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David Moseley led the Priory boys basketball team into the Central Coast Section Division V championship game in his first year as head coach at the school in 2008-09.
Priory lost to Eastside College Prep, 47-42, which was then coached by Olatunde Sobomehin and which overcame a double-digit deficit to win.
Priory just won its fourth CCS crown, beating Stevenson 52-42, on Feb. 26, with junior guard Tayo Sobomehin, his son, leading the way.
Tuesday night at 6 p.m. inside Kezar Pavilion in San Francisco, Priory (19-11) will be appearing in its first ever NorCal Regional final against Stuart Hall (20-12).
The winner advances to the state championship game in Sacramento on Friday afternoon.
Last season, the Panthers qualified for its first ever Open Division berth after Sobomehin hit a short jumper as time ran out in a West Bay Athletic League championship game victory over Sacred Heart Prep.
Priory continues to “shoot high” even after losing two seniors (David Ajanaku-Makun and Zach Zafran) to graduation.
“Zach’s group was the first who stayed at Priory after middle school,” said Moseley, who teaches and coaches at the Priory middle school. “Some of the guys on this year’s team I’ve been coaching since the sixth and seventh grade. Getting those kids to stay was huge.”
Sobomehin came to Priory following middle school at Nueva in San Mateo. Six-foot-nine sophomore Steve Emeneke showed up at Priory in July, without intending to play basketball. He came on an academic scholarship.
Emeneke was a soccer player growing up. His uncle, Marc-Vivien Foé, was on the Cameroon national team that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2002. He died the following year during an international match against Colombia.
“He’s a huge inspiration for me,” said Emeneke, who added that his mother discouraged him from pursuing a soccer career as a result.
“I still use the footwork I learned in soccer,” he said. “That’s all I played when I was a kid. During the pandemic I got bored so I decided I’d give basketball a shot. I attended a basketball camp and did pretty well.”
Moseley saw him playing around and instantly knew he had potential. Emeneke has recorded double figures in 18 games and keeps getting better.
“It’s been a great experience and I don’t want it to end,” Emeneke said. “We keep getting better and better. It’s great to be part of a team that is making school history.”
Emeneke said Sobohemin has been key in bringing the team together.
“When Tayo is playing, I feel safe,” he said. “I know it’s going to be a good outcome. He makes everybody shine. I have the same feeling with the rest of my teammates.”
Stuart Hall finished fourth in the West Bay Counties League of the North Coast Section. Four of the six teams are in San Francisco, including league champion University.
Priory placed fourth in the WBAL, behind Sacred Heart Prep, The Kkng’s Academy and Menlo School.
Before I knew Moseley as an inspirational (and successful) coach, I knew him as one of the most inspirational and exciting player at Stanford. One of the best shooters, one of the most competitive, and helped lead his teams there to the Final Four, Pac-10 Championships, and #1 ranking (two years) in the country. My favorite is him leading Stanford past Duke at Madison Square Garden.
His leadership continues – and this team is special. Thanks for shining a light on what unity between players and coaches can yield. I hope they continue to write history.