Athlete of the Week: Dominick Campbell
By LAUREN KIM and STELLA SONG
Standing at six feet and nine inches tall, senior Dominick Campbell is hard to miss on the basketball court. Known amongst his teammates for his in-game versatility, Campbell also possesses an admirable work ethic. Pushing towards excellence on and off the court each practice, Campbell is an inspiration to his teammates and coaches.
Coming in as a new upper, Campbell quickly became an indispensable member of the boys’ varsity basketball team. On the court, Campbell is a leader and a force to be reckoned with for the opposing team. “He can’t be guarded down low and if he’s on fire from three it’ll be a long day,” senior, close friend, and fellow teammate Chandler Pigge said.
Campbell started to play basketball in preschool, following in his parents’ footsteps. ‘My parents played basketball in college, so I’ve always been around it,” Campbell said. “I love everything about basketball. I love the lifelong friendships that I have made over the years. I love playing in front of crowds of people.”
Sheer height and skill soon made Campbell a pivotal part of the varsity team. Pigge shares a funny story about meeting Campbell. “On Zoom, Dom was sitting down and I thought he was six feet, maybe 6 feet two inches at most, a guard in basketball. Then, I looked on social media and he is six feet nine inches and 250 pounds.”
Campbell takes full advantage of his height when playing basketball. “Dom is a nightmare to so many people. He’s got the size where he can go post someone up and score down low, but he has got this skill where he can take someone off the dribble or knock down a shot. He is someone you want on your team and not to play against because he can do it all,” boys’ varsity basketball captain Josh Morissette said.
Upper teammate Paolo Belfiore concurred. “He is the anchor of the team, playing great defense and being a menace on the offensive side,” Belfiore said.
Boys’ varsity basketball coach Jay Tilton witnessed Campbell’s growth over the last two years. “Dom’s commitment to his physical development and ownership of his progress has been remarkable. He has played with a higher level of intensity on the defensive end and committed to working on the things that will make him a good college player,” Tilton said.
When asked about what he learned from playing basketball, Campbell put patience at the forefront. “With basketball, patience is key and I’ve put that concept into multiple aspects of my life.”
Not only an outstanding player, Campbell also demonstrates great leadership abilities. “Dom is a quiet leader, but his steady presence, selflessness and ability to handle coaching shows true leadership,” Tilton said.
“Dom has really helped me keep the team in line with our ultimate goal of hanging a banner. He’s got an incredible work ethic, and he holds people accountable. He is able to use his presence to help our team towards our goal and help others remember our goal,” Morissette added.
Senior and teammate Fawaz Omidiya agreed. “He leads on the court. He is just really really positive but knows when to be serious and when to push each other. We go at it and we compete a lot but then afterward we are still brothers and we are still teammates after and everything is fine so that is something I really enjoy about him,” Omidiya said.
Many also mentioned that Campbell contributes to the supportive team spirit. “He is so selfless. With what he has accomplished and where he is going, he could easily be selfish but every day in practice and in games he brings an energy that is sometimes scary but more so encouraging,” Pigge said.
“I think a lot of people see him as a basketball player but he is a lot more than that,” Omidiya said. “On the way to practice or on the way to games, he’s a lot of fun. He’s great to talk to as well, we have a lot of really, really deep talks.”
“Dom has a great sense of humor and can really dance,” Tilton said.
Campbell’s funny personality also makes him a loyal friend. “Dom is one of the best kids you will meet. He is funny, he is easy to talk to, and he is just someone that is going to have a smile and have a good time. He is someone who has been able to help me when I have struggled and someone to whom I have been able to open up. He is going to be in my life for the rest of my life, and I am grateful for that,” Morissette said.
Campbell concluded by expressing his optimism about this season. “This year we have a really promising group and we have big goals ahead of us,” he said. “Long way to go, but I am very optimistic.”
