Decemer 14, 2009
Hale bops opponents
Sometimes it seems the generality prevails that, outside of the metropolitan areas in California, basketball is played but with a peach basket at each end of the court and thigh high shorts still being worn. Of course, that’s not accurate but any degree of props seems to elude players outside major cities, especially in the northern part of the state. Our suggestion: head up to Placer County and stop in at Lincoln High. It is true that most of the gold has already been dug up in the area but flecks of modern day shiny hoops are on prominent display. Keenan Hale for one, he a member of the Fighting Zebras.
No one out-competes Hale
Hale is a 6-foot-4 senior who is catching the eyes of a number of colleges and universities. Chico State -- a rejuvenated program gobbling up local and regional talents left and right -- and Cal Poly Pomona, which played in the Division II national championship game last season, are keenly interested in Hale’s services next year.
That’s because he averaged a very well-rounded 22.4 point per game, 11.5 boards and 2.2 assists a contest in the 2008-2009 season when Lincoln finished with a 21-8 overall record.
When asked what his best basketball skills are, Hale thought momentarily and then responded, "My rebounding, scoring and passing." But lest one thinks he is resting on his laurels, the question was flipped and what he sees as areas of his game needing improvement, he answered with, "My ballhandling and I’m working on defense this year."
Hale sees one of the NBA greats, if not the greatest, as his biggest basketball influence. "It’s Michael Jordan."
But what’s most interesting is his reason why.
"It’s because of how hard he worked on his game, all the practice he put into it," Hale said.
He played primarily at the 3 and 4 spots on his club team, the E-Time Hoops Academy coached by Ernest Taubodo, who is also an assistant coach at Center High in Antelope. Here is Taubodo on his player: "Keenan quite simply is a bull! His determination and will to get to the rim is amazing. I’ve never coached a 6-foot-4 player who has enjoyed as much success in the interior as Keenan. His passion and willingness to be the best will allow him the opportunity to compete at the next level."
At that next level, Hale says college coaches are looking at him as a 2 and a 3.
Hale visited Chico State recently and got to see the Wildcats take on Seattle Pacific. Cal Poly Pomona is wanting him to come down south and Hale sees things he likes in both programs. He is looking to major possibly in communications or public relations. Hale already converses well in interviews, indicating a talent for either field.
There have been changes for Hale since his freshman year at Lincoln. "I’ve definitely gotten bigger and stronger as I came in at 175 pounds or so and am now at 205-210, and I’ve grown an inch or two. Plus, I’ve matured and learned to make better decisions on the court and not rush things."
What’s also telling about Hale is that his best memory he has about one of his games has nothing to do with scoring. "In my sophomore year, I got 10 assists -- it was my best passing game," he offered.
Also indicative of his character is a time when things weren’t going so well earlier in high school due to an injured foot. Hale could have moped but instead coached third and fourth graders in the Lincoln Police Activity League and also refereed some games after his cast was removed.
As for the current basketball season, "we’re looking to have a real good team," according to Hale. mentioning teammates Jake Courage and Steven Bobyk as fellow mainstays on the Fighting Zebras. He sees Colfax High -- " a very disciplined team that really plays defense" -- as a tough opponent for the Pioneer Valley League championship.