goffredo

SoCalHoops High School & Prep News

The Next Goffredo Steps Up--(July 28, 1998)

We've watched Jimmy Goffredo (5'-9" 8th grade SG) for years now, with kids we know playing with him and against him on various teams from ARC and in Valley Conference. His father, John Goffredo, was formerly the coach at Crescenta Valley High for 19 years, and coached CV to a CIF title in 1994. But then John retired from coaching at CV in order to focus his efforts on his son, Jimmy. John coached his Valley Conference teams, but when it came time to put together an ARC traveling team this year, John decided to sit in the stands instead of on the bench.

Jimmy's team, the 13-U ARC Razorbacks (or maybe now they are just the "Razorbacks" because we hear that the the coach of the team had a falling out with Rich Goldberg, but we can't confirm that yet) played the Southern California All-Stars in the 13U National Championship this last month in Memphis, Tennessee. The SoCal All-Stars, featuring Harrison Schaen (6'-6" 8th grade F/C) won, but there was another story to tell about the second place team.

The Glendale News-Press, a local paper which is actually owned by the LA Times, published a pretty nice little article today about Jimmy, his experiences with the Razorbacks, what it was like to play before 7,000 fans in Memphis, and how his father adjusted to not being the coach. Because the articles at the News-Press' site are only available for about a week before they vanish into the ether, we thought we'd preserve it here, so that if you want to come back to it later, you can check on Goffredo's progress in years to come. Here's the article:

Second Coming of Goffredo

By Brian Martin

Jimmy Goffredo has seen his share of big games. As the 13-year-old son of John Goffredo, who coached the Crescenta Valley boys' basketball team for 19 seasons, he hasn't had much choice. He has been by the bench as a ball boy during standing-room-only showdowns in the Falcons' shoebox-sized gymnasium, and he was there at the Pond in Anaheim when his father guided CV to the CIF championship game in 1994. But as far as playing in big games, Jimmy Goffredo had no idea what to expect as a member of the Southern California Razorbacks in the Amateur Athletic Union 13 & Under Boys' National Basketball Championships in Memphis, Tenn. The crowd at the opening ceremonies at Wooddale High School on June 28 was a tip-off. Then again, 7,000 people have a not-so-subtle way of getting your attention. I've never seen that many people in a high school gym before," Jimmy said. Just like his father, a veteran of summer leagues, camps and clinics, had never seen such an atmosphere, with 112 teams vying for the grand prize. It's a whole other culture of basketball. It's a different level, obviously," John Goffredo said. By the time the finals came around on July 5, most of the teams had lost and taken their supporters home. Still, 2,000 fans stuck around to see the top two teams the Razorbacks and the Southern California All-Stars vie for the national title. And despite holding a four-point lead with two minutes left, the Razorbacks turned the ball over twice and wound up falling short, 61-59. Worst of all, Jimmy had to watch it unfold from the bench. I can't really blame it on the guys who were in there. They got us this far," he said. It's not really their fault, but it's hard to get that far and lose."

Basketball, like many sports, is a game of adjustments, and no one has a better grasp of that than Jimmy Goffredo. Until this year, he had always played in a higher age group, with his abilities and headiness affording him that luxury in the Falcon Youth Leagues. Even then, starting was customary for the 5-foot-9 gunner. But in playing with equally talented 13-year-olds from places such as Moreno Valley, Inglewood, Santa Monica, Los Angeles, Northridge, Ventura and Pasadena, being just another player was a new role. As was coming off the bench. It's not that I got used to it, but the guys who were starting should be starting. They're really good," Jimmy said. But it's different. Playing Falcons, I played the whole game. But I get to play a little more than half the game, so it's good." As the Razorbacks went 7-1 3-0 in pool play and 4-1 in the 64-team tournament Jimmy's best game was his 15-point performance in a 100-48 rout of the Arkansas Wings. However, with the fast break the closest thing to an offense for the Razorbacks, Jimmy's hot outside touch from his shooting-guard position wasn't exactly in demand. And if you think that was frustrating for Jimmy, imagine how his father renowned for his fiery demeanor and methodical offensive sets handled it from the stands. It was the first time in eight years he had not coached his son. It's a whole new thing being a parent up there," said Goffredo, who stepped down from coaching at CV in March of 1997. I just try to be supportive. I tell you what the flip side is. I would never have been there if I was still coaching. I would have been in San Diego with the Falcons."

So with Dad no longer stomping his feet and raising his voice from the bench, Jimmy occasionally peered into the bleachers for quick advice or reassurance the exact act that used to drive Goffredo bonkers when he was coaching at CV. I tell him, `You can't do that anymore. I'm not your coach. You've gotta listen to the coach,' Ô' Goffredo said. As if Jimmy hadn't witnessed enough games from the sidelines at CV, his view from the sidelines at Wooddale High offered a different if not agonizing perspective of the game. It goes by way slower when you're not in the game," Jimmy said. When you're in the game, you don't even know how fast it goes." With high school more than a year away, Jimmy will instead focus on his 4.0 grade-point average at Rosemont Middle School, as well as returning to play with the Falcons in the Valley Conference. As for the Razorbacks, they hope to remain intact. After their runner-up showing in Memphis, they have automatically qualified for the AAU 14 & Under National Tournament in Orlando next year. It's a lot higher level of competition, but that's what it's going to be like later," Jimmy said. Spoken with an eye toward the future not toward his father.