"You form a brotherhood
and you want the best for your brothers."
Cal Poly senior David Nwaba, also known as "Sav" or "Young Sav" thanks to his proclivity to make highlight-like jams, break-aways, and jumpers, had to reschedule his interview.
It was Tuesday afternoon and the men's basketball program was tied up with a team community service project. A few weeks ago coach Callero arranged for his players to visit the San Luis Obispo Animal Shelter twice a week on Tuesdays and Sundays to help walk dogs in the community.
"I'm not a dog guy," said Nwaba, "but I fell in love with them a little bit." One in particular that's stolen the senior's heart is a boxer called Stanley who, according to Nwaba, has a funny walk, but it grabbed his attention.
This isn't the first time Callero's squad has come together for philanthropic work, over the holiday season the Mustangs participate in a local canned food drive annually. In the past, Callero even challenged the community to participate and offered a ticket voucher to anyone who donated.
Nwaba explains that giving back not only brings his team closer to the community, but it also brings his teammates closer on the floor.
"You form a brotherhood," said the winger. "And you want the best for your brothers."
Nwaba shared that Callero stresses the importance of doing the right thing and he and his teammates take it to heart.
This year's Mustangs focus on the simple saying, "Be great," both on and off the court. With a quicker tempo from the squad than in previous seasons, CP's leading scorer (12.1 PPG) and rebounder (5.9 (RPG) has enjoyed the opportunity to play in transition.
Said the senior on his final collegiate campaign, "No slacking."
With a nickname like "Young Sav," fans have seen Nwaba's hustle displayed on the court, and they're getting to see it off of the floor as well.
Story by Olivia Phelps (@OliviaGPhelps).