BOYS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jeremy Lin A knack for the big play
Mitch Stephens, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, April 2, 2006
Numbers, numbers, numbers. Everyone loves numbers.
Palo Alto point guard Jeremy Lin isn't one of them.
Oh, the 6-foot-2, 180-pound senior had some impressive per-game stats this season: 15.1 points, 7.1 assists, 4.8 steals and 6.2 rebounds -- moderate compared to other all-Bay Area players.
Palo Alto coach Peter Diepenbrock holds up two fingers when listing Lin's priorities.
"Making plays and winning games," he said.
Palo Alto won 32 of them this season (losing only one), including a 51-47 upset of nationally ranked Mater Dei for the CIF State Division II title at Arco Arena two weeks ago. Most of the victories were lopsided.
But Diepenbrock swears, in every jaw-grinding, lip-biting, palm-sweating situation, Lin made the pivotal play to win.
"It was uncanny," Diepenbrock said. "You could bank on him every time."
You think Diepenbrock's blowing smoke? He recalled every game-winner.
-- Dec. 9 in Santa Cruz Dad's Tournament semifinals against St. Francis -- "We're down a bucket in the final minute of overtime. Jeremy hits a 25-footer. We win (57-55)."
-- Dec. 21 in consolation title game of Mission Prep Classic against Bakersfield -- "We're down three with five seconds left. (Lin) catches in-bounds pass, penetrates, kicks and Steven Brown drills a 3-pointer at the buzzer. We win (80-74) in overtime and Jeremy has triple-double."
-- Dec. 29 in semifinals of St. Francis Tournament against San Ramon Valley -- "We're up two, their stud (Brandon Adams) gets the ball underneath in final seconds. Jeremy rips the ball out of his hands, gets fouled, hits free throw. We win (54-51)."
-- March 9, NorCal semifinals at home against Laguna Creek -- "We're tied with 50 seconds to go, (Lin) buries a 3-pointer from the wing. After a stop, he penetrates, feeds Brown who ices the win (52-46)."
-- March 11, NorCal finals against Mitty at Arco Arena -- down one with 24.1 seconds to play, Lin draws two defenders and finds Brad Lehman, who drills 3-pointer from the corner. Palo Alto 45, Mitty 43. "(Lin) makes it look easy."
-- March 17, State title game -- "We're up two in final 30 seconds. (Lin) decides to drive to the basket. He takes on their star (Taylor King), goes over him and makes a layup to ice it."
Was he just born with ice in his veins?
"I just really, really, really hate to lose," Lin said before adding another "really."
Having an older brother (Joshua) who played and whom he idolized helped with the competitive edge. Playing basketball from an early age helped too.
"The kid makes every one around him way better," Mater Dei coach Gary McKnight said. "He was very impressive."
Lin, though, was not so physically impressive when he entered Palo Alto. "I was only 5-3," Lin said. "Luckily I grew. Maybe I was meant to be a basketball player."
Despite Lin's lack of height, Diepenbrock knew Lin was a special player before he arrived at Palo Alto. "He was a youth league legend," the coach said. He brought Lin up to varsity during the playoffs his freshman season.
"He nailed a key 3-pointer down the stretch of his first game," Diepenbrock said. "He never stopped making them."
With long arms and good jumping ability, Lin should make an impact at Harvard. "He's much more athletic than people think," Diepenbrock said. "He's not just your typical heady point guard."
-----------------------------------------
Lin file
Essentials: 6-foot-2 senior point guard/Palo Alto High
Favorites: Athlete (Michael Jordan), school subject (math or science), movie ("Entrapment"), book (the Bible).
Dream job: Food tester or NBA player
Averages: 15.1 ppg, 7.1 apg, 6.2 rpg, 4.2 GPA.
先说food tester 再说NBA player。。。
恭喜他至少有一个梦想成真了。。。
Mitch Stephens, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, April 2, 2006
Numbers, numbers, numbers. Everyone loves numbers.
Palo Alto point guard Jeremy Lin isn't one of them.
Oh, the 6-foot-2, 180-pound senior had some impressive per-game stats this season: 15.1 points, 7.1 assists, 4.8 steals and 6.2 rebounds -- moderate compared to other all-Bay Area players.
Palo Alto coach Peter Diepenbrock holds up two fingers when listing Lin's priorities.
"Making plays and winning games," he said.
Palo Alto won 32 of them this season (losing only one), including a 51-47 upset of nationally ranked Mater Dei for the CIF State Division II title at Arco Arena two weeks ago. Most of the victories were lopsided.
But Diepenbrock swears, in every jaw-grinding, lip-biting, palm-sweating situation, Lin made the pivotal play to win.
"It was uncanny," Diepenbrock said. "You could bank on him every time."
You think Diepenbrock's blowing smoke? He recalled every game-winner.
-- Dec. 9 in Santa Cruz Dad's Tournament semifinals against St. Francis -- "We're down a bucket in the final minute of overtime. Jeremy hits a 25-footer. We win (57-55)."
-- Dec. 21 in consolation title game of Mission Prep Classic against Bakersfield -- "We're down three with five seconds left. (Lin) catches in-bounds pass, penetrates, kicks and Steven Brown drills a 3-pointer at the buzzer. We win (80-74) in overtime and Jeremy has triple-double."
-- Dec. 29 in semifinals of St. Francis Tournament against San Ramon Valley -- "We're up two, their stud (Brandon Adams) gets the ball underneath in final seconds. Jeremy rips the ball out of his hands, gets fouled, hits free throw. We win (54-51)."
-- March 9, NorCal semifinals at home against Laguna Creek -- "We're tied with 50 seconds to go, (Lin) buries a 3-pointer from the wing. After a stop, he penetrates, feeds Brown who ices the win (52-46)."
-- March 11, NorCal finals against Mitty at Arco Arena -- down one with 24.1 seconds to play, Lin draws two defenders and finds Brad Lehman, who drills 3-pointer from the corner. Palo Alto 45, Mitty 43. "(Lin) makes it look easy."
-- March 17, State title game -- "We're up two in final 30 seconds. (Lin) decides to drive to the basket. He takes on their star (Taylor King), goes over him and makes a layup to ice it."
Was he just born with ice in his veins?
"I just really, really, really hate to lose," Lin said before adding another "really."
Having an older brother (Joshua) who played and whom he idolized helped with the competitive edge. Playing basketball from an early age helped too.
"The kid makes every one around him way better," Mater Dei coach Gary McKnight said. "He was very impressive."
Lin, though, was not so physically impressive when he entered Palo Alto. "I was only 5-3," Lin said. "Luckily I grew. Maybe I was meant to be a basketball player."
Despite Lin's lack of height, Diepenbrock knew Lin was a special player before he arrived at Palo Alto. "He was a youth league legend," the coach said. He brought Lin up to varsity during the playoffs his freshman season.
"He nailed a key 3-pointer down the stretch of his first game," Diepenbrock said. "He never stopped making them."
With long arms and good jumping ability, Lin should make an impact at Harvard. "He's much more athletic than people think," Diepenbrock said. "He's not just your typical heady point guard."
-----------------------------------------
Lin file
Essentials: 6-foot-2 senior point guard/Palo Alto High
Favorites: Athlete (Michael Jordan), school subject (math or science), movie ("Entrapment"), book (the Bible).
Dream job: Food tester or NBA player
Averages: 15.1 ppg, 7.1 apg, 6.2 rpg, 4.2 GPA.
先说food tester 再说NBA player。。。恭喜他至少有一个梦想成真了。。。
