Quiet Competitor : Cypress Forward Chad Boberg Forces Opposition to Work Hard to Slow Him Down

CYPRESS —  If you conducted a poll to identify the top high school basketball player in the county, it’s a safe bet Chad Boberg wouldn’t be at the top.

Boberg, who has played on the Cypress varsity for four seasons and is the school’s all-time leading scorer, probably wouldn’t be mentioned in the same breath as Kevin Augustine, David Lalazarian or Chris Burgess.

Part of the problem is Boberg himself. The 6-foot-4 forward is virtually ego-free and doesn’t have a flashy playing style. According to his friends, Boberg, 17, has turned being laid-back into an art form.

“We have to introduce girls to him,” said teammate Wes Bunn, laughing. “If he’s in a room, unless you say something to him, you’d never know he was there.”

Cypress Coach Tom Gorrell agrees.

“He has a real low-key personality,” Gorrell said. “But he loves to compete. When I came here, Chad [as a freshman] was considered borderline for varsity. But when he competes, as he did against those seniors . . . that’s what sets him apart.”

Cypress is 17-4 and sitting atop the Empire League standings at 4-1. The Centurions appear well on their way to matching last season’s 21-6 record, despite some exotic game plans designed to stop Boberg, who is averaging 23.4 points, third best in the county.

Lately, he has been facing a rash of box-and-one defenses, where one opponent is assigned to follow him and try to deny him the ball while the others play a zone. If Boberg does get the ball, another defender will rotate to help guard him.

El Dorado used it often during its 65-45 upset of Cypress two weeks ago, holding Boberg to eight points. Katella did not Wednesday night, and Boberg responded with 25 points in the Centurions’ 53-36 victory.

Expect Kennedy, which visits the Centurions tonight, to employ a box-and-one or some variation of it from time to time.

“We’ll have a special defense for him,” Fighting Irish Coach John Mayberry said. “You must be aware of where he is on the floor at all times.

“I’ll tell you one of his attributes, which many kids do not have today. He comes to play. And as the game goes on he continues to play. He can miss shots or have fouls, but he plays until the final buzzer. Win or lose, he doesn’t leave until the game’s over. You better be ready for him or he’ll take care of you.”

Boberg said he just has to do more things to break free and score.

“When teams are playing lots of box-and-one, it’s harder to get open shots,” he said. “It takes away the ability to go one on one. I’ll run the baseline; I try to work toward the middle, or work off screens or passes to get open.”

Boberg is used to overcoming obstacles. He grew fast, reaching his present height by eighth grade--”I thought I’d be a big center guy, but then I stopped growing and had to learn how to shoot,” he said--but the rapid ascension caused a crack in his left kneecap, which was discovered during an X-ray when he was in seventh grade.

“I have to ice the knee before and after games,” said Boberg, a three-time all-league selection. “But it hasn’t stopped me from playing.”

On Dec. 15, during a 92-43 victory over Cerritos Valley Christian, Boberg passed Dave Belshe’s 928 points (set from 1977 to 1981) to become Cypress’ all-time leading scorer. He has 1,236 entering tonight’s game.

Boberg credits many for his success, but two peers in particular. “When I was a freshman, Bart Bolton was a senior at Cypress,” Boberg said. “He was a real example for me. He wasn’t real verbal, but he hustled and worked hard. We still stay in touch. His younger brother, Bret, who graduated last year, was also a good player who helped me.”

Boberg said he would like to attend Utah, and Gorrell said the Utes’ coach, Rick Majerus, has agreed to take him as a walk-on.

“They like a little more size for a scholarship player at Chad’s position,” Gorrell said. But Majerus also offered to help Boberg find a scholarship at another school. Utah Valley State, a junior college in Orem, reportedly is interested.

The only drawback to Utah, Boberg jokes, is “no place to surf.” But unless a better offer comes along, he will go there and make it work.

No matter what, Boberg finds a way to make it work.