After watching many talented and special athletes throughout the year, senior basketball player Charlie Tooley is a real standout.

After leading the men’s Varsity basketball team in points, assists, and steals, Tooley was selected to play in the regional Optimist game; he was the first player selected from Granite Bay High School in seven years.

The game is a highly prestigious event in which only the top senior players in the Sacramento region are invited to compete.

“It was a great honor to play in that game,” Tooley said. “It was just something that I, throughout my four years, have been trying to make, so it was just very gratifying to play in the game.”  

However, the road to success has not come by sheer talent and abilities alone.

In fact, many of Tooley’s teammates and coaches credit who he is as a person for his impressive career thus far.

Being a varsity starter three years, varsity head coach Jason Sitterud appreciated Tooley’s role as not only a great player, but a leader.

“It was like having another coach on the floor,” Sitterud said. “He knew what we wanted to do in various situations and was able to help communicate what we were trying to do with those on the floor.”

On top of his ability to lead, Sitterud saw rare traits in Tooley that played a large role in the success of the team this year: contagious passion and unselfishness.

“It was never about him, it was always about the team.” Sitterud said. “ He had the ability to make everyone feel connected and important.”

For Tooley, being a leader to his teammates was what made his experience at GBHS memorable.

“My favorite moments have just been with my teammates and just building that bond and brotherhood,” Tooley said. “Playing with some guys since we were in second grade up until senior year in high school has been just some of my favorite moments.”

The relationships that have formed between him and his teammates over the years are cherished and greatly valued by his team.

“I think the thing I admire the most about Charlie is just that he is always doing the right thing whether or not anyone is looking; he’s on top of everything and doing it at his besteffort,” senior teammate Sean Boyle said.  ”He can gather everyone’s attention and be the guy everyone looks up to.”

Senior teammate Chris Hurley agrees with the other three in that Tooley’s work ethic, whether shown on the court, in the classroom, or in the community, is his greatest trait.

“He is one of the hardest working guys I know on and off the court, and he is always working to get better,” Hurley said. “He’s never content with where he is, he’s always improving his game.”   

After this year, Tooley is looking to continue his career by playing basketball at the University of Nevada, Reno and achieving a college degree.

Upon looking back at his legacy here at GBHS, Tooley feels that he benefitted from the basketball program as much as he helped it.

“Throughout my years here I have grown as a young man,” Tooley said. “Not only just my skill assets, but just my leadership and my outlook on the game to improve and work hard everyday.”