Santa Ynez Valley Star February B 2020

Page 1

February 18 - March 3, 2020

www.santaynezvalleystar.com

Every Issue Complimentary Every Time

Local basketball coach inspired by Kobe Bryant’s work ethic Andrew Warwick brings the Mamba mentality to how he coaches

One of Andrew Warwick’s prized possessions is an autographed photo of Kobe Bryant from when he was in Bryant’s basketball summer camp at UCSB.

By Raiza Giorgi

publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com

T

he first Los Angeles Lakers game Andrew Warwick witnessed was one of the most historic. Most basketball fans, and just about all of Kobe Bryant’s fans, know of the game that took place on Jan. 22, 2006, when Bryant scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors. That game is considered one of the greatest performances in the NBA history, alongside Wilt Chamberlain’s league-record 100-point game back in 1962. “I fell in love with Kobe, as I think so many people did. They saw his work ethic and mentality to strive for greatness, which inspired so many people,” Warwick said. Bryant, 41, and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, were among nine people who died Jan. 26 in a helicopter crash, which was reported just before 10 a.m. in the area of Las Virgenes Road and Willow Glen Street in Calabasas, less than a mile south of Highway 101. Warwick is now the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School’s junior varsity boys basketball coach, having just graduated in 2015. He came back after one year and coached the frosh/sophomore team and has coached JV the past three years. “I am a full-time student at UCSB finishing my Master’s in history with a teaching credential. I work full time at the Chumash Casino as a valet and I coach,” Warwick said. “I want to help inspire kids as I was inspired by Kobe and my coaches.” While growing up, Warwick said joining the basketball team at the high school

Photos by Daniel Dreifuss SYHS JV Boys Basketball coach Andrew Warwick, standing third from right, has taken Kobe Bryant’s advice and the Mamba mentality and applied it to how he coaches his players.

helped shape who he was a person. It wasn’t just the coaching on the court, but life lessons off the court that enabled him to make good choices. “I begged and pleaded with my mom to send me to Kobe’s basketball camp at UCSB for a summer and it was the best time of my life. I got to meet him twice and one of the greatest moments of my life was standing next to him for the group picture. Since I was the shortest kid, I got to be right next to him,” Warwick said, laughing. For eight years, Bryant held his Kobe Academy basketball camp during the summer at UCSB where young players from around the world came to learn.

Warwick has taken Bryant’s advice and the Mamba mentality and applied it to how he coaches his players. He expects them to be great as he is leading by example and telling them that they must give 100 percent to whatever they do in life. Even if they don’t continue basketball, whatever road or path they take should have 100 percent effort and drive. Warwick recalled the morning MUSEUM CONTINUED TO PAGE 28

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