Bouncing Back

The first thing one must do before reading The Torin Beeler Story is throw out the usual suspicions about a high school basketball player who has transferred three times in three years.

Ocean View’s Beeler, one of the top guards in Orange County, isn’t a misguided kid chasing basketball glory. Nor is he a pawn caught in two schools’ struggle over a highly regarded player.

He’s simply a well-intentioned young man who has bounced like a pinball between Ocean View and Calvary Chapel because of family issues and circumstances beyond his control.

“I don’t think any of this had to do with basketball,” Ocean View Coach Jim Harris said. “I think it had more to do with his life and what was important to him and his family. He’s kind of an emotional youngster, and we forget sometimes that these are kids.”

Several weeks ago Beeler executed his third transfer by returning to Ocean View, where it seems the 6-foot-3 junior guard may settle for good. On Saturday Beeler scored eight points and had two steals to help the second-ranked Seahawks defeat Servite, 69-61, in the Nike Extravaganza at the Pyramid in Long Beach.

Standing next to Harris after the game, Beeler announced, “This is the last stop,” triggering an impromptu hug from Harris. “It’s no fun changing schools.”

Beeler’s saga began at Calvary Chapel, where he started high school but transferred to Ocean View before the start of his freshman basketball season. According to several sources, the move was precipitated by a falling out between the Beeler family and then-Eagle Coach Craig Falconer over the coach failing to make Garid Beeler--Torin’s older brother--the focal point of the offense.

So Torin tagged along with Garid to Ocean View, where as a freshman he became a role player on a Southern Section champion. As a sophomore Torin became a more integral part of a Seahawk team that advanced to the section semifinals.

But the summer after his sophomore year, Torin expressed frustration. He told Harris he was searching for a balance between basketball and other aspects of teen life and felt he “didn’t have time to be a kid”--words Harris said he’ll never forget.

Before the summer was over, he was back at Calvary Chapel. A big impetus for his return was the opportunity to be closer to Canaan Owens, a friend who could serve as the new constant in Torin’s life.

As a freshman Torin could always count on Garid to hang out with. As a sophomore Torin and Tony Dow, then a senior with the Seahawks, were inseparable. Heading into his junior year at Ocean View, there was only Owens--and he was at Calvary Chapel.

But even with his friend at his side once again, Torin realized he had made a mistake. He averaged 16 points for the Eagles but, according to Harris, just didn’t feel comfortable.

Torin declined to elaborate. “It was just a family decision,” he said about his most recent move. “It’s one of those things that happens.”

Torin decided he wanted to try Ocean View for a second time. But before his parents rented an apartment in Huntington Beach and paid a down payment on a house, Torin sheepishly approached Harris about rejoining the team.

“Do you hate me?” Torin asked.

“No, Torin, you’re a kid,” Harris responded.

Torin was also concerned about whether his former teammates would accept him back, but his fears were allayed when they embraced him as if he had never left.

Still, there is lingering doubt: Is Torin back for good?

“I’ve always just wanted to be in the right place,” he said, “and this is the right place for me.”