February 13, 2007
Caballero still sidelined but raring to go
For Caballero, it has been a long journey from Caborca, Mexico to San Jose State
Imagine contemplating and then attempting something no one else in your hometown or state has ever pursued.
Envision the longest of long shots; journeying close to 1,000 miles, crossing an international border and also not speaking the language of the new country of your undertaking.
Such was and still is the endeavor of San Jose State redshirt freshman Caballero, who grew up in Caborca, in the state of Sonora, in northwest Mexico. Soccer was understandably his initial sports love. But the futbol world is devoid of 6-foot-9 strikers, midfielders or goalkeepers.
Plus, Caballero desired to make something of himself, something more than Caborca could offer him. He needed an alternative.
As he put it in a recent interview, "I didn’t want to remain in Caborca my whole life because the opportunities there were limited."
Nothing happens unless first we dream - Carl Sandburg
So he turned to the basketball court. "I decided to play basketball, thinking maybe that would somehow help me," he continued.
Coming from a family featuring a 6-foot-8 father, a 5-foot-10 mother, and 7-foot-1 uncle provided him with the size needed to stand out. So Caballero continued honing his skills and eventually his hoops dream bore fruit when he won a sports scholarship to attend high school in Hermosillo, about 140 miles from Caborca to the southeast.
He attended school and played there for a couple of years. One friend in particular kept suggesting he head north and try his luck. "I really didn’t give it much thought, it was my friend who was telling me to try it," Caballero said.
The possible’s slow fuse is lit by the imagination - Emily Dickinson
Caballero had an uncle living in Salinas, California, but it was a relative he didn’t know all that well. Still, he made a phone call and asked his uncle if he could come and stay with him and go to school. The answer was yes. Caballero then packed a suitcase and boarded a bus, thus beginning his life-changing journey.He had never before visited the United States. Arriving in Salinas not speaking a single word of English, he enrolled as a junior at Alisal High School, a school recommended to him because he would feel more comfortable and acclimate more easily there, being that most of the students were Mexican or Mexican American. Caballero then went to see Jose Gil, the Alisal boys basketball coach, who was amazed that a 6-foot-9, 250 pound kid just walked into his office out of the blue--not an everyday event for any coach. Gil gladly welcomed Caballero.
Caballero’s immersion into a completely new culture thus began.
In 2004-05, Caballero, the walk-on or in this case the walk-in, averaged 11.1 points a game and grabbed just over 15 rebounds each contest for the Alisal boys basketball team. Then, over the summer he received the needed exposure required for any youngster wanting to play college basketball by playing for the Bay Area Hoosiers club team. The squad entered a number of tournaments throughout the three-month school break, games attended by a bevy of college assistant coaches.
Division I schools then began taking notice. Less than a year after leaving Caborca, Caballero began receiving letters of interest from Oklahoma, Arizona State, St. Mary’s, Pacific, Santa Barbara and others. San Jose State, with a new head coach in George Nessman and a new batch of assistant coaches, was among the most ardent of suitors.
Then the hope balloon was punctured. Caballero received notice that he would not be eligible to play his senior year at Alisal High because he would turn 19 before his senior season officially began. This was a big blow, possibly a mortal one, because he wouldn’t be on the court for scouts to follow up and see how he was progressing.
One step at a time. And so the most arduous journey is completed - Anonymous
Still, in November 2005, Caballero’s dream became a reality.
He was offered and accepted a basketball scholarship to play at and attend San Jose State University.
"I came to the U.S. hoping to maybe play basketball at a junior college and then get noticed by someone," he said of his official signing with SJSU. "I was scared and didn’t know what to expect. [The signing] was a blessing. I kept repeating to myself ‘this is for real.’"
Asked why he selected San Jose State, Caballero said, "[Coach Nessman] talked to me about a new program, a new beginning and I wanted to be part of it. I like the challenge. I want to prove something. We all (his teammates) want to make something happen here."Your future depends on many things, but mostly on you - Frank Tyger
The NCAA delayed approving Caballero’s eligibility before finally issuing the go-ahead in December 2006. Half the season already completed, Caballero decided to redshirt and begin as a freshman in athletic eligibility next season. Asked what he will bring to the court in 2007-08, Caballero said, "I’m a team person, I like to pass and make plays, I’m happy if I can make a pass to a teammate for a score."
Currently, he is hitting the weight room and practicing with the team while living in one of the on-campus dorms, settling in but still getting used to Silicon Valley life.
"At times, it’s still hard being in a completely different culture but this is a wonderful opportunity," he said.
When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened. - John Richardson
Count Caballero as solidly in the camp of ‘those who make it happen.’
George Nessman on Caballero: "Oliver is a personable and well-mannered young man. I really enjoy working with him. He understands he has a lot to learn. He is grounded and is pursuing his dream; things I respect a great deal. Ollie has a team-first attitude which is powerfully important to our program. Spartan fans will see an inexperienced, but aggressive player who gives tremendous effort. Ollie competes with a very physical style that our program has sorely lacked over the last two seasons. He is willing to bang bodies and can command space with his strength around the goal. Ollie is an unselfish player (sometimes too unselfish) with an excellent passing touch. He sets screens with passion and is willing to do small things that make a big difference. He is a hungry player that is eager to learn. Ollie can score out to about 15’ and is a solid athlete. There is little doubt that given time Ollie will make a very positive difference for Spartan basketball."