Babiash still making strides in senior year
Arizona cornerback commit Derek Babiash set out this season with a lofty goal: to surpass his interception total from his junior season. So far this year the three-star prospects team from Poway, Calif., is off to a solid start with a 3-2 record. The team's two losses came against two of the top teams in the area - Oceanside and La Costa Canyon.
Babiash is doing alright himself with six interceptions already. The 2013 prospect had 10 during his junior season.
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"It's going good," the UA commit told GOAZCATS.com about his season so far. "We've got two losses, but we're just trying get better off those losses. But it's been good so far and we're having a lot of fun. ... I feel like I've been doing well on the defensive side of the ball. I've got six interceptions right now so I'm getting close to my record of 10 from last year. I got there pretty quickly."
Being able to be a ball hawk is not a skill every player possesses, and really not even every cornerback can do the things certain other players can when it comes to finding the ball. Babiash is hopeful that his ability to track the ball and make interceptions is something that gets him noticed by the UA staff in the future and can help him make an impact sooner rather than later.
"I hope that it definitely helps out a lot, because I want to play early" he said. "I feel like if I show that, it will transfer over and it would be nice."
The future Wildcat said he's been watching the Wildcats closely this season, and while the team's recent losses have disappointed him he's confident "they'll keep improving," he said.
After knocking off Valley Center, Calif., last Friday Babiash's game this week is a little more meaningful for a couple different reasons.
Friday night Poway will take on San Diego (Calif.) Torrey Pines to start the beginning of the all-important league season for the teams in California. Torrey Pines is, of course, the school that fellow UA commit Jacob Alsadek attends and the pair has been looking forward to this game for a long time.
At this point in the season both teams hold identical 3-2 records, so Friday's game is a big one for both squads.
"Oh yeah I'm definitely looking forward to that game," Babiash said. "It's going to be our last time as opponents and then the next time we take the field together it will be as teammates. I think it's going to be fun."
Babiash is planning to take his official visit after the season as things stand now - it will likely be the same time as Alsadek and some of the other San Diego area commits take theirs - but he hopes to get out on an unofficial visit to Tucson at some point this season as well.
Kickoff for Friday night's matchup between Poway and Torrey Pines is set for 7 p.m. at Torrey Pines High School.
Click Here to view this Link.Matt Moreno
GOAZCATS.com Senior Recruiting Editor