Prospect Spotlight: Enzo Chimienti (2022 Wilsonville)
Wilsonville is in their usual perch at the top of 5A this season but Enzo Chimienti is not satisfied. There’s still work to be done, and the gritty 6-foot guard knows what the team is capable of and expects nothing…
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Continue ReadingWilsonville is in their usual perch at the top of 5A this season but Enzo Chimienti is not satisfied. There’s still work to be done, and the gritty 6-foot guard knows what the team is capable of and expects nothing less from himself and his teammates. He’s risen to the occasion as one of the senior leaders of the team and thanks to his increased level of play this year, Chimienti has kept the Wildcats as the favorites as they go through Northwest Oregon Conference play.
“I feel like I’m stronger with the ball definitely,” Chimienti said. “I’ve definitely grown into my body more and grown into my athleticism. And I feel like I’m able to play within the Wilsonville offense better. I’m able to get open off the ball, create for my teammates, and definitely defense – I’m able to guard their best player and matchup how I want to.”
While Chimienti certainly played varsity ball with Wilsonville last year, he was more of a supporting cast member. This year he’s stepped up in many ways – and at the Capitol City Classic in December, his ability to make shots and play hard-nosed on the defensive end helped earn him All-Tournament honors – yet he remains very much a team player. He’s averaging 10.3 points and 3.1 assists while shooting 53 percent from the floor and 73 percent from the line.
“I’d been trying to get the ball moving and lock up defensively and I think I’ve held my own to that,” Chimienti said. “Games where I have like 25 (against Rancho Christian) will come and go – everyone on our team is capable of having a game like that. So if one of (teammates) is having a game like that, I’ll feed them just like they fed me.”
At the Capitol City Classic, Wilsonville advanced to the finals before succumbing at the end. Despite the loss, it was something Chimienti will never forget. “Against West Salem, we were up the majority of the game but we let it slip away at the end,” Chimienti said. “But it was a really good experience as we were able to play so many different teams of all different levels,” Chimineti said. “We got Salem Academy, a great 2A team, West Salem, an amazing 6A team, and it was great playing a variety of competition with Brandon Miller (Cane Ridge) and Rancho Christian is always tough. It was a great tournament and I was glad we were able to compete in it.”
A sterling student with a GPA over 4.0, Chimienti remains undecided on his college plans but is certainly open to hearing from the next level. “I’m just looking for a college that will believe in me and believe in my abilities and where I feel like I’d fit in at,” Chimienti said. “I’ll play at any level if I feel it fits me.”
Head coach Chris Roche chimed in on his senior guard. “Enzo has really blossomed into a very strong player for our team, and he’s an emerging leader, too,” Roche said. “He has worked very hard at his game in the off-season, and he is a kid who grew and developed a little bit later than some other kids, but developed a passion and desire to play from a young age. As he’s caught up physically, his mentality and hunger has never wavered. We are super proud of Enzo, because he’s doing everything he can to help our team, and he’s having a huge impact for us. He’s a really talented and good player for us, but he’s also unselfish and team-focused. He’s been great.”
Continued success on the court for Chimienti and the Wildcats will certainly help in the process. Since the Capitol City Classic, Wilsonville captured the Clark Cochran Christmas Classic in Ketchikan, Alaska, but a hiccup at La Salle – their first league loss since 2016 – have responded with four blowout wins in NWOC play. The plan is to win out from here on out.
“Obviously, the goal is to win state,” Chimienti said. “We need to keep on honing in on what we can improve on.”
Chimienti is currently unranked in the PrepHoops Oregon Class of 2022 rankings but will be added in the next update.