FREMONT – It’s one of the great nicknames in sports history. The “Bad Boy” Detroit Pistons teams of the 1980s and early 90s had one of the NBA’s best sixth man coming off the bench in Vinny Johnson. His ability to come into a game and instantly heat up earned him the name “The Microwave.”
Tre Campbell
Fremont Ross has its own Microwave in Tre Campbell.
The 6-foot-2 senior forward/guard comes off the bench for the Little Giants and drops shots like they’re hot. Tuesday night, in Ross’ 66-51 victory over Springfield, Campbell showed his ability to enter a game and change its complexion.
“This season I feel more confident in my shot,” Campbell said. “And I’m a senior, too, so I have to step up for the team and be a leader.”
Entering Tuesday night’s game late in the first quarter, Campbell hit a 3-pointer in the final 15 seconds, sending Ross into the second quarter with the momentum and a 19-9 lead. He then opened the second quarter by scoring on a layup to increase the lead to 12. Just 90 seconds later, he drained another, giving him eight points in a two-minute span on his way to 14 for the night.
“Anytime somebody subs into the game, whether they’re reserves or starters, you want them to give you another lift, another sense of energy,” Ross coach Mark Gedeon said. “Tre has been that good energizer person for us several times this year. The first half we saw his outside shooting and in the second half we saw his transition game too.
“He gives us a dynamic there and he’s proven he can thrive in that role too. A very important cog.”
In 10 games played this year Campbell is averaging 9.1 points per game, while most of his field goals come from long-range, he also possesses solid penetration skills and when he goes to the basket, does so with aggressiveness.
“I feel like he’s one of our best players on the team,” junior Bryce McKinstry said. “Coming off the bench, I feel like not being a starter doesn’t faze him. Him coming off the bench gives us that push and I think he knows that’s his role on the team.”
Campbell knows his role and he embraces it.
“That’s what I’m here for,” he said. “I’m supposed to come out and do what I got to do to help our team out.”
So, has anybody ever called him The Microwave?
“They call me Tre-ball. It means three-ball.”
That’ll work too.