Hard Work Pays off for Mills' Chew

Within the span of about nine months, Marcus Chew went from being Player of the Year to role player.

As a Mills High sophomore in 2009, Chew was the Peninsula Athletic League Central Division’s frosh-soph POY, but was a sparingly-used reserve last season, when he back backed up standout Kyle Wong, the PAL Bay Division’s eventual POY.

Chew acknowledged the experience was humbling, but he accepted his role without complaints.

“It was frustrating that I didn't get to play but that much (last season), but that just encouraged me to work harder,” Chew said.

Chew’s hard work paid off.

The Vikings’ senior guard has gotten plenty of playing time this year, and he’s made the most of the opportunity. Chew was a key factor in leading a Mills team that rebounded from a slow start, winning eight of its last nine league games to win a share of its second straight PAL title.

The Vikings claimed an Ocean Division tri-championship with a team that graduated six key players, including all five starters from last season’s (top-tier) Bay Division c0-champion.

Mills (16-9) is seeded sixth in the Central Coast Section Division III playoffs. The Vikings have a first-round bye and will play host to the winner of tonight’s game between No. 11 seed Saratoga (15-9) and No. 14 seed Monterey (14-12) on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Chew is a complete player that has given the Vikings consistent scoring, good passing and a physical presence (he also played on the football team). He’s averaging 13 points, with several standout individual performances, including scoring 26 in a pivotal 52-48 victory over Jefferson on Jan. 26 that set the tone for Mills’ title run.

But his leadership has meant just as much to his team as his basketball skills, Mills coach Rick Hanson said.

“He leads by example. He's not a guy who gives his teammates idle catch-phrases and hopes the guys buy into it,” Hanson said. “The other kids see him work hard in practice every day and it rubs off on the entire team.”

Amid circumstances in which many other players would pout, Chew proved himself to be an unselfish player while establishing his leadership credentials last season going up against Wong in some intensely competitive practices.

“I think he was willing to accept any role the coaches wanted him to,” Hanson said. “I never really sensed any ill feeling from him. He just did his best, whatever the coach wanted. That’s what makes him a special player.”

Although Chew had already assumed a leadership role on the frosh-soph, he acknowledged that he was nervous about taking on that role on the varsity.

“I’m a shy guy,” he said. “I really don't like yelling at people. I want them to learn things, but I don't like telling people what to do.”

Chew said he wants to play college ball, and is considering playing locally at Skyline College. He said he’d like to eventually play at a four-year school, a realistic aspiration according to Hanson.

“I can play both ends of the floor and I think I can bring some toughness to a college team," Chew said.

Chew’s journey from star to sub and then back to star again wasn’t always easy though. And although he believed his frosh-soph success portended success on the varsity, he admits he wondered sometimes.

But he says that the journey has taught him some valuable life lessons.

“It did teach me that if you want to do something and you continue to work at it hard enough, eventually you might get what you want,” Chew said.