WHEN she graduated from James Logan High in 2003, Cheri Craddockdid so as one of the most-talented female athletes to come throughthe campus in Union City.
Now she's trying to make the same impact as a girls basketballcoach at American High.
Craddock was a track and field star -- in the 100, 200 and 400meters. She also was quite the basketball player, making the all-Mission Valley Athletic League team three times.
Craddock took it to the next level at the University ofWashington, where she accepted a track scholarship. But along theway, she began to feel more and more like a basketball player --especially considering she was a walk-on on the basketball team.
And with the rigors of track and basketball in the Pacific-10,she knew she was going to have to pick one at some point.
"Basketball was something that I never got much looks at in highschool," Craddock said. "That's because I didn't play AAU. I rantrack during that time."
Craddock decided that hoops it was. She dropped track and focusedall her attention on her studies and basketball. After her freshmanseason, Craddock was named Most Improved Player along with Jill Belland Maggie O'Hare. By her sophomore year, Craddock was a staple inthe program, playing in 27 games.
Craddock continued to shine the next two years. And by her seniorseason, she began helping out with some camps at Washington, on boththe men's and side and the women's side.
"I did it for some extra money, and the more and more I did it,the more I liked it," said Craddock, who graduated with a politicalscience degree in June.
Ding, ding, ding.
What do they say about college? Keep plugging away, and you'llfigure out something at some point.
Well, Craddock figured out coaching was something she had to try.And she got some help along the way. She participated in the NikeWomen's Basketball Coaches Association last Spring.
She went to the Final Four, where she got the opportunity toparticipate in some coaching clinics. It was there she learned thebasics of running a program.
Craddock graduated from Washington in June and moved to Oakland,where she grew up, and began to do what other college graduates do -- look for a job.
Ah, but first she had to find a coaching position.
"I started looking on the Internet and making a lot of calls,"Craddock said. "And I wasn't doing it to be an assistant."
One of those calls was to American, where athletic director SteveKline was impressed enough in the interview process to give her ashot.
Next, Craddock had to find a job. She needed something flexible.She found it in day care, where she can be seen working a shift thatstarts at 6 a.m. to give her ample time in the afternoon andevenings to be with her team for practice or games.
Thus far, things have been good for the Eagles. They are 2-1 andhave a top point guard in Alex Carbonel, who is headed to St. Mary'snext year on a hoops scholarship.
And with a 21-year-old at the helm, you know she's got theenthusiasm and the energy to deal with teenagers -- something a lotof older coaches don't have.
"What I find is that the same things that coaches were preachingto me, I am doing to them," Craddock said. "And now I know what theymeant. The little things might not seem important then, but now Isee the importance. It's the little things that make a difference."
Ah, the words of wisdom. The Mustard knew Craddock when she wasin high school. It knew she had the ability to do anything shewanted. That smile, her demeanor. And most of all, her work ethic.You knew you were going to get 100 percent from her.
She's passing that knowledge on to the most important generation -- our youth. The next generation of American girls basketballplayers are lucky to have someone like that at the helm.
"So far, I love it," Craddock said. "I'm going to do it until ...well, until I don't love it anymore. As long as I love the game ofbasketball and coaching, that's what I'm going to do."
GRAPPLING: In the Oakley Tournament, Logan took third with a 48-18 win over Foothill in the third-place match.
In pool play, Logan went 3-0, with victories over Albany (47-15), Pittsburg (48-24) and Campolindo (74-0).
Yowwww. How do you explain a 74-0 loss if you're Campo? Oh wait,maybe because Nikko Triggas, the all-everything wrestler, whofinished runner-up at the State Championships, graduated last year.
Logan had two standout individuals who went 5-0: Ruben Baca (140pounds) and Danny Mai (130). At 135 pounds, Amman Rapaul went 4-0;and 112-pounder Kristian Blanco went 4-1.
OOPS: Washington water polo player Max Broun (goalie) wasaccidentally left off the all-MVAL team as an honorable mention.
The Mustard can be reached by e-mail atsrwaterhouse@bayareanewsgroup.com or by calling (510) 353-7024. Toreach the "Prep Corner" blog, visit http://www.insidebayarea.com/sports.
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