October 6, 2016
Calcaterra headed to WCC
In departing marvelous Marin for America's Finest City, nobody can accuse Joey Calcaterra of slumming as the Marin Catholic High senior recently committed to play next season at San Diego.
Coming off a season in which he averaged 27.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.9 steals and 2.6 assists while shooting 50 percent on two pointers, 36 percent on three pointers and 80 percent on free throws, Calcaterra played this spring and summer with Splash City and again performed well. In late August, he scored 25 points and hauled in seven rebounds at the NorCal Clash.
San Diego had been seriously tracking the 6-foot-3 guard for some time and, on an unofficial visit last week, Calcaterra said yes to the Toreros offer. He has an official planned for the near future.
The reasons for his decision to go with the Toreros are multiple. "It's the WCC (West Coast Conference), the coaching staff was following me all throughout the spring and summer and their offense fits my style well," Calcaterra explained. "The USD coaches and I reviewed film together to show me how I could fit in and it just felt right. They run a 4 out, 1 in and my shooting can help." San Diego shot 39 percent overall last season, 29 percent from three-point range.
Calcaterra added, "I have a lot of friends at San Diego and I've heard great things. Everything is beautiful and you can't beat the weather. There is a lot of opportunity for me to help turn the program around." Coach Lamont Smith is in his second year at the helm and assembling talents who better fit with his offensive and defensive schemes.
Asked what he'll be bringing to his new team, Calcaterra offered, "a lot of energy and being a vocal leader on and off the court. I'll put in the work next season and will hopefully add firepower."
Also, games on the road versus San Francisco, Santa Clara, St. Mary's and even Pacific will be homecomings of a sort.
But first comes his senior year at Marin Catholic. "We went 19-11 but didn't finish the way we wanted to so we put in a lot of work over the summer." Fellow senior Jack Hogeboom, at 7.0 points and 4.5 rebounds, will return as Calcaterra's sidekick for the 2016-17 Wildcats. They will be young this season, but he is looking at that as a huge leadership opportunity.
Calcaterra thanked his Marin Catholic Varsity Coach Mike Saia and his Splash City coaches, Jules Milstead and brothers LeRohn and Grady Dodson, for their guidance and help in his basketball journey.
So with Joey's college basketball destination settled, the only portion of the state not Calcaterra-ized in hoops is the northern part as Frankie Calcaterra is playing at Cal Lutheran in Thousand Oaks and Nick Calcaterra is a San Francisco State Gator. Might there be a fourth member of the family soon ready to cover that territory?