LJ b BB: What we know

By Ed Piper

Here's what we know about La Jolla High's basketball team, after observing four games at the Point Loma Nazarene University Team Camp:

The Vikings are an excellent Division 2 team, which they showed last season by making it to the CIF title game. This season they return solid players and add new ones, already brought up in the LJHS system. The 2015-16 unit will be comfortable and do well among the Patrick Henry's and Serra's of the new Eastern League next winter.

Playing for a club team makes a noticeable difference in a player's effectiveness. Eddie Parker played for a club team. Reed Farley does, too. Charlie Gal is the latest example. In the Vikings' games Sat., June 25, he felt the liberty and confidence to shoot from 10 to 15 feet away from the basket on the side, something he never did last season.

His dad says not only has he been playing for a club team, but also has been to some of the camps back East. "He really wants to play," was his dad's comment.

Last season, his first on varsity as a sophomore, Charlie was largely a one-dimensional player. He could take the ball on the right or left block, go to a dribble and bull his way to the basket. He started La Jolla's opening game or games last December, then fell back to a reserve role during much of the season. He was lacking in other aspects of his game.

But his true redemption came in La Jolla's horrible loss at Catholic Cathedral during league play. Not intimidated by the taller, more talented Dons, Gal caused CCHS 7-footer Brandon McCoy some misery in the second half. McCoy, able to cow other opponents, got frustrated at not being to have his way.

Now, Gal's confidence is evident for all to see, he's mobile, he's active. He's playing like someone who has the added assurance someone gets when they've played tougher opponents--i.e., in club play and at college events.

What else do we know?

Nick Hammel is steady as usual, shooting from the outside and capable in bringing the ball up and setting up the offense.

Lefty Quinn Rawdin can shoot the eyes out of the basket when he's hot, as he was Sat., June 25. His ball-handling is good, as he shared duties with the other guards in Farley's absence after the first game Friday. In the initial game Saturday afternoon, Quinn was absolutely deadly. He stayed within the flow of the offense, unlike at times last season when he put up shots that were forced or didn't fit Paul Baranowski's offensive pattern.

As always, with a stellar player like Reed Farley, the team is vulnerable if he gets injured, as he did his sophomore year two years ago at the end of the non-league win at Bishop's, leading to six straight losses and basically wiping out any chances in the Western League. That's why people held their collective breath when he was fouled on a flying dunk attempt Saturday, a play on which he potentially could have crashed into the stands at PLNU.

The team has some new talent at guard, with Behzad Hashemi bringing outside shooting to add to Rawdin's and Farley's, and Jacob Ohara, who needs further development, to share backcourt duties.