Let's introduce Sacramento State junior-to-be doer Cody Demps as exhibit A and begin with Sacramento State Associate Head Coach Brandon Laird: ""Cody is the ultimate student-athlete and consummate team player. He is extremely coachable and a very quick learner. He plays multiple positions, may be the most versatile player in our program and his intelligence is off the charts."
He continued, "Cody made a great jump between his freshman and sophomore years and we believe there is still plenty of room for continued growth. We anticipated that once he stopped playing football and dedicated himself to basketball year-round, that we would really get a sense of how good of a player he could become. It is exciting to watch as his best basketball is still ahead of him. One word to describe Cody: WINNER. Look at his track record. Everything he does, he finds a way to succeed."
As for Demps' metrics, he made 30 starts this season at 29.3 minutes an outing, averaging 8.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game on 45% and 69% shooting respectively.
His initial season produced zero starts and a 13.8 minute average in 29 games, alongside 3.0 points and 1.8 boards a night, abetted by 41% and 56% shooting accuracy.
His background: a football quarterback and shooting guard at Pleasant Grove High.
A case can be made that the Hornets are more successful when Demps plays well, this in addition to the obvious contributions coming nightly from his very productive backcourt teammates Dylan Garrity and Mike McKinney.
But for Demps, playing well is not fully ascertained through statistical analysis because what he does is not always measurable. Additionally, his psyche doesn't require a certain number of touches or shots each game
There's a physicality to his game -- football in high tops if you will -- plus a willingness as well as ability to guard any opponent from the one to the four positions. There is nobody else on Coach Brian Katz's roster with these attributes.
As a former focal point on the gridiron and court, why the willingness to perform in a different role, one minus spotlight and glamour?
"I enjoy winning a lot. My father can attest to the fact that in 4th or 5th grade I would cry after every game if my team didn't come out on top on the scoreboard. Since them, maturity has helped me control those emotions but the drive to win is still there. Along with winning, there comes sacrifices that must be made for the well being of the team. I trust my coach, so whatever role he asks me to perform, I believe that it will help us win and I do it to the best of my ability."
This is also someone whose father played linebacker at Sacramento State.
"Basketball was my first [sports] love and I like that you have more control of the game playing both offense and defense," he explained.
Regarding his style of play, Demps said, "I had a growth spurt in my sophomore year in high school and began guarding bigger guys. I take a lot of pride in stopping one of the bigger or better players."
Coming out of high school, he went with Katz and the Hornets "because I liked their vision. Sacramento State didn't have the best record but you could tell he [Katz] cared about his players as individuals and that it wasn't just a job for him."
Some of what he has learned about basketball since becoming a Hornet is "taking the right shots and being efficient" and especially "the whole scouting report process," noting that this element was not nearly as advanced in high school.
He credits Kevin Haupt, his second AAU basketball coach as a big influence. "I came to his team and it was a new experience for me. There were advanced drills and I really learned a work ethic."
Post basketball, he is majoring in mechanical engineering -- "I was good at math and did some research in high school" -- with one goal is hopefully being involved in the building of an arena or stadium.
There will always be a need for a blue collar ethic in basketball and Demps not only cements that element further but does so with pleasure and success.
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