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High School Q&A: Jake Hopkins, Sandia basketball
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He earns more acclaim in soccer, but Sandia's Jake Hopkins has been playing basketball for just as long.
The multi-sport Matador might not be an all-state candidate in basketball - he was in soccer - but Hopkins' leadership could prove to be just as crucial to Sandia's basketball success.
Trib: Any new year's resolutions?
Hopkins: (Laughs) I'd kind of like to finish out my last semester with a state championship.
Trib: Your coach, Adrian Ortega, has said this season's practices have a different feel because more players have experienced winning in other sports. Do you agree?
Hopkins: Yeah. We had done it in soccer, but with the year the football guys had, Terrance (Woodfin), Stephon (Finch), it helped more. A lot of us have been to final fours (state semifinals), so we know what that feels like. It helps a lot because we can help keep everybody calmed down.
Trib: How do you manage to juggle club soccer and basketball season?
Hopkins: I only practice with the (soccer) team a few days a week. Usually it's basketball practice from 3-5 (p.m.) then I try to make it to a half-hour, 45 minutes of soccer practice a few times per week. I practice (with soccer) on the weekends.
Trib: What was your highlight of 2006?
Hopkins: In sports?
Trib: The first thing that comes to your mind.
Hopkins: Definitely playing in the state championship game for soccer. That's all you can ask for in your senior year.
Trib: What do you feel after losing on a last-second shot?
Hopkins: Obviously you're disappointed. But after it sets in, you look at all the things you did right to get to that point. For example, the Manzano game (Dec. 16, Sandia fell in the final seconds). You almost just take it as a building experience.
Trib: How different are your roles on the soccer and basketball teams?
Hopkins: I have a fairly similar role. In soccer I was the captain. I was vocal 90 percent of the time; that was my job. In basketball that's partly my role. I don't think I'm as good as the other (Sandia) players. I'm not a star or anything, but my role is pretty close.
Trib: If you had to pick Sandia soccer players for a Gus Macker (3-on-3 tournament) team, who would you get?
Hopkins: That's tough. . . . I'd have to say Stephen Reed and Kevin Wenderoth because they're just so competitive.
Trib: Could any Sandia basketball players be good at soccer?
Hopkins: Yeah. (DeAndre Lansdowne) and (Mason Wehrli) played when they were freshmen, so . . .
Trib: Do you watch much sports on TV?
Hopkins: Basketball.
Trib: College or pro?
Hopkins: I love watching UNC, University of North Carolina. They're so young. Pro is more one-on-one stuff. I can relate more to college because it's more about team play and fundamentals.
Trib: With all the recent snow did you build a snowman or anything like that?
Hopkins: I went snowboarding a couple times. I try to do that as much as I can.
Trib: Who do you admire?
Hopkins: I'd have to say my dad (Steve Hopkins) for sure. He played basketball and baseball. He got me into basketball and is always giving me pointers.
