Appel bleeds green

Kevin McCarthy
 

The Beach Boys had a hit way back when with “Be True To Your School.” Rising senior Nate Appel gives more than that to De La Salle High -- he credits it with changing him as both a person and player.

Appel lauds De La Salle

The 6-foot-8 Appel has evolved since his entry into high school. "I came in worried, not sure of who I was. I was not very tough," he said. "One time, I messed up in a basketball drill and a senior from the 07-08 team said ‘don’t do that again.’ Another time, Greg St. Jean and I were running ‘liners’ after practice and I stopped. He kept encouraging me, saying ‘don’t give up, ever’ I took that to heart."

Continuing on, Appel said, "You become a whole different person at De La Salle. It’s a place of integrity. You learn how to act on and off the court. I’ve definitely matured as a person."

Appel was part of a DLS freshman team that went 26-0. His junior varsity squad finished 25-1. "As a freshman, I didn’t care all that much about the details of the game. I soon realized how important every possession is. It’s not on the highlight film, but doing the little things like blocking out and talking on defense is important. Everything matters, and once you learn that, you start to win more and lead your team."

He first realized a college scholarship was within his reach around the time of his junior year. "After a difficult practice, I was struggling and Beau Levesque [an older teammate] said, ‘Don’t worry, just keep going at it.’" That was the encouragement Appel needed.

This summer, Appel played for Joe Fuca’s MVP/Lakeshow club team. Here’s Fuca on his player: "Nate is the classic kid who listens to the coach and he is a very smart player on the court. We were big in a game and we were getting pressed very hard by a good team called DC Assault. I had him take the ball out because he made good decisions and he can shoot in the high 90s for free throws. So when he gets the ball back from the inbounds they had to foul him and he sank every free throw. He is the perfect big guy on the court if you wanted to hold a lead."

Fuca continued, "What sticks out about Nate’s game on defense is the way he hedges against the screens by the guards outside of the key. Nate can hedge with the best of them. Nate’s wing span really helps on the defensive end because he can get his hands on the ball. On offense, Nate is the perfect big man to run a pick and pop with. He can knock down the three pointers consistently."

Regarding the coming DLS winter season, he has certain goals. "I want to be the co-leader of the team [along with fellow senior John McArthur]." Last season’s floor leader Brandon Smith is now in Berkeley so others, including Appel, will need to step up.

As for his best skills, Appel offered, "getting the team going by making an energy play, such as rebounding. Plus, I’ve really improved my jump shot and three-point shooting."

There was also this telling quote: "I think of myself as a small play guy," he said. This was never better demonstrated than when De La Salle topped McClymonds 43-38 last season. It also qualifies as Appel’s best basketball memory. "We played McClymonds in a game at Cal and they had a 50+ game winning streak. Damon Powell had two fouls when I was put in during the third quarter. I took a charge against him for his third foul and then a little later, I was fronting him in the post. He got frustrated with me and picked up another foul. That really energized my teammates. We beat them for the first time in a long time." Powell ended up playing just 14 minutes.

Appel played a number of sports -- baseball, swimming, track, Pop Warner football -- growing up, including water polo as a DLS freshman where he put his 6-foot-9 wing span to great use. His father played four years of hoops at St. Mary’s in Moraga and that ultimately was the sport the younger Appel gave his focus.

As for recruiting, some Ivy League schools are interested, as is Cal Poly, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, Chico State and Whitman College in Washington. Appel would also like any of the various universities in San Diego to make a run at him. He’s being envisioned as a three in college.

There’s another mountain for Appel to climb, one involving his affection for De La Salle.

"I want to make an imprint at De La Salle," Appel said. "There’s a wall at school with photos of all the guys who earned athletic scholarships and I want the future players and students to see my picture up there."

With how hard he has worked this summer, well, DLS should be readying space.