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| With the 91-degree heat outside, and higher temp inside, Vikings players listen to Coach Paul Baranowski (out of view to right) after win over Oceanside: Langston Aron (LJ jersey, left rear) Gabe and Diego Solis (bare-chested), and Nick Hulquist (right, jersey-less). Photo by Ed Piper |
La Jolla High basketball coach Paul Baranowski was uncomfortable with the heat along with the rest of the population Sat., July 7, in El Cajon--even though the veteran coach hails from fire-baked Tucson, Arizona.
"Ah, here's some breeze," said the Arizonan after the Vikings' 67-50 win over Oceanside in the Grossmont High summer league, as he and one of his assistants found relief outside the steamy New Gym on campus.
He recounted the team's annual visit to Tucson for a slew of games last month. "They were reacting, 'It's so hot,'" he had said of his players on a previous day, smiling. "But then everything was air-conditioned."
The potential rotation Baranowski will employ come December 1, 2018, has shown speed, athleticism, and a genuine enjoyment of the sport in games this summer. The big story has been the blossoming of 6'4" guard Nick Hulquist's skills. His confidence and abilities on offense, both on the perimeter and off the dribble--not to mention some shot-blocking on defense--have even been noticed by opposing coaches, who have commented affirmatively.
Here is an update on players through yesterday's 1 p.m. game (the Vikings later played a 3 p.m. game), related to the summer games I have witnessed:
Nick Hulquist (rising senior, 6'4" guard) - What else can you say? He has filled a leadership role just by the fact he is one of the team's seniors, he is the tallest player on the team, and he can fill up the basket quickly. Hulquist is also one of the few solo-sport athletes for the Vikings, and he obviously feels poise and a command out on the court.
Behzad Hashemi (rising senior, 5'10" guard) - He is quick. His outside shot continues to be a potent weapon. He missed action with a business training he participated in recently. Behzad showed on one move in Saturday's earlier game that he may be harnessing some of that quickness on his drives, which was an area for improvement last year. Once he refines his moves to the basket, to remain under control and finish, and ups his shooting percentage from the perimeter, he will geometrically increase in value as a key cog in the Viking machine.
Diego Solis (rising sophomore, 5'9" guard) - The second-year varsity player is showing growth (he's bigger than last season physically), confidence, speed in the back court for Baranowski. I list him before his older brother, Gabe, because Diego is a returning member of the rotation. Gabe was limited by a football injury last year. Diego is shooting well. He missed a couple of layups yesterday, but that happens. Also, Oceanside had one of the few big men in the lane that have appeared in the Grossmont league, so his length was a deterrent to some extent. Football appears to be good to Diego, not causing a dropoff in skill level (as Daniel McColl suffered two years ago coming over from football late in the preseason).
Gabe Solis (rising senior, 5'10" guard) - It has been a joy to see his spontaneity and verve for the game return this summer, after a challenging junior year. Gabe has gotten so good in football--he was Coach Tyler Roach's leading receiver last season--that it can make his second sport look lesser in comparison. He is rightfully devoting time and energy to football camps to prepare for potential play in that sport after high school. All of that, as I mentioned on his brother, can begin to draw away from his basketball. But, despite an off-game Friday night against El Capitan, which offered some competition after games against Olympian last weekend really didn't, Gabe has his head in a completely different place than where he ended last season. He's smiling, taking a role in the camaraderie of the team, eating lots of Crustable PBJ's that a visitor has been supplying, and having fun again. That's a good sign, and bodes well for when he comes over to Baranowski's team later in November next fall after football playoffs end.
Langston Aron (rising senior, 6'2" forward) - The high-leaping role player showed the dynamism he is capable of when he is healthy in games Friday and yesterday. He had been limited by a tender ankle previously. He repeatedly went up and got balls in a crowd, and put the ball back up with energy and persistence. That's his main role with the varsity--rebounding at both ends of the court. He is also playing football for the first time. His father, who previously acknowledged that he named his son after the renowned African-American writer Langston Hughes, revealed more family name history Friday. Asked why their family surname is spelled with one "a", dad said his grandfather was interned in the Auschwitz 2 concentration camp during the Nazi Holocaust. His grandfather survived; a man he met in the camp whom he admired didn't survive. After World War II, when the grandfather came over to the United States, being illiterate, he wanted to take the friend's name, Aronvich or similar, but he didn't know how to spell it. So, wanting a form of the name that was manageable, he took the surname "Aron" with one "a". At least, that's what I took from my talk during the game Friday in the stands with Langston's father.
Otto Lenz (rising senior, 6'1" forward) - Otto was limited by a toe injury last season, but he isn't now. He shows a fine shooting touch from mid-range, as he did last summer. He's got a great attitude, and seems very coachable. He aims to please. I'm sure Baranowski values him as a player who loves to play and who will do whatever he can to contribute to the team.
Max Raulston (rising freshman, 6'2" forward) - Max, the only freshman in the summer rotation, has continued to play like an older player. He "gets" what his coach wants. He flubbed a pass and threw up an air ball here and there the last two days, which is to be expected for a future ninth-grader who hasn't even begun classes at La Jolla High yet. But he seems to fit in well, and is a player who can provide minutes in the front court where only Evan Brown returns. He could fill a crucial role in the coming season.
Harry Kaseff (rising junior, 6'1" forward) - Harry played last weekend but I haven't seen him this weekend. Often families are taking vacations during the summer, so this isn't unexpected. He hustles, works hard, seems to be a loyal member of the LJHS basketball program. He will develop as he gets older and gets more playing experience. Baranowski would seem to be looking at him partly to fill a need for forwards in the front court.
Christian Gamboa (rising sophomore, 6'2" forward) - Like Kaseff, he played last weekend but is not present this weekend. Christian shows an advanced ability to get to the basket. He has displayed plenty of ability in his stints in summer league. I have seen nothing but positive from him on the court at Grossmont. He is an up-and-comer.
Evan Brown (rising senior, 6'2" forward) - He sustained a concussion in football at last week's 7-on-7 passing tournament at LJHS, so he has sat out games since then. He jumps well; he is super coachable, with a positive attitude. He needs to go straight up to the basket with the ball, not shying away or leaning back on put-back attempts. Evan is the only returning big man.
Jacob Duffy (rising senior, 5'10" guard) - I have not seen him play this summer.
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