] Sestina averaged 5.8 and 3.8 rebounds per game in 28 games and was named to the Southeastern Conference Community Service Team.[15][16]

Professional career

On July 30, 2020, Sestina signed his first professional contract with Kyiv-Basket of the Ukrainian SuperLeague.[17] On October 13, he signed with Nizhny Novgorod of the VTB United League.[18] However, with the season being cancelled, Sestina was released on November 3, before playing an official game for the team.[19]

After going undrafted in the 2020 NBA draft, Sestina signed an Exhibit 10 contract for with the Brooklyn Nets on December 1, 2020.[20][21] He was waived by the Nets on December 11.[22] He was added to the roster of the Nets' NBA G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets.

On March 15, 2021, he signed with Hapoel Holon of the Israeli Basketball Premier League.[23]

On July 8, 2021, he signed with Merkezefendi Belediyesi Denizli Basket of the Basketbol Süper Ligi.[24]

On June 22, 2022, Sestina signed with Türk Telekom of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL).[25] On June 21, 2023, he mutually parted ways with the Turkish club.

On July 14, 2023, Sestina signed a two-year (1+1) deal with Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahçe.

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2015–16 Bucknell 408.0.545.6671.0001.3.8.5.03.8
2016–17 Bucknell 31112.0.508.292.6963.7.4.2.54.8
2017–18 Bucknell 34014.9.560.341.7443.9.9.3.66.5
2018–19 Bucknell 313127.8.536.380.8088.51.2.41.115.8
2019–20 Kentucky 28719.8.463.407.7503.8.8.4.65.8
Career 1283918.2.525.374.7734.9.8.3.78.1

Personal life

Sestina's father, Donald is a former teacher, basketball coach and athletic director for Cameron County High School and his mother, Rachelle, is also a teacher and swam collegiately at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.[26][1] He has four siblings and his two older brothers, Andrew and Jason, both served in the United States Marine Corps.[27]

Sestina is engaged to former Kentucky volleyball player and current Kentucky assistant volleyball coach Madison Lilley. [28]

References
  1. Tipton, Jerry (September 26, 2019). "Nate Sestina playing for UK basketball creates euphoria in Emporium". Kentucky.com. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  2. Close, Andy (September 1, 2014). "Cameron County's Nate Sestina Bucknell bound". Bradford Era. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  3. Tucker, Kyle (April 25, 2019). "Nate Sestina, Kentucky's newest big man, is the proudest export of a forgotten Pennsylvania hamlet". The Athletic. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  4. "Cameron's Sestina back in action at Bucknell". Olean Times Herald. December 24, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  5. Hines, Travis (April 14, 2019). "Bucknell's Nate Sestina becomes Kentucky's latest grad-transfer addition". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  6. Fisher, Chris (September 24, 2019). "Look: Nate Sestina undergoes remarkable physical transformation". 247Sports.com. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  7. Boone, Kyle (April 4, 2019). "Kentucky lands graduate transfer Nate Sestina from Bucknell, who averaged double-digits in scoring last season". CBSSports.com. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  8. Fisher, Chris (April 16, 2019). "Kentucky commit Nate Sestina ranked among ESPN's top transfers". 247Sports.com. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  9. Geary, Molly (April 4, 2019). "Kentucky Restocks for 2019–20 by Landing Grad Transfer Nate Sestina". SI.com. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  10. DeCourcy, Mike (November 6, 2019). "Kentucky vs. Michigan State takeaways: Wildcats' additions start strong at 2019 Champions Classic". SportingNews.com. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  11. Bird, Darrell (December 21, 2019). "Nate Sestina talks wrist injury, role on UK team". 247Sports.com. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  12. Hale, Jon (November 27, 2019). "Kentucky basketball's Nate Sestina to miss extended time with broken wrist". USA Today. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  13. Tipton, Jerry (December 21, 2019). "Sestina shines for Kentucky, but it's not enough against Ohio State". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  14. Tipton, Jerry (March 2, 2020). "Senior Night sendoff won't be Sestina's first. His last one 'really threw me off.'". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  15. Fisher, Chris (March 16, 2020). "Nate Sestina wants to return next season, Calipari says". 247Sports.com. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  16. Fisher, Chris (March 5, 2020). "Nate Sestina named to SEC Community Service Team". 247Sports.com. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  17. "Nate Sestina signing with Kyiv-Basket". Sportando. July 30, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  18. "Nate Sestina inks with Nizhny Novgorod". Sportando. October 13, 2020. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  19. "Nate Sestina leaves Nizhny Novgorod". Sportando. November 3, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  20. "Brooklyn Nets Announce Training Camp Roster". NBA.com. December 1, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  21. Fisher, Chris (November 19, 2020). "Report: Nets sign Nate Sestina". 247sports.com. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  22. "Brooklyn Nets Waive Bowden and Sestina". NBA.com. December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  23. "Hapoel Holon announces Nathan Sestina". Sportando. March 15, 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  24. "Yukatel Merkezefendi'ye Amerikalı uzun" (in Turkish). Basketfaul. July 8, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  25. "Nate Sestina Telekom'da" (in Turkish). basketfaul. June 22, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  26. Tucker, Kyle (October 16, 2019). "The Sestina family trekked to Lexington for Kentucky's annual tipoff event, and boy, was it worth it". The Athletic. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  27. Ritzman, Kurt (March 18, 2018). "Men's College Basketball: Game plan, haircut site top to-do list for junior". The Daily Item. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  28. "Madison Lilley - Assistant Coach". Kentucky Wildcats. Archived from the original on August 12, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
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