Senior Daniel McColl (behind)
guards Hilltop's Justin Wilson
Friday night.
(Photos by Ed Piper, Jr.)
By Ed Piper, Jr.
Nick Hammel served notice right off the bat--to mix sports metaphors--when he hit a three-pointer early in La Jolla's 69-27 thrashing of Hilltop Dec. 2 that he wasn't going to be long in making the transition from football two weeks ago to the basketball season.
His points were the first basket by the Vikings and made the score 4-0 on La Jolla's run to a 21-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Hammel's teammate on the football team--which just finished competing in the CIF Division 3 playoffs Nov. 18--Daniel McColl, made his presence known, as well, banging bodies under the basket and taking a Reed Farley assist to score late in the opening quarter.
McColl traditionally has taken longer to make the change between sports, starting somewhat slower a year ago. However, he and Hammel are key cogs in the starting lineup for Coach Paul Baranowski on a roster limited to 10 players.
In fact, the posted roster only carries nine names at this point, though Behzad Hashemi suited up and played for the Vikings on opening night.
Hammel brings a calm, steady posture at a wing or guard position, helping out fellow guards Quinn Rawdin and Farley with ball-handling and outside shooting. He stands 6'2" and jumps adequately, which lends him an asset in both sports.
In football for new Coach Matt Morrison's team this past season, Hammel was a force on defense from a linebacker spot. He was known to go on a tear, making repeated tackles to let opponents know they couldn't move at will in his area.
Fellow senior Nick Hammel drives to
the basket early in the Vikings'
69-27 pounding of Hilltop
in their season opener.
Both he and McColl, returners from the starting lineup for Baranowski, have matured and grown physically in the year since their junior seasons. One can see it in their faces: they look a little bit older--a little bit grayer? Just kidding, a reporter projecting his aging on other people.
McColl brings a physical, relentless energy to the right side of the key down low, his favored location. He has remained at 6'2", which means he has to make the most of his height often against taller opponents under the basket.
Repeatedly in Friday night's opener, he took a pass or rebound up again and again, trying to score under pressure. He has no reticence in pushing his powerful 205-pound body to move a defender out of position as he slides in under the basket at the right box.
Daniel, who would seem to be destined for college football, with the bruising running on offense he shows and speed with size as a linebacker, has a fine touch on the basketball. His free throws have perfect rotation, which is not always the case with forwards as physical as he is.
Baranowski said last year that he holds his breath during football season, hoping McColl won't be injured in a way that would delay his coming out for basketball. Of course, the coach cares about his player's health and his well-being as an individual, but he's selfish, too--he wants both young men's talents out there on the court as the Vikings enter the Eastern League for the first time in January.
No comments:
Post a Comment