The blueprint for becoming one of the best point guards in Oakland County and, hopefully, a future college basketball player is sitting right at home for incoming senior Anthony Camacho.
Walled Lake Central has won back-to-back Lakes Valley Conference championships and 38 games over the past two seasons, thanks to the wealth of talent that has come through the program.
And Camacho became one of those key players for the Vikings during their 18-5 campaign a year ago, which is saying something, considering the challenges he faced.
For one, he was only 5-foot-7 and 140 pounds as a junior.
It’s safe to say that, at times, he took a beating, whether that was while bringing the ball up the floor against defensive pressure or driving to the hoop for layups or to dish out passes to teammates on the perimeter.
For two, he was stepping into some big shoes as a first-year starter.
Camacho was a backup point guard on the varsity his sophomore season, playing behind the likes of Nick Hopkins and Vish Das, about as reliable of guards as you can get.
That duo in the backcourt was integral to the Vikings’ 18-game winning streak in 2023-24, with Hopkins averaging almost 12 points and three assists per game, good enough to eventually sign with Madonna University, and Das averaging 10.5 points. While Das could have played at the next level, he elected to attend Michigan as a student. However, he helped the Wolverines’ women’s basketball team as a scout team player last season.
Nevertheless, Camacho met those challenges head-on, earning all-LVC honorable mention honors after averaging 6.7 points, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game and playing over 31 minutes per night.
But the most important part? Being the main ball handler opened his eyes to what he needed to improve upon. He realized he needed to get bigger, stronger and faster. And, with how many seniors Central just graduated, he realized he needed to become a better scorer.
He’s attacked both of those things this offseason. Eating more food and lifting more weights have become new hobbies for him. Now, he’s 5-10 and 150 pounds, adding close to 15 pounds of muscle onto his frame. And he claims he hasn’t left the gym, saying he “stays in there 24-7” to work on his shooting, passing and defense.
His inspiration? Believe it or not, it’s his father, Mike Camacho, who played at the same size and weight as Anthony in high school and managed to land with Presbyterian College in South Carolina before eventually finishing his career with Dayton University, a Division I college near where he grew up in Ohio.
“He was just like me,” Anthony said before facing Dearborn Edsel Ford in a Summer League game on June 17 at Livonia Franklin. “He was a floor general and a pest on defense. He really took a lot of heart in his defensive playing style and getting his teammates open. During his high school career, he told me he had a lot of studs on his team, like the same situation that I was in last year. I could control the game and be comfortable with the ball in my hand, knowing that I can dish it off to some of those teammates who can make plays.”
Indeed, Anthony Camacho had plenty of talent surrounding him.
From Jake Nellett, a former first-team selection on Hometown Life’s All-Area team who reached the 1,000-point scoring mark for his career, to Preston Dado, an All-LVC second-teamer who averaged 11 points and 3.3 rebounds, Gio Charles, the reliable sixth man and highlight-reel dunker who recently became the Division 1 track and field state champion in the high jump earlier this month, and Peyton Kassab, another all-conference player.
“It was (easy) controlling the floor, having these great players around me, having these amazing seniors,” Camacho said. “Our chemistry was through the roof. … So, it’s been a little hard to say goodbye to the seniors. They were a big piece of the team.”
Camacho and Asa Clay, another All-LVC selection last winter, are Central’s top returners, while the Vikings will be promoting a plethora of players off their bench and JV roster into important roles this coming season.
That includes Evan Brown, who has already had an admirable summer on the AAU circuit. The 6-foot junior averaged almost 11 points per game for Inspire-U during the Common Bond Invitational in late May in Ypsilanti.
Recruiting writer Scott Hankamp recently said Brown “was just super effective and played the game the right way” and “has shown that he can play on or off the ball and doesn’t need to be shot-heavy to get his (points).” Next Up Athletes, another recruiting outlet, described Brown as “a true three-level threat. He can drain the deep ball, attack the rim and pull up mid-range — (he’s) versatile, composed and dangerous in any offensive set.”
The Vikings are also excited about sophomore Johnny Matthews, a 6-foot shooting guard.
So, the cupboard of talent won’t be bare for Camacho, but this summer will be a test to see where he’s at as a leader. He doesn’t have multi-year veterans to pass to. He has new faces by his side. He has up-and-comers looking to make a name for themselves. Growing pains should be expected.
“This year, I know I’ve got to up my role a little bit to become a scorer, and I think I’m ready for it,” Camacho said. “I think I’m made for the moment. … We’ve got a lot of great younger guys coming in, so I’m very excited. I’ve got a lot of trust in my teammates, and they work very hard throughout the offseason. I think we have a lot of potential. We’re just going to go and try to get the three-peat for the LVC championship.”
Already this summer, Camacho has looked the part. He’s still driving to the hoop, only he’s not getting knocked around in the paint as much as he did when he was only 140 pounds. Adding muscle has allowed him to “stay in there, control the tempo, control the pace and get to my spot whenever I want to.”
“No one can really stop me from doing that,” Camacho added. “No one can speed me up. So, I have to use that to the best of my ability to benefit my team and my teammates around me.”
And he’s also looking for his shot more, especially his pull-up and step-back jumpers. That’ll be needed because, other than experience, the other thing the Vikings lack is height. Scoring down low will come at a premium, so they must become a team that can make outside shots and score in transition to stay competitive.
“I’m pretty comfortable in my scoring ability and my teammates’ scoring ability to keep it going and keep our foot on the metal,” Camacho said. “But we’re definitely going to have to be a little bit of a run-and-gun team this year. I’m not ashamed of admitting that. I’m very excited for what we’ve got going on, but it’s going to be a little bit different of an offensive playing style.”
What won’t change, however, is Camacho’s work ethic after summer ball concludes.
He plans to continue practicing daily. He wants to work with his dad to improve and, hopefully, become more marketable to college teams searching for a strong-willed ballhandler. It’s the mindset he’s had his whole life, always seeking out high-level competition and making the most of his opportunities.
Two years ago, that meant learning from Hopkins and Das while spelling them during summer league and fall ball.
Last year, it was learning firsthand how to be a successful starter in the LVC.
Now, it’s all about refinement, while following in his dad’s footsteps.
“My family has really influenced me to keep playing, and I just have fallen in love with the sport,” Camacho said. “I’m in the gym every single day. I know I’m not the tallest, I’m not the most athletic. So, it’s important for me to stay in the gym, and I think my work ethic carries me. It shows on the court. I get that from my dad. I love him to death, and I don’t mind going to him for anything, for any advice. I know he’s always going to shoot me the right advice, and I trust him.”
Brandon Folsom covers high school sports in metro Detroit for Hometown Life. Follow him on Twitter at @folsombrandonj.
This article originally appeared on Hometownlife.com: Can Anthony Camacho help Walled Lake Central boys basketball three-peat as LVC champions?
Reporting by Brandon Folsom, Hometownlife.com / Hometownlife.com
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
