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01/19/2022 11:00 PMThe Guilford boys’ basketball team has jetted out to a 7-0 start to the 2022 winter season. One of the players who is leading the charge for the Grizzlies on the hardwood is senior captain Cal Bucci.
Cal started playing basketball when he was in 2nd grade and hasn’t looked back since. Cal joined Guilford boys’ hoops as a freshman and worked his way up the ranks to become a senior leader with the Grizzlies this season.
“I’ve been a part of the Guilford High School basketball program for four memorable years,” says Cal. “My favorite aspects of the sport are the pace of the game, the emotion, and the value of playing for each other when on and off the court. The fast pace and emotion of basketball makes the game so special to watch and play. The ball never stops moving, and teammates provide encouragement, confidence, and motivation for each other play after play.”
Cal has been making solid contributions for Guilford thus far. The senior captain guard is averaging 8.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.2 steals per game, in addition to shooting 76.5 percent from the free-throw line.
Cal and his teammates had “super high” expectations for the team this year, and he feels pleased to see the Grizzlies living up to those aspirations with their performance on the court.
“Everyone has to come to practice and games with the expectation to get better and want to win for each other,” Cal says. “The beginning portion of this season has been everything a team could ask for. We’ve all established our roles on the team, the players and coaches are bonding on all levels, and our team has great confidence in each other to make some great things happen this year.”
Guilford served notice to the rest of the state when the team earned a big 49-48 victory versus a strong Hillhouse squad on Jan. 4. Cal hit a couple of clutch free throws to help the Grizzlies get a win that he will remember forever.
“My favorite moment as a player would have to be beating the historical team of Hillhouse by one point this year,” says Cal. “Previous years in this program, Hillhouse was always classified as a powerhouse team, and they definitely showed it as we lost every time we played them. Instead, this year, while leading my team, I sealed the game with two free throws after my co-captain [Theo Freeman] put his body on the line for a steal that ended up in my hands.”
Head Coach Jeff DeMaio has nothing but positive things to say about Cal’s attitude and effort. DeMaio describes the senior captain as the ideal embodiment of what he wants to see in his program.
“Cal has been one of the most enthusiastic captains and players that I have had in 30 years of coaching. He has no off switch, and he simply loves the game,” DeMaio says. “We are just trying to stay humble and grounded this season. One possession at a time. That is our approach, and it will stay our approach.”
In turn, Cal credits Coach DeMaio for helping him progress as a basketball player throughout his tenure with the Grizzlies. Cal calls DeMaio one of the best coaches that he’s ever had.
“Every practice, he keeps not just the captains, but the whole team accountable to make improvements, do everything full speed, and make us better as players and men,” says Cal of DeMaio. “Coach DeMaio is a great guy and connects with me, as well as everyone else on the team to make sure we know the value of this program and how we portray it.”
Cal spent a lot of time working on both the physical and mental aspects of his game during the offseason. Cal prides himself on working as hard as possible in every practice in preparation for success on game day.
“Every practice, I come with the mentality of wanting to get myself and others better. Whether it is just a shootaround or a full-scrimmage practice, I look at it as more hours being put into my game,” Cal says. “My mentality translates to the in-game experience as I hold myself and my teammates hold me accountable for all the little and big aspects of being a great basketball player and team.”