Jacob Cano is quite the triple threat: The 16-year-old junior plays baseball, basketball, and football for St. Joseph High School.
Cano led the Knights in three-pointers, including a spectacular mid-court score at the buzzer last week against Santa Maria. He’s also the Knights’ leading scorer, averaging 15 points a game, according to Coach Ed Torres. Not bad for a guy who got a late start on the basketball season due to a shoulder injury.
Cano says three-pointers and quarterbacking are fine, but third base is where his heart lies.
“I’ve played baseball since I was 3,” he said. “Dad was a huge player, taught me a lot, and I’ve grown to love the game.”
His undying love for baseball, however, doesn’t keep him from excelling on the basketball court. Coach Torres says Cano’s ability to play under pressure is his real strength.
“He plays possession basketball,” Torres said. “In other words, every possession he plays as if it’s the most important. That separates some athletes from others.”
So what does Cano feel has been his most memorable moment on the court?
“Our game last year against Campbell Hall,” he said. “They were supposed to just kill us by 20 to 50 points. We were leading by a point after the first quarter. Our team had the most heart of any team I’ve ever played with.”
Cano went on to say he doesn’t mind that they lost, noting that one of Campbell Hall’s seniors is now playing for UCLA.
“The main thing in my life is my religion and God,” he summed up. “They’re everything to me. Second is my family, especially my mom. She’s been to every one of my games. She keeps me happy on game day so I’m not cranky before a game.”
This article appears in Feb 26 – Mar 5, 2009.