News Scrapbook 1982-1984

DELMARSURFCOMBER

DON CAPENER Cager learns lessons during Tokyo mission By JEFF SMITH ting the back rim and going in. It hurts when it's that close.

12 - Saturday, December 11, 1982 co.oM.RSF Don Capener • Continued from page 11 wins before - although we won - we didn't

• • one perhaps helped him the most was West- phal. "Westphal talked to me mainly about work- ing on my footwork, my first step," Capener said. "I was having problems getting open on my jump shot. He told me how to get a quick first step and get my shot off. He told me to jump rope and do footwork drills." Apparently, the advice worked. Capen- er has a picture perfect jump shot, and is com· fortable shooting in the 18-20 foot range. Capen- er says that his confi- dence has increased now, and he should be shooting more as the season progresses. With a business ma- jor and an understand- ing of the Japanese lan- guage , Capener wants to pursue a career in in- ternational business, hopefully with regular stints in Japan. It appears that, while Capener brought back a touch of Japan with him, he also left some- thing behind in that ' country. And it wasn't his jump shot.

stay in shape, however, by running religiously. Capener feels he was in better shape emo- tionally to play the game upon his return than when he left. And, once back in the states, he was able to return to his full ability through year-around practice. "Down here at USO, I played a lot during the summer,'' said Capen- er. "A lot ofgood people play here. Some of the Clippers come here, Joel Kramerofthe Suns plays here, and Paul Westphal. "I was able to play against some really good players. When you can go out there and do well, it really helps your confidence." Many coaches who were around the USD campus gave Capener pointers on his game, as did some players. The

•

really come together. Last night (Thursday) did it. We'll beat a lot of teams this season." In many ways, Capen- er feels fortunate to be where he is. He was re- cruited by many big schools out of high school, such as Arizona State, the University of Utah and Brigham Young University, where his brother is a guard on the Cougars' basketball team. But the mission to Japan took the edge off his game . At an age when other young play- ers are making the tran- sition from high school ball to the college level, Cal)ener was traveling around a foreign land. At best, he says, he was able to play basketball once a week. He did

.S n e or Oriental tranquility flavored Don Capener's life s day w a junior startrng guard on mversily of San Diego's ketball team and a former T rr y Pin s High ·tar, Capener wo innucncedbytheway ofthe East while on a two-year Mormon mi. sion 1n Japan . He garned maturity on that oJourn (which cam after his freshman year in college), he says, and developed a different attitude towards the thrngs that arc important to him "I put basketball more into perspective," said Capen r Fri- day. "I had a lot or time to think about thing·. I practiced with a l am at a Japanese University and saw omething different Ln them They enjoy playing, but they don't view it lik<> they do over here. ow, I can ee it's not everything. "I f I fortunate that I have a chance to play basketball on this level , and to hav a cholarship to go to chool , but it put me in a different rrame of mind " Thursday n;ght. SO played one of its most important games of the year, the annual contest with crosstown rival an Diego , late Un1vt>rsity . Capener played w II in that game, hilting three of five shots and maintain• ing his po;ition on defense. He had a chance, however, to send the game into overtime with a last second, 18-foot jumper, His hurried . hot bounced off the far end of the rim, and USO did not achieve the upset win . In the past he candidly admits, that missed opportumty would have haunted him for weeks. But now, he is able to analyze what happened , and to keep in mind that the los does not ride on his shoulders. "If that had happened in my freshman year, I would be pretty crushed," said Capener. "Getting the last shot, and barely missing it . . It was a half inch from hit- By JEFF SMITH sense of Oriental tranquility f1avored Don Capener's life ow a junior starting guard on the t; niversity of San Diego 's ba ketball team and a former Torrey Pines High star, Capener wa mnuenced by the ways of the East while on a two-year Mormon mission in Japan. He gained maturity on that sojourn (which came after his freshman year in college), he says, and developed a different attitude towards the things that are important to him. " put basketball more into perspective,'' said Capener Fn day. "I had a lot of time to think about things. I practiced with a team at a Japanese University and saw something different m them, They enjoy playing, but they don't view it like they do over here. Now, I can see it's not everything. "I feel fortunate that I have a chance to play basketball on this level, and to have a scholarship to go to school, but it put me in a different frame of mind ." Thursday n:ght, USD played one of its most important games of the year, the annual contest with crosstown-rival San Diego State University. Capener played well in that game, hitting three of five shots and maintain- ing his position on defense. He had a chance, however, to send the game into overtime with a last second, 18-foot jumper. His hurried shot bounced off the far end f the rim, and USO did not ach1 ve the upset win. In the pa. t, he candidly admits, tha missed opportunity would ha unted him for weeks. But 1s able to analyze what ed, and to keep in mind Joss does not ride on his TS. "If that had happened in my freshman year, I would be pretty crushed," said Capener, "Getting the last hot, and barely missing it , It was a half mch from hit- th sc days. COAST DISPATCH IJEC 1 1 1982 • T uur,ng , 0 1-'

