ORLANDO, Fla. – Several Moss Park Elementary students were starstruck Thursday as they watched Magic Legend Nick Anderson walk into their cafeteria, especially Fighting Illini superfan Niko Pomonis.
“I was really surprised,” said Niko.
It all started with this school project that 10-year-old Pomonis and his 4th-grade class did last month.
Making displays and dressing up as black celebrities and historical figures to create a Black History Month Wax Museum.
“When we moved down to Florida, one of the things Nico insisted upon was that we not support Florida teams, that we only support Illinois. That was one of our negotiables; that’s why he’s only wearing Illinois stuff,” said Anthony Pomonis, Niko’s Dad.
Staying loyal to their agreement, Niko’s father, a University of Illinois graduate, told Niko about Nick Anderson.
“I just thought it was really cool, and I want to do my project,” said Niko.
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Staff with Moss Park Elementary posted and retweeted a photo on X, formerly known as Twitter, until it eventually got the attention of the Magic icon.
Then, the assistant principal bumped into Anderson at the Arnold Palmer Invitational this past week.
“We have a young man that did a project, and you’re talking about the young man that I thought was on the other side of the country?” Anderson said. ‘Yeah, he’s right here at our school. I’m the assistant principal.’”
Anderson spoke with the class and gave Niko some cool gifts including a bobblehead, a signed basketball, and a signed Fighting Illini jersey.
It’s actually the last jersey Nick Anderson kept in his house.
“When I saw him in the photo, I said he needs to have a No. 25,” said Anderson.
Niko says the jersey will be one of his prized possessions, and Anderson says there’s more to come.
He says Niko and his family will be his special guests at an upcoming Orlando Magic game and get to meet Paulo Banchero and several others.