Woodside's Cruz-Duncan plays game with class

The talented and muscular 6-foot-5, 220-pound forward/center is a major reason why the top-seeded Wildcats (28-5) find themselves in the Central Coast Section Division I final against No. 2 Serra (22-7) today at 8:15 p.m. at San Jose State University's Event Center. In the PAL tournament final two weeks ago, Cruz-Duncan scored a game-high 18 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in a 51-46 win over Burlingame. His toughness on the glass and on defense has sparked Woodside to 18 consecutive wins.

More importantly, he hasn't had the extreme peaks and valleys of year's past; rather, his play has been consistent and forceful. He dives head-first for loose balls, takes charges as if his life depended on it and possesses a strong post-up game that nicely complements his outside jumper, which he can consistently connect on from 14-feet away. Three years ago, no one could have predicted this. The once intensely shy Cruz-Duncan grew up in Ingleside, a tough San Francisco neighborhood rife with constant gunfire, robberies, drug deals and a place that can rob even the most optimistic person of hope.

"It was always tough trying to sleep because I would always worry," Cruz-Duncan said. "I was more scared for my three little sisters."

Cruz-Duncan became a product of his environment, and peer pressure was a heavy burden. He admitted to stealing when he was young and "just doing bad things I shouldn't be doing." He saw his beloved mom, Danita Cruz, struggle to make ends meet, working two jobs seven days and up to 80 hours a week. Cruz-Duncan describes his relationship with his father as a friendly "hi-and-bye friendship," meaning Ralph Duncan was present one week and gone the next.

Cruz-Duncan was a troubled freshman at Lincoln High in San Francisco when he transferred to Woodside. Mitchell Berman, the dad of Woodside guard/forward Eric Berman, became Cruz-Duncan's legal guardian, providing him with a place to stay and a role model for life. The move to Berman's Menlo Park home was aimed at improving Cruz-Duncan's quality of life and Berman proved to be a guardian angel of sorts. But the transition was anything but easy.

"When you move from a violent, inner-city neighborhood to a lily white Menlo Park suburban area, it's going to take some adjusting," Woodside assistant coach Vidal Edwards said. "I'm proud of Dominic. He was almost thrown out of Lincoln and when he came over here he had a hard time addressing teachers, adults and the coaching staff. But this kid will fight to the end. There's no quit in him. You know there's a lot of determination in him knowing where he came from and the things he's accomplished today."

Getting his academics straight was one such accomplishment. Cruz-Duncan, who left Lincoln with a 1.6 GPA, now has a 3.5, Edwards said. Cruz-Duncan worked hard to improve his grades and game, but just when everything started to fall into place, Danita, who still lives in the city, was diagnosed with breast cancer four months ago. Whenever things get tough, Cruz-Duncan thinks of his mom and the pain she suffers every day. He knows his pain could be far greater.

"I was shocked when I heard the news," Cruz-Duncan said. "Luckily, they caught it early and she's in good spirits even going through it (chemotherapy treatments). She tells me not to worry about her and to stay strong."

Three times a week, Cruz-Duncan hops aboard a Caltrain to visit his mother in San Francisco, symbolizing his past, present and future. He reflects on each trip with an inner calm belying his fierce determination and tenacity. Thanks to some great role models and a disciplined work ethic and positive approach, Cruz-Duncan's future seems as limitless as the San Francisco skyline. The basketball court has played a huge role in his maturity, serving as a refuge and a place where he has no worries or problems.

"Basketball helps me to relax and feel calm," he said. "I can really concentrate on my game and the way I play it. In my mind I don't have to be loud."

They say actions speak louder than words, and nowhere is that more apparent than with Cruz-Duncan, who first met Mitchell Berman at a YMCA game the summer before Cruz-Duncan's freshman year. Cruz-Duncan, who was playing for a team in San Francisco, hit a game-winning shot against a squad sponsored by Berman. He then walked off the court without so much as a pump of a fist.