Joey Lindquist

Barry Faulkner

When you’re 6-foot-8 and playing against high school competition,

the task of rising to the occasion is typically associated with

smaller opponents.

But for Estancia High senior Joey Lindquist, being head and

shoulders taller than post defenders has not always translated into

consistent basketball success.

“If Joey was playing against Shaquille O’Neal, he’d score 25

against him,” Estancia High Coach Chris Sorce said. “But if he was

playing against me, he’d score five.

“Joey likes to be challenged and he likes to be pushed. The bigger

the challenge, the more he rises to it.”

Lindquist elevated his level of play in four recent Coast Classic

tournament games, averaging 15.5 points, nearly 10 rebounds, 2.3 blocked shots and shooting 66.7% from the field (26 of 39) to help

the Eagles finish fourth. In addition to all-tournament recognition,

the second-year varsity performer is the Daily Pilot Athlete of the

Week.

“We had a talk before the tournament and I basically told Joey we

needed him to be a little more consistent,” Sorce said. “After making

second-team all-league last year (when he averaged 11.6 points and

around 10 boards to help the Eagles reach the CIF Southern Section

Division III-A Playoffs), we were looking for a breakout year from

him this year. He gave us one teaser game with 25 points and 13

rebounds (in a 63-46 nonleague win Dec. 17), but his scoring dropped

off the next three games (20 combined points). He was up and down

like the stock market and I didn’t want that.”

Said Lindquist, “I think everyone is motivated by pep talks. I

rally wanted to play hard, because we were trying to get ready for

league. I want to make a name for myself and (playing well) is the

best way to do that.”

Lindquist, averaging 12.9 points through 14 games this season,

followed the aforementioned three-game, 20-point stretch with 21

points and 12 rebounds in a Coast Classic-opening 76-29 romp over

Rancho Alamitos Dec. 26.

He made all eight field-goal attempts en route to 17 points in a

62-51 win over Anaheim Dec. 27, adding four rebounds and two blocks

to up the Eagles’ winning streak to nine games.

He had 15 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks in a semifinal loss

to Trabuco Hills Dec. 28, then posted nine points, 11 rebounds, four steals and two blocks in a loss to Edison in the third-place game

Dec. 30.

Sorce praised Lindquist’s effort and production, adding it was

especially noteworthy since he was battling a cold during the

tournament.

“He stepped up,” Sorce said. “He was consistent offensively and I

thought he did a good job with his post defense, as well as

contesting people on the perimeter.”

Sorce said improvement should continue.

“If you would have seen him as a freshman, then watch him play

now, you wouldn’t think it was the same kid,” Sorce said. “I don’t

think he played organized basketball before high school, so he was

behind a lot of players. But I think he’s a late bloomer, who is only

going to get better. I think he’s a sleeper for the next level and

whichever school takes a chance on him is going to like him.”

Lindquist said he played in elementary school, but sat out during

junior high, allowing his body to stabalize after a 17-month span in which he grew from 5-9 to 6-6.

Sorce said coaches, his teammates, even officials, enjoy

Lindquist’s fun-loving personality.

“He’s a unique individual, a free spirit,” Sorce said. “All the

kids like him, the coaches enjoy him and the officials tell me he

asks them a lot of provocative questions. He’s an intriguing

individual.”

Lindquist said coaches at Clarkson University in upstate New York

and Cal Lutheran have shown recruiting interest.