Three years later, Gabriel Gonzales and Erik Nelson still talk
about the 2002 Gilroy High boys’ basketball team.
Gilroy – Three years later, Gabriel Gonzales and Erik Nelson still talk about the 2002 Gilroy High boys’ basketball team.
Both seniors at the time, Gonzales played shooting guard and Nelson ran the point on a squad that brought Gilroy to the CCS playoffs for the first time in a decade.
Nelson’s favorite memory? A 75-66 triple overtime win over Bellarmine in a packed GHS gymnasium.
“We were exhausted,” he recalled.
Now Nelson and Gonzales hope to pack that same gym one more time, on one more day.
The teammates, who attend Bethany College in Scotts Valley and play basketball for the Bruins, have organized a 5-on-5 tournament at GHS this Sunday to raise money so the two can pursue professional careers in Europe after graduation and share their stories about how finding Christianity has helped them realize their hoop dreams.
“Gabe and I, we worked hard and were good high school basketball payers, but nobody thought we could excel, let alone get a scholarship at a four-year university,” Nelson said.
Though he was surrounded by a supportive team on the hardwood his senior year, Gonzales was on his own off-the-court. At 17, Gonzales moved away from his parents so he could stay in Gilroy. Over the next two years, he lived in 15 different homes.
“It got to the point where I had no money, but I didn’t want to go to my parents,” Gonzales said. “At 18, it was a struggle because of (my) pride, when really, you don’t think like that.”
Gonzales moved in with the Nelson family and participated in basketball workouts with Erik at Gavilan. Nelson played two seasons for the Rams, but Gonzales was academically ineligible to play. When Nelson was accepted to Bethany, Gonzales tagged along with him to an open gym and there caught the eye of coach Dan Mooney. Eager to give the young man a new start, Mooney pulled some strings and got Gonzales into the school, despite his grades.
“I haven’t let him down since,” said Gonzales, who became a Christian exactly one year ago.
Nelson was exposed to organized religion for the first time two years ago and eventually became a newborn Christian.
“It was quite an experience for me,” Nelson said. “Things happen in life and God is responsible.”
Gonzales and Nelson’s shared beliefs brought them to Bethany and Mooney, who has strong connections to pro basketball in Europe. But the cost of travel and exposure camps to get to that level is expensive, which is why the former Mustangs have organized the tournament.
Gonzales and Nelson would also like to see former GHS players come back to the Garlic City for some hoops.
“We love this town,” Gonzales said.
The all-day tournament will include a 3-point shoot-out, a slam dunk contest, a raffle and prizes, the feature item of which is a basketball shoe signed by NBA center Vlade Divac. Bethany basketball player Tim Dunham will also be on hand selling his gospel CD, on which Nelson makes a guest appearance.
CAMP INFO
5-5 HOOPS TOURNAMENT AT GHS
When: Sunday, August 21, start time around 10am
Where: Gilroy High main gym
Who: all players 18 and over
nCost: $100 per team (up to 8 players per team)/ $2 admission at the door for spectators
Registration runs through today, Aug. 18. To register a team, contact Erik Nelson at (408) 857-9691 or Gabriel Gonzales at (831) 278-0370 or ga******@*ol.com.
