LJ freshman b BB: Analysis

Viking freshmen Carsten Fehlan (21) and Nathaniel

Gates (behind) squeeze Saints' Moses Mercado
on defense. (Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

"That was a crazy game," said A.J. Manalo, coach of St. Augustine's freshman boys basketball team, the day after a 45-43 win over La Jolla for the league title. "That was a crazy game," he repeated, shaking his head.

Manalo, by his comment, was acknowledging the skill and talent not only on his team but in Tribe La Jolla.

Nathaniel Gates, the Vikings' 6'5" center, altered the trajectory of many shots through the championship game, played at University City High Mon., Feb. 15. It took this reporter a while to identify this, because I was concentrating on juggling photo-taking with note-taking on a team I had never seen play before.

Then I started making notes related to Gates' intimidating presence in the middle. A marker was his absence from the game from the five-minute mark in the second quarter through the rest of the period. He had blood on his shirt, and in this day and age of blood-borne pathogens he had to come out until the situation could be rectified.

During that five-minute period, though the score didn't reflect it, Saints players started taking more liberties in the lane where the shot-blocking Gates would normally be. Jake Armenta, for one, ventured into the lane on a drive to score--no Nate there. St. Augustine up, 16-15. Teammate Will Simon likewise, 20-18.

Then, in the second half, this reporter's eyes were opened as the scales fell off. Though Gates was only credited with two blocks, he had his hand on several shots, diverted other ones, and in the case of counterpart Jared Stearns caused him to shoot before getting close enough for Nathaniel to block his shot.

Gates is super-talented. He's young. He's got lots of time to develop, as do all his gifted teammates on the freshman team, which went 19-2 on the season under Coach Huseyin Demiral, a 6'9" shot-blocker in his day in the European Pro League.

He has an aggressive move from the left block turning into the lane for a jump shot or jump hook or other shot. He'll develop his left hand later. Enough about him.

Gabe Solis, the sparkplug little point guard for the Vikings, reminds one in his spunkiness of Reed Farley of the LJHS varsity two years ago. Running on an emotional edge, high energy, a little frenetic. Reed is now like the senior (though a junior classmen) statesman. He used to pull his jersey over his head when he got upset at the end of tight games. Now he's under control and can direct his energies straight forward instead of imploding.

Solis, who was at the Vikings' varsity game Tues., Feb. 16, at St. Augustine to watch Farley and his team, handled the ball well--though at times showboaty--against the Saints' pressure. He brought the ball up court, didn't lose it much if at all. He may have to give Farley some pointers on that.

He is fearless driving to the basket inside. His outside shot seems to be okay, though I didn't see a lot of it. He's a fighter. He seems to love a high-wire act, in which the stakes are on the line.

Star number three is Emiliano Godinez, who showed a death wish in his relentless desire to drive into the lane against taller players. He often found a way to score inside despite his 5'10" or so size. His shot from outside looked good. All three of these guys are athletic and can jump, same as the fourth member of the fraternity.

That player, forward Nick Hulquist, showed a nice outside touch but was limited in playing time due to foul trouble. He seems to be a heady player. I would have to see more of him to say more.

I was impressed on one defensive play when forward Otto Lenz adeptly stepped in the way of an opponent's attempted move, shutting that outlet off. It was a basic play, but it showed good defense, something I didn't develop as a young player until much later.

There is way more talent on La Jolla's fabulous freshman team. I just couldn't comment adequately on what others showed in the title game, because I was busy, as I've said, juggling photos with note-taking. Having only seen them in one game, I wouldn't be being fair or accurate.

May they enjoy their offseason, which begins now. But it's apparent that these boys have played a ton of basketball in their lives already, and I'm sure that's what a lot of the nine-month offseason will be taken up with until their junior varsity season next winter.

Their fluid movement, their knowledge of where they should be on the court, their skill level--all of these are already good and intuitive, but each player is going to continue to grow and develop. As varsity head coach Paul Baranowski said about them the next night, "They're entertaining to watch." He said they're excellent players.

Baranowski also mentioned that players have been moved around between the JV's and freshmen, so rosters have changed and affected who played in the championship game Feb. 15.

If these future stars remain coachable and work on their individual skills as well as the necessary elements of their roles in the LJHS basketball program, the eyes of La Jolla will be on them and smile on them.