March 20, 2008
The emergence of Collin Chiverton
Neil Diamond wrote it. The Monkees made it famous. It’s the "I’m A Believer" song but this time with a modest substitution of some lyrics, now going like this: "then I saw him play, now I’m a believer, not a trace of doubt in my mind..."
Collin Chiverton
That wasn’t my thinking when watching Archbishop Mitty’s Collin Chiverton last season, even early in this one. The potential was obvious, even to the most myopic of observers, but doubt remained. The question lingered why he wasn’t more dominant more often? As a prime example, in the much-anticipated December 22 non-league matchup with powerful Oak Grove, a Mitty 57-47 victory, Chiverton typically had his moments of brilliance but it was just that -- appearances and not 32 minutes of such.
Not that it mattered because the real arbiter, in this case St. Mary’s Randy Bennett, invested in Chiverton with a college basketball scholarship in November 2007, leaving other coaches envious, wishing they were the chosen one.
Chiverton shooting over Mater Dei defender in state championship game at ARCO Arena
But Chiverton, #3 in the 2008 NorCalPreps.com prospect rankings, remained an enigma -- at least to me. All was not sweet nothings connected to his game. Fairly or unfairly, it just seemed he could do more but especially with greater frequency.
Sure there were fleeting flashes, the ‘wow moment’ displays of virtuosity and brilliance but unaccompanied by no long lasting light. His highlight reel entries would be followed by puzzling truancies, AWOL periods when it wasn’t apparent Chiverton was even on the floor.
So why the short-lived rainbows and then lengthy membership in Ballers Anonymous? As the Buddha said, "All things appear and disappear because of the concurrence of causes and conditions. Nothing ever exists entirely alone; everything is in relation to everything else."
Yes, Chiverton and his peekaboo game could be and was endlessly pondered and debated but just what was it: youthfulness? playing time? focus? offensive set design? opportunity?
But then he did it -- Chiverton finally transformed into a full-time force on the floor.
But then this was begged: what moved him from sidekick to leading actor? What was the how and why regarding his metamorphosis?
I say the most important factor in the full-on emergence of Chiverton turns on the absence of UCLA-bound Drew Gordon. The interior mainstay for Mitty missed a stretch of league games with an injured right foot and then an actual broken left foot, returning for the NorCal playoffs.
That was a do-or-die period for Chiverton, who actually also missed a short time with a hyperextended knee. His team needed him to become the constant go-to guy...and he stepped forward and delivered.
So much so that Chiverton was recently named the Player Of The Year in the West Catholic Athletic League.
Whether it was rocker-stepping jumpers from outside, dribble-drives off offensive sets, fast break opportunities going over or around a defender or defenders, strong rebounding -- you name it -- Chiverton stepped it up and became the rock for Archbishop Mitty. His evolution into a consistent lead player for the Monarchs harmonically converged with a serious deficiency brought to the fore by Gordon’s absence, bringing to mind the proverbial adage regarding business success of ‘finding a need and filling it.’
Gordon and his superb achievements notwithstanding, Chiverton became the foremost Monarch in breaking down opponent defenses for Coach Brian Eagleson. He was someone who delivered inside and outside, culminating in 17 points in the state championship loss to Mater Dei.
Congratulations on his emergence.