santa clara former valley

SoCal High School & Prep Report

Two SoCal Players Take Different Routes
To Same Goal At Santa Clara--(January 25, 1998)

The Los Angeles Times' Ventura County edition on Saturday published, in two separate stories, a sort of "tale of two players" both of whom now play for Santa Clara University. Both of them were former LA Times consensus stars, and on of them was named the Player of the Year for the Valley Region by the Times in 1993. Both of them took differing paths to end up at Santa Clara, and their story is instructive, inspiring, and enlightening. One played at Campbell Hall in North Hollywood (that's right, Campbell Hall is in NoHo, and as we keep reminding everyone, Harvard-Westlake isn't, it's in Studio City, well to the south and west of North Hollywood), won a Southern Section Division V-AA Championship, and was touted as a future NBA prospect. The other played at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, in the Mission League, was coached by current San Fernando Coach Mick Cady, and helped Notre Dame win its only Southern Section Division III-A title in the same year, 1993.

Who are we talking about? Former Campbell Hall standout Alex Lopez (6'-9" Jr. F/C), and former Notre Dame star Craig Johnson (6'-4" Sr G).

As noted in the Times, big, broad-shouldered and goateed, Alex Lopez strikes an intimidating figure on the basketball court. And a closer look also reveals a player whose size far exceeds what he has accomplished on the college level.

As Dick Davy, Lopez' coach at Santa Clara told the times, "He's not a gifted player in any area," said Dick Davey, Lopez's coach at Santa Clara University. But, with his size, at 250 pounds, Lopez can fill a lane, even if he has struggled to fulfill the promise he showed as a dominant center at Campbell Hall High, and that same size has kept him in the starting lineup for Santa Clara, which entered the week with a 13-3 record, its best start in 20 years. "He can bang some bodies," Davey told the Times. "He's not afraid to take a charge. It's just that his physical development needs to get better as far as skills go. He needs to get quicker, become a better shooter and a more solid post player."

Lopez has found satisfaction in being a contributor rather than a star. His modest averages--4.6 points and 3.1 rebounds--haven't been something that he's dwelled on at Santa Clara, especially after his experience at the University of Washington, where he was initially recruited to play.

"I wanted to find a program that would allow me to grow as a player," Lopez told the Time. Lopez left Washington in the middle of his sophomore season in 1995-96. "Coach Davey has given me a lot of freedom to do what I can to help this team. Now it's up to me."

Lopez has not quite equalled the promise which others expected of him when he was The Times' Valley player of the year as a Campbell Hall senior in 1994. During that season, the Campbell Hall Vikings won the Southern Section Division V-AA title, and Lopez was considered a very highly rated prospect, having been recruited by many schools. He ultimately chose Washington, but didn't start, and rarely played. But at Santa Clara, the consensus is that Lopez has found a program that suits, him, and he certainly fits in with the program's goals and aspirations.

Lopez is getting what he didn't get at Washington: Playing time. He now starts, but doesn't get as much playing time as some think he should. Last week, at home, Santa Clara beat Pepperdine (which was without ommA' Givens--which is either a detriment or a blessing depending on your point of view), buy a score of 77-71. In that game, Lopez didn't play more than 16 minutes, made only one of five shots, and finished withjust two points and two rebounds. But while he may not be scoring as well as some might have liked, Davey is sticking with him.

Davey told the Times "I know he's going to get better." And when he's on the bench "he's our most vocal guy," Davey said. "He's really involved with his teammates and he never gripes if he's not playing."

Does Lopez still have dreams of playing in the NBA? Sure, but as he said to the Times, if he doesn't make it he'll just find something else to do. "I haven't blossomed into an NBA prospect, but maybe I can," he said. "I feel no pressure to be at that high level. There's more to life than basketball." Lopez's alternate career goal? "I will probably be a history teacher," he said.

In contrast, and also somewhat in parallel with Lopez, Craig Johnson came to Santa Clara with big dreams and big hopes. And with a fine basketball pedigree.

