Certain basketball players have an uncanny way of getting things done on the court. But at first glance, the spectator often wonders how that player does it when he does not seem to have the physical tools to do so. One such player is Noah Springwater of the University High Red Devils.
As a 6-foot-2, 170 pound combination guard, Springwater is not the most physically imposing or quickest player on the court. However, he more than offsets this with his basketball IQ and ability to get things done on the court. At a Columbia University prospect camp during this past June, Columbia Coach Kyle Smith commented how Springwater reminded him of San Antonio Spur Manu Ginobli because Springwater is a crafty, smart guard who is efficient on the basketball court. Springwater likens himself to another former Devil, Duke Alum Shane Battier because Springwater possess certain intangibles that seem to help his team win while not putting up the eye-opening statistics and not having the imposing physical body.
University High Coach Randy Bessolo says, "Noah's strengths include his floor vision and feel for the game which more than anything helps him make his teammates and team better on both sides of the ball. On offense, he is a great play-maker and passer and on defense, he has a great nose for the ball which leads to numerous deflections, steals, and blocked shots. He brings a tremendous competitive spirit and is at his best in big games and tough situations."
These intangibles and smarts proved to be useful for the Red Devils last year as they were able to post a 28-8 record that ended with a 62-44 loss to Branson (Ross) in the Nor Cal Finals. As a junior varsity starter, Springwater averaged 15.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. This Devil wants to see the team win league. He expects the team and all individual players to improve as the season progresses due to the coaching staff's efforts. Springwater says, "As I have only one season left at UHS, I want to leave a legacy and not leave with any doubts or regrets. Building a legacy also means contributing and helping my teammates succeed as well. As we have gotten better every year and gone deeper into the postseason, we have been able to taste our overall goal, which is to win a State Championship. Last year we were one win away from making it to the state championship game and we have high ambitions for next season as well."
To achieve this goal, Springwater played his third year with his AAU team (coached by Bessolo), Bay Area Warriors, during the summer. In addition, he worked hard on his perimeter shot, ball handling skills, and finishing skills. University High has a rebounding machine that was his best friend during the summer that helped him increase his three point range and pull up jumper. Opponents in his senior season will get to experience his improved ball handling skills that include the euro-step, anchor foot, and various stutter moves. University High Assistant Coach Matt Harris ran boot camps with him to increase his strength, quickness, and overall athleticism as well.
This Devil is a finesse player who always tries to make good decisions with the ball. Odds are that Springwater is the smartest ball player on the floor at all times as his court vision and ability to find an open teammate is uncanny. Coach Bessolo stresses the basketball fundamentals and Springwater is a student of these.
Springwater has been playing organized basketball since kindergarten. In addition to basketball, he is also on the Red Devil baseball team as a pitcher. He has been the captain for both teams for his junior and senior years. However, he plays basketball year round and plans on only playing basketball at the next level.
The next level has definitely been interested in this San Francisco treat as Amherst (Dave Hixon), Colgate (Aaron Marshall), Columbia (Kyle Smith), Penn, Pomona-Pitzer, Portland, San Francisco, Tufts, UC Davis, Whitman (Eric Bridgeland), and Williams (Mike Maker) have been in touch. Springwater has an offer from Columbia and will make an official visit to the Ivy League school soon. Columbia is attractive because it is at the DI level and has a new coach (Kyle Smith), who is from Moraga's St. Mary's. Springwater says, "I want to succeed in college and contribute to a winning program, and I believe Coach Smith has the tools, experience, and basketball IQ to make some serious noise."
Coach Bessolo who has coached in Chicago and Northern California and sent over 30 players to the NCAA level says, "Immediately, we could see that Noah was going to have the potential to be a D1 player if he was willing to put in a lot of hard work. He actually reminded me in many ways of one of my former players from Chicago, Jon Scheyer of Duke. Noah has consistently improved and as a result has received a lot of recruiting interest."
Springwater wants to play for a strong program that has a welcoming coaching staff and a group of great guys on the team who will ultimately make his college basketball experience a positive one. He does not have a geographical preference even though he would like to stay close to home. But he thinks that he will be heading east most likely. He would like to be challenged academically at the college level as well. He does not know what he wants to major in, but Architecture has piqued his interest as his father studied that major.
One other aspect about Springwater is that he has rigorous academic standards. University High is an academically stringent school as the Wall Street Journal ranked University the 21st best high school based on how many University High students were sent to top colleges and how successful they were in 2007. Springwater wanted to go to University because his older siblings went there and also of the academic excellence. Springwater says, "I have learned to grind through tough assignments and periods of time where I have a lot of work. I've had to sacrifice free time, but looking back on it, I have learned a great deal about myself. I have learned to be tenacious, persistent, and to be mentally tough. These qualities I believe have translated directly onto the basketball court. Going to UHS turned out to be without a doubt the best decision for me both academically and athletically."
Finally, despite his sports commitment and his academic schedule, Springwater believes in community service. At University, they have fourteen students who are selected as peer advisors through an application process at the beginning of their junior year and continue through the senior year. Springwater is a peer advisor who is mentoring the underclassmen and being a good role model that leads by example in the Red Devil community. Springwater comes across as being humble and grounded as he insisted to attribute his basketball development and success to coaches Bessolo and Harris. Expect Springwater to leverage those basketball skills to make a big spring forward during his senior year for the Red Devils.
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