By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor The writing was on the wall early that St. Francis was going to be much improved in second-year coach Todd Wolfson’s program. The Golden Knights won just 7 games in the 2015-16 season. But by December 27, when they hammered Bassett by 67 points, the Golden Knights had already matched […]
By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor
The writing was on the wall early that St. Francis was going to be much improved in second-year coach Todd Wolfson’s program.
The Golden Knights won just 7 games in the 2015-16 season.
But by December 27, when they hammered Bassett by 67 points, the Golden Knights had already matched last season’s total in wins.
St. Francis (11-6 overall, 1-3 in league) is a pretty balanced team, but there is no disputing that senior guard Joey Walsh is ‘the guy’ Wolfson and his players look to when a big play needs to be made.
Walsh has already had seven games in which he’s scored at least 20 points.
He is averaging 18 points per game, 7 rebounds and 3 assists.
St. Francis made it to the finals of the El Segundo Tournament in early December, but dropped a 51-50 title game to Palos Verdes.
Twenty days later, though, the Golden Knights got back into a tournament title game.
And this time, St. Francis left the champions, after defeating La Serna, 85-70, in the Nogales Tournament championship game.
Walsh had 31 in the title game. He made five 3-point baskets and converted on 11-of-12 free-throw attempts.
The 6-foot-2 senior is first on his team in points, and second in rebounds and assists.
His numbers, though, aren’t what makes Walsh go, it’s all about the wins for the St. Francis captain.
“In coming in a year and half ago, what you hope for is to encounter a group of players ready to work,” Wolfson said. “Joey, from day one, has been an extremely hard worker for us. We ask him to do a lot for our program. He’s our tone setter. His leadership through action is the epitome of what our program is about.”
Walsh began playing basketball at age 3, and felt he was going to be a solid player around the time he was in the fifth grade.
He credits his strength and conditioning as well as a high basketball IQ as a few of the reasons he’s been able to reach a higher level.
Walsh takes very little of the credit for St. Francis’ dramatic turnaround from last season.
He gives most of it to his teammates for their play, but also for buying into Coach Wolfson’s philosophy.
“I think we are just executing what coach wants us to do and we are playing better together,” Walsh said. “We want to get out and run and get easy buckets. It all starts with our defense and once we get stops and rebounds, we want to go. It’s definitely all of our mind sets
too. We go into every game believing we are going to win this game and that’s
what we need to have. We need to be confident not only in ourselves, but each
other.”
While Walsh gets the marquee billing, he has plenty of help.
Malakhi Jensen averages 12 points per game, Omari Moore 9, Andre Henry 8, Sean Stephen and Lucas Shin pour in about 7 points per game.
Stephen is a guy Walsh looks to for a big 3 pointer in clutch time and it’s definitely a reciprocal feeling on Stephen’s end as well.
“Joey’s a great leader, both on the court and at practice,” Stephen said. “What I think makes him most special is his ability to remain calm in tough situations and play his game no matter what the score is. For example, in the Chaminade game, he made some huge shots for us late in the game. I would say his role is definitely as our number one scorer and the guy we rely on to score in tough situations. If we need a bucket, we give the ball to Joey. He’s a great captain and I feel blessed to play alongside such a great athlete.”
There is no secret as to who gets most of the credit for making Walsh the player and person he is today. His parents Sloan and Bob Walsh.
“They have always been there for me,” he said. “Through the ups and downs, they have always been my biggest fans. The love and support they give me is incredible and I am beyond blessed. The least I can do is give everything I have.”
Walsh wants to play and certainly has the talent to play at the next level, but he’ll patiently wait the process out and then make a decision.
His coaches and teammates, however, say and know that any school that gets Walsh will be a much better program for having him.
St. Francis currently sits in fifth place in the very tough Mission League, but are just one-game back of leaping all the way up to third.
They’ll travel to first-place Alemany (15-3, 4-0) on Wednesday at 7, and then host last place Notre Dame (8-8, 0-4) on Friday at 7.
St. Francis has at least 8 games remaining, and then a possible playoff spot.
But when asked what he hopes younger players remember about him, Walsh said, “I hope that I was able to make a difference to the school and the basketball program,” he said. “I want to come back and see the basketball program having more and more success as the years go on.”
Even though Joey Walsh the basketball player doesn’t know of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist Joe Walsh of The Eagles, anyone that knows either would certainly agree that “Life’s Been Good,” to both of them.
Quotable:
Senior guard Daniel Scott: “Joey is one of the best all-around guys I know. I haven’t met a person who has as much passion and fire as this guy does. In everything he does, he does it at 100%. He’s a special player and you could tell right when he steps on the court. He also isn’t afraid of anything. For the team, he brings his leadership, intensity and commitment and you don’t find that in every basketball player.”
Coach Todd Wolfson: “When you talk about special players, we sometimes tend to focus on a guy’s scoring or athletic ability. I mean, we watch Lebron and Steph in the NBA, but to our staff, special players are players that impact the game in multiple ways. Joey impacts the game in multiple ways. We ask our players to rebound, defend, score and take charges, all those things that impact the game. Joey takes those parts of the game extremely serious. Game in and game out, you will see Joey in the mix in a game trying to do those things that we ask. To me, that’s special.”
Getting To Know Joey Walsh:
Favorite NBA Team: Lakers
Favorite College Team: Washington State University
Favorite Basketball Player: Lebron James
Favorite Food: Steak or Ribs
Favorite Actor: Kevin Hart
Favorite TV Show: My Wife & Kids
Favorite Movie: Lone Survivor
Concert He Most Wants To See: Future
Remaining Schedule:
1/18: St. Francis at Alemany at 7
1/20: Notre Dame at St. Francis at 7
1/25: Harvard-Westlake at St. Francis at 7
1/27: St. Francis at Crespi at 7
2/1: Loyola at St. Francis at 7
2/3: St. Francis at Chaminade at 7
2/8: St. Francis at Notre Dame at 7
2/10: Alemany at St. Francis at 7
Mission League Standings:
Alemany (15-3 overall, 4-0 in league)
Harvard-Westlake (12-6, 4-0)
Chaminade (13-7, 2-2)
Loyola (10-5, 2-2)
St. Francis (11-6, 1-3)
Crespi (7-12, 1-3)
Notre Dame (8-8, 0-4)