"But there are so many things that we could say: 'Ifwe did this , if we didn't do that.'•· Instead of chastizing himself, Capener looks at the game as the catalyst, the unifying factor, for the team. "I thought from the start that we would be able to play with them," said the 6-5, 185-pound Capener "I knew we would be there in the end . I felt that , although we physically didn't match up, we executed better than the did. "I think we ' re just coming together as a team. In the two Please tum to page 12

Don Capener holds off Aztec defender

•

-

Staff photo·Jeff Smith Former Falcon Don Capener

DON CAPENER Cager Iearns lessons

1D2 Saturday, Dececmber 11, 1982

CO,OM,RSf

. .

k

apener . • • stayinshape,ho;.vever,

on

yo m,ss,on ting the back rim and going in. It hurts when it's that close. "But there are so many things that we could say: 'Ifwe did this , if we didn't do that.' " Instead of chastizmg himself, Capener looks at the game as the catalyst, the unifying factor, for the team. "I thought from the start that we would be able to play with them," said the 6-5, 185-pound Capener. "I knew we would be there in the end. I felt that , although we physically didn't match up, we executed better than they did. "I think we're just coming together as a team. In the two Please tum to page 12

Continuedfrompagell

one perhaps helped him the most was West- phal. "Westphal talked to me mainly about work- ing on my footwork, my first step," Capener said . "I was having problems getting open on my jump shot. He told me how to get a quick first step and get my shot off. He told me to jump rope and do footwork drills." Apparently, the advice worked. Capen- er has a picture perfect jump shot, and is com- fortable shooting in the 18-20 foot range. Capen- er says that his confi- dence has increased now, and he should be shooting more as the season progresses. With a business ma- jor and an understand- ing of the Japanese lan- guage, Capener wants to pursue a career in in- ternational business, hopefully with regular stints in Japan. It appears that, while Capener brought back a touch of Japan with him, he also left some- thing behind in that country. And it wasn't his jump shot.

by running religiously. Capener feels he was in better shape emo-

although we didn't

wins before - we won -

really come together. Last night (Thursday) tionally to play the did it. We'll beat a lot of game upon his return teams this season." than when he left.. And, his full ability thro.ugh cruited by many big year-around pra~tice. schools out of high "Down here at USO, I school, such as Arizona played a lot during the State, the University of summer," said Capen- U ta hand Brigham er."Alotofgoodpeople Young University, play here. Some of the where his brother is a Clippers come here, guard on the Cougars' Joel Kramer of the Suns basketball team. plays here, and Paul But the mission to Westphal. Japan took the edge off "I was able to play his game. At an age against some really when other young play- good players. When you ers are making the tran- can go out there and do sition from high school well, it really helps ball to the college level, your confidence." Capener was traveling Many coaches who around a foreign land. were around the USD At best, he says, he was campus gave Capener able to play basketball pointers on his game, as orrce a week. He did did some players. The In many ways , Capen- er feels fortunate to be where he is. He was re- once back in the states, he was able to return to

--.- Staff Photo• Jett Sm.. Don Capener holds off AZ(fC defender

-

Staff photo; Jeff Sm,th Former Falcon Don Capener

--~-------~----