Prep BB: Agbo the elder and younger

The Vikings' Charlie Gal (22) defends
Chibuzo Agbo (11) of St. Augustine
in the second half. (Photo by Ed Piper)
 

By Ed Piper

"He is an elegant man."

The comment, from a member of the St. Augustine High basketball community, is in reference to Chibuzo Agbo.

Chibuzo Agbo, the father of the talented sophomore basketball player of the same name.

Courteous, offering a large hand to shake, the gentleman positions himself on the floor, not on a bench, seemingly to get some back support from the wall behind the uppermost row on the visitors side of the sparkling new Saints sports facility, sunk two floors down into the dirt of center campus.

While his father converses, the son, a 6'6" inside-outside threat, operates within his multitudinous talents in a fine display of skills, honed in AAU play, sharpened by the astute coaching of Mike Haupt, in his 14th season as St. Augustine head coach.

In limited minutes, with the game against visiting La Jolla well in hand, the son scores 18 points, virtually at will except when detoured by being fouled. Chibuzo the younger, as he did in the recent Torrey Pines Holiday Classic over the holidays, shows he can play at a high level. His team carries a 41-22 lead into halftime, with subs already inserted for both teams.

Chibuzo the elder bears the traditional markings on his face of his Nigerian tribe.

Were you a runner? Did you play soccer?

"I didn't play sports at a high level."

A thoughtful man, he has observations about the Western culture he is bringing his family up in the midst of.

For one, he discusses the media-driven influence on young people's attire these days.

For another, as a caring father who wants to do what is best for his son, he says he enrolled Chibuzo Jr. at the all-boys school because distractions will be less. Also, "They can learn how to respect women," he says.

Agbo's son leaves the game in the second quarter for a sub as St. Augustine's starters, having set the tempo from the opening tip, surge to a commanding lead--Chibuzo having already accumulated six baskets, including a three-pointer, as he works within Haupt's set offense. He can also play in the open court, as can his capable teammates.

Loose balls abound in the rough-and-tumble, free-form contest that develops, and Saints players are all over them, with the Vikings players diving in.

Later, it's not the 6'6" leaper who dunks the ball. It's the coach's 6'6" son, Luke Haupt, a tall left-handed guard, who does so on a breakaway after a steal.

The final is 64-38, as the father quietly observes the close, positioned directly in line with the Saints' basket in the second half. It's a unique vantage point for an African man who carries a unique perspective.