Campbell Hall’s Hornbuckle proving numbers can be overrated

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Keegan Hornbuckle hasn’t exactly posted the most eye-opening statistics on the basketball court this season. Then again, there’s been no need for the junior from Campbell Hall to do so, not with players like Jrue Holiday scoring, Dallas Rutherford dishing out assists and Deuce Johnson grabbing rebounds around him.

Forget about the meager 9.2 points and 6.1 rebounds a game Hornbuckle averages. Those kind of numbers do not measure his importance to the Vikings, ranked No.7 by The Times heading into Tuesday’s Olympic League game against Downey Calvary Chapel. This kid does the little things others don’t or won’t -- little things that don’t show up in a boxscore.

Make no mistake, there have been games Hornbuckle has proven he could fill it up. He had 16 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and three assists against Brentwood a couple of weeks ago and a a 17-point, 13-rebound effort in a victory over Palisades in early December. In fact, he’s on the radar of NCAA Division I scouts as well as the recruiting services, Rivals.com and Scout.com.

Ultimately, though, his team-first mentality makes him unique. Can’t begin to count the number of times Coach Terry Kelly raved about his unselfishness around the basket, tough-minded approach on defense and intense desire to win. Holiday, Rutherford and Johnson are important pieces, no doubt, but Hornbuckle is the glue holding everything in place at Campbell Hall.

-- Sean Ceglinsky