The new season has been tough for Castro Valley as they have started 7-5 but with hard fought losses to top tier Northern California teams including Newark Memorial, Deer Valley, and Heritage. But things should be looking up for the Trojans as the play of junior wing, Derrick Clayton, has been solid.
As a sophomore, Clayton helped his Trojans to a 27-6 mark and semifinal appearances in both the North Coast Section and Northern California playoffs. As Castro Valley transitions from the Hayward Area Athletic League to the West Alameda County League, the team's main challenger will still be Bishop O'Dowd. Clayton has been averaging 18.7 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists this season.
With new head coach Senque Carey in tow, Clayton believes the team and his individual game have improved with the help of the former Fresno State assistant coach.
"Coach Carey has improved our team's togetherness and work ethic as individuals and as a team all together," said Clayton. "These new attributes show well on the court as we lose in close battles to top ranked teams in the Bay Area. With a bit more work, we should stop losing consecutive close and hard games."
At 6-foot-5 and 184 pounds, Clayton reminds many Castro Valley fans of alum and current Marquette Golden Eagle, Juan Anderson. Both are athletic, long, and versatile. Clayton still follows Anderson's progress at the college level.
"From watching Juan at the collegiate level, I've learned that things that may have worked in high school will not always work in college," continued Clayton. "You have to take your game to the next level, especially at the high D1 level that he is playing at. With knowing that, I'm trying to step my game up to the next level now, every chance I get."
To no surprise, the No. 9 ranked 2014 prospect according to NorCalPreps.com has been getting varying levels of college interest. Clayton has offers from San Francisco, San Jose State, UC Davis, and Utah State. He claims high interest from Portland State, Sacramento State, Weber State, and UC Santa Barbara while regular interest from BYU, Denver, Missouri State, Santa Clara, and Texas A&M.
"Schools that stand out right now to me are of course the schools that have offered me," says Clayton. "I realize and appreciate that they were the first schools to take interest in me and when it does come time to make my decision I will take that into consideration."
As for the schools with interest in him, Clayton says, "Other than the schools that have offered me, I am loving different things about the other schools that have taken interest in me. With Santa Barbara, I love their coaching staff and people that I will be surrounding myself with on a daily basis. With Weber State, I love that they are so active in my life - always calling, texting, and visiting."
As league play starts, watch for Clayton to lead his Trojans in battle in Castro Valley, Calif.
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