Editor's note: Over the next couple of weeks, Prep2Prep will preview some of the top boys basketball teams in the Bay Area. Today we take a look at Campolindo High School of Moraga.
MORAGA, CA - St. Mary’s College headlines the rich basketball tradition in Moraga, but eyes have shifted to Campolindo High School this season, where the Cougars appear to be the frontrunners in the Diablo Foothill Athletic League.
Last season included a second-place finish in DFAL along with a trip to the NCS Division III quarterfinals, where they fell to San Marin, 62-57. However, the Cougars qualified for the Northern California playoffs, where they fell in the championship, 55-52, to Sacred Heart Cathedral, just one round short of the state championship.
Players feel they should advance further this season, and have set lofty goals for the postseason.
“We want to get to state, got to the NorCal championship last year even after I broke my wrist and we only lost one starter,” said junior guard Matt O’Reilly. “D-III state champions is definitely our ultimate goal and it’s possible for us.”
Division III is arguably one of the toughest divisions in NCS, headlined by Bishop O’Dowd, El Cerrito, and Campolindo. Assuming O’Dowd moves up to the Open Division after NCS, Campolindo has a realistic chance of advancing to the NorCal championship, along with state, but El Cerrito is still by their side as they return four-star point guard Tyrell Alcorn.
DFAL looks strong as always, especially last season, which featured one of the most talented teams in league history in Dublin. They featured two major recruits in guard Jamir Andrews, and small forward JoJo McGlaston, now at Utah State.
Dublin’s strong nucleus doesn’t return this season, and opens the door for Campolindo to stomp on through to the top of the league standings.
“(The league) lost lots of great seniors from last year, but still a tough league with some good teams that will surprise people,” O’Reilly said. “Definitely feel that Campolindo has a great opportunity to come out on top though.”
Coach Matt Watson will look to O'Reilly, a junior point guard, to head the offense. O’Reilly is listed as one of the top players in Northern California for the class of 2015, and offers should start coming his way throughout the season. He’s set a list of individual goals like many players, and hopes to fulfill each one of them.
“Definitely looking to have a breakout year and turn some heads," he said. "It would be nice to get some all-Bay Area honors but mainly I just want to help my team get as far as possible in the postseason.”
Improvement will be crucial in the Cougars’ success, and they feel they can progress both as players and as a unit.
“I need to improve my playmaking aside from shooting (ball handles, getting to the basket, and passing) and our team just needs to continue to improve our defense and our consistency as well,” said O’Reilly. “We're a very tough team when we are on the same page, but need to come out like that every game.”
Along with O’Reilly, returning starters include senior guard Andrew Zolintakis, and forward Justin Dunn, who are also both stars on the football field.
Dunn is one of the more athletic forwards in the league. Being a star defensive back in football has helped him develop his speed, and he was named first-team All-DFAL in football after the 2012 season. Zolintakis was also an honorable mention quarterback and defensive back his junior campaign and has had a spectacular 2013 season in leading Campolindo to the Division III semifinals.
Another returner, 6-6 junior Chris Hansen, provides strength in the post.
Attention has turned to Campolindo basketball this winter, and if everything falls into place as projected, a league title and a berth to the NorCal playoffs and possibly state can happen in March.
