Heredia Has Fun Despite a Low Profile

Agustin Heredia was easy to notice when he propelled Estancia High School to a Southern Section basketball title two years ago.

He was the Eagles’ key player in the title run as he averaged 22 points and six assists per game as a point guard.

But since then, Heredia has slipped into a void of sorts, out of the minds of many. He wasn’t recruited by a Division I program, and opted for nearby Orange Coast.

But after a high-profile season such as he had as a senior at Estancia, the community college level can be a downward adjustment.

Student interest and attendance is almost nil, and the media attention isn’t as intense either.

“Some people see me now and ask me if I’m playing basketball anywhere,” Heredia said. “Others ask me why I’m not playing as well as I did in high school because I’m not scoring as much. I do the little things no one notices. . . . I miss the crowds, but I always tried to block them out. They are nice to help get you up but you have to be able to get ready on your own.”

Heredia began this season at the off-guard spot, but has played some at point guard for OCC (9-10, 1-1 in Orange Empire Conference).

He’s averaging 12.5 points and 5.5 assists this season, almost the same numbers he had as a freshman.

But there is a major difference. Heredia is having a much better time this season for OCC.

Heredia said his freshman season with the Pirates was the least fun of his basketball life. He was seen as cocky by his teammates, and they believed he was trying to tell them what to do.

“He’s just so smart on the floor,” OCC Coach Tandy Gillis said. “He sees the court so well. He always knows when someone is in the wrong place, and would tell them.”

But this season, with a new cast of players at OCC, things are different for Heredia.

“I’m having fun,” he said. “I have no complaints. I’m happy I’m here. Things are going well.”

Roster Update: Add Scott Campbell (No. 34) to the Golden West basketball roster. Campbell was expected to be a medical redshirt the entire season because of an irregular heartbeat, but he is back after getting his doctor’s clearance Thursday.

Campbell’s first game was Saturday, in Golden West’s 80-78 victory over OCC.

Campbell, who showed some nervousness as well as rust in his performance, was one of nine from the field, with his only basket on a steal and a breakaway layup.

“He’s going to be fine on the court once he gets in sync,” Golden West Coach Jim Greenfield said. “Those are shots he will make in the future.”

Campbell, a 6-foot-5 forward from La Quinta High School, averaged 18 points and five rebounds and had a team-high 60 three-pointers last season at Golden West.

Scoring Leaders: Fullerton sophomore forward Bob Terry is the top scorer in the Orange Empire Conference.

Terry, from Brea-Olinda High School, is averaging 20.6 points per game--and has helped himself greatly at the free-throw line.

He has made 91 of 101 attempts (90%), including a streak of 23 in a row earlier this season.

Terry made 18 of 18 in a game against San Diego City during the streak. Cypress forward Bill Banks has made the most consecutive free throws of all Orange County players this season. He made 29 in a row at one point and is 43 of 54 (80%) on the year.

OCC’s Jeff Porter is second in overall scoring at 19.4, and Golden West’s Mark Johnson is next at 19.3. Johnson is the leading rebounder at 9.3 per game. Terry, at 8.6, is second and Porter is third at 8.4.

Post History: The past and future for UC Irvine’s big men will on display at 7 Wednesday night at Saddleback College.

Saddleback center Dee Boyer, who has signed to play at UC Irvine next fall, goes against Rancho Santiago center Rick Swanwick, who transferred from UC Irvine last summer.

This will be the second time the pair have met this season. Boyer had 12 points and Swanwick 14 when Saddleback defeated Rancho Santiago, 75-70, in the title game of the Rancho Santiago tournament Dec. 28.