Key player has history with basketball
The San Benito High varsity boys basketball team may be
struggling this season, but there is one shining star on the
Balers’ roster this winter.
Todd Janisch, who has played both forward and guard, is
averaging nearly 17 points a game.
Key player has history with basketball
The San Benito High varsity boys basketball team may be struggling this season, but there is one shining star on the Balers’ roster this winter.
Todd Janisch, who has played both forward and guard, is averaging nearly 17 points a game.
“He’s very much in control and doing a very good job for us right now,” Baler coach John Becerra said. “He’s a real good inside player, but we’ve had some personnel changes so he’s played more from the outside, too.”
Wherever he’s played on the court, Janisch has had a knack for getting the ball into the basket.
“I started playing basketball when I was 7-years old,” the 17-year-old senior said. “I just love the game. It’s a fun game to play. It’s intense and challenging. My grandparents love it, too. They kind of got me into it. My dad is more into football.”
His uncle Steve Janisch, the head pro at San Juan Oaks, is obviously more into golf.
“I don’t play golf at all,” Janisch said. “I’m not into that either, just basketball.”
He’s been most effective this season scoring inside. The biggest challenge for the 6-foot-2 forward was the recent move from the forward spot to the guard position – a move that occurred after one player quit the team and guards Gustavo Silva and Cade Vessey were injured.
“At first, I really didn’t like playing point guard,” Janisch said. “But I’ve realized it’s a hard position to play. I can’t criticize other guards. You have to be confident with the ball, bring it up the court, dribble well, make good passes and have good shot selection. I kind of like it more than forward now. Either one is fine.”
In addition to leading the team in scoring, Janisch is also leading the Balers in field goals, three-point plays and from the free-throw line.
“He’s very important to our success,” Becerra said. “He really looks for the shot. I wish more of the kids would do that.”
With his average height, making the switch to the backcourt wasn’t easy. As a guard, Janisch has had to work harder at driving the lane, his ball-handling skills and hitting from the perimeter.
“My ball handling has improved a lot, but there’s a lot more room for improvement. I’m working on my outside shot, too.”
He’s hoping his play at the No. 1 position helps him more next year.
“I hope to play after high school,” Janisch said. “I know that Division I is not an opportunity for me. I hope to play Division II, III, or at a junior college and transfer. In college, I know I’ll have to play guard. Where I go to school is not a big focus. I just want to go to college.”
The college that he’s most interested in so far is California State University, Stanislaus in Turlock – a campus he recently toured.
“I took a tour up there. I didn’t have a workout or anything, I just checked it out,” said Janisch, who is thinking about studying business and history. “The campus was great. The weather is good and it’s not too big or small – a Division II school.”
Before he can think about college, Janisch has to finish out this season. Currently, the Balers have a 3-8 record.
On Wednesday, Jan. 3, the Balers will kick off league play when they host Salinas at 7 p.m.
Janisch believes his team has enough talent to turn things around and make the playoffs.
“We’re in there a lot of games for three quarters, and then the turnovers come back to haunt us,” he said. “We’ve lost games by two and three points. Others we’ve lost by double-digits. All of it pretty much comes down to turnovers. If we could eliminate the turnovers by even 50 percent we’d probably be .500 right now.”