Johnson also played on championship teams in high school, and he has now played on a WCC championship team as well. He helped Notre Dame win the Southern Section Division III-A title in 1993 and helped West Valley (Community College) to a pair of conference titles and a state runner-up finish to Ventura in 1995. And, he has watched as Santa Clara won the WCC as well. Johnson grew up in Northern California and attended Archbishop Mitty High in San Jose until his senior year, when he moved in with his father, Curtis, who lived in Northridge. Johnson was a valuable addition at Notre Dame. In helping the Knights win their only section basketball title, he averaged 13.4 points and was selected to the All-Division III team and The Times' All-Valley second team.

"He gave us quickness at point guard that we did not have," Mick Cady, who coached Notre Dame that season and is now the coach at San Fernando told the Times. "He was our most consistent outside shooter and he guarded the best player on the other team." Cady said Johnson did a great defensive job in two Mission League games against Loyola, holding Toby Bailey, now of UCLA, under 20 points each time. Johnson was part of a Notre Dame starting five that remains involved in athletics. Forward-center Monte Marcaccini plays at Virginia, Tom Stillwell plays volleyball for UCLA, Ryan Stromsborg is an infielder in the minor leagues and Glen Carson is a first baseman at Nevada. "It was just fun," Johnson said of his year at Notre Dame. "From the second I got down there, I was making all new friends. It was almost a dream season."

When he arrived at Santa Clara in 1995 after playing at West Valley College in Saratoga for two seasons. He envisioned himself playing alongside Steve Nash, the Broncos' star guard who has gone on to the Phoenix Suns. When it became apparent Johnson wasn't going to get much playing time, it was suggested he use a redshirt season. He reluctantly abided, but he simmered on the bench. "I came with a big chip on the my shoulder," he told the Times. "Nash was here and I wanted to play. I wanted to be on the court. I knew it was going to be a good team."

Instead, he watched Santa Clara win the WCC title and advance to the NCAA tournament, where the Broncos defeated Maryland in the first round. Meanwhile, Davey wondered if an unhappy Johnson would ever fit in. "I'm not sure he wanted to be here and I'm not sure we wanted him," Davey told the Times. "But since then, he's been a major part of our success."

In his quest to become a better basketball player, Craig Johnson prepared for his senior season at Santa Clara University with fervent dedication, not wanting to let any idle moments slip into his regimen. "He spent more time on the basketball court in the off-season than any player in the United States," Santa Clara Coach Dick Davey said to the Times.

After participating in regular workouts through July, Johnson kept going. And going, and going.

More than a month later, he accomplished his goal of shooting 20,000 free throws, making nearly 18,000. "I'd shoot anywhere" Johnson said. "Parks, any gym I could find." Shooting up to 750 free throws a day might not be everyone's idea of fun. But for Johnson, who played at Notre Dame High, it was a way to keep his mind on the game. With renewed focus, he has helped Santa Clara, now 14-3 on the season, get off to its best start in 20 years--since Kurt Rambis played for the Broncos. The 6'-4" guard leads the WCC with an average of 2.1 steals per game and is on pace to break the school single-season record. He has increased his scoring average by four points from last season, to 11.1. He leads WCC guards with a 5.6 rebounding average. And, perhaps most importantly, he's matured into a team leader.

"He realized a few shortcomings and tried to change them," Davey said. "Two years ago, he was only concerned about where he was going." A team co-captain, Johnson's top priority is to help Santa Clara win a fourth consecutive WCC title and reach the NCAA tournament. The Broncos are in first place in the conference with a 5-0 record.

Santa Clara's defensive pressure, keyed by Johnson, has resulted in the Broncos forcing an average of 19.2 turnovers a game and leading the WCC with a plus-six turnover ratio. "He's been one of, if not our best, defender this year," Davey said. "He goes aggressively to the ball and he anticipates really well. He's quick enough to help [teammates] in a hurry." Johnson played a typically steady game against Pepperdine last Friday. He scored 11 points on four-of-five shooting, grabbed seven rebounds--five on the offensive end--and helped hold Gerald Brown, the Waves' leading scorer, to nine points and two-of-nine shooting before fouling out in the second half of Santa Clara's 77-71 victory.

Johnson smiled after the game when told of Brown's shooting numbers, but exhibited no trace of self satisfaction. "I want to stay on an even pace," he said. "I'm not trying to do too much one night and not enough the next night."

Two players, same team, two different paths. For them, hopefully to the same goal, a WCC Championship and an NCAA berth. Two SoCal guys trying to make it to the show. Good luck guys.