No. 25 – Mike Caffese
THIS YEAR: Hard-working junior Mike Caffese is one of the top point guards in the GSAC... Plays with a passion and tenacity that affects the whole team ... Rated a terrific defensive player ... Aggressive on offense ... Known for his ability to penetrate the key ... Will push for conference honors and perhaps national recognition.
2009 (sophomore): Emerged as one of the best point guards in the GSAC during his 2009 sophomore season, starting all 34 games ... Averaged 6.9 points and 5.4 assists, second-best in the GSAC ... Topped the GSAC with 91 steals (2.7 avg./game) and a 2.64 assist-to-turnover ratio ... Tallied 6 double-digit scoring game, including a career-high 23 at nationally-ranked Fresno Pacific ... Best overall game may have come in a victory over Vanguard in which he registered 11 points, 7 steals and 6 assists ... Had 4 games without a turnover including one at Biola where instead he tallied 19 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals in a win ... Averaged 8.1 points and 5.0 assists in GSAC play.
2008 (freshman): Overcame early-season hamstring injuries to appear in 26 of the Cougars' 35 games, starting 22 including the final 19 in a row ... Was 1 of just 2 freshmen in the GSAC to start at point guard for their team, and led Azusa Pacific into the Elite Eight of the NAIA Tournament ... Averaged 2.8 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 17 minutes of play per game ... Led the team with 34 steals and had 3 or more steals in 5 different games ... Best overall game came in the Cougars' buzzer-beating 73-72 upset at No. 14 California Baptist when he tallied season-highs of 9 points and 6 assists in 30 minutes ... Also scored 9 points to go along with 3 steals vs. Western New Mexico.
2007 (redshirt): Redshirted his first season at Azusa Pacific as he made an adjustment to the college game.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played 4 seasons of varsity basketball for head coach Dustin Lanz at Tokay High in Lodi, Calif. ... Was 3-time All-Tri-City League ... As a 2006 senior, averaged 11.6 points and 4.5 assists while leading Tokay to a 25-9 record and its first-ever CIF championship, beating Modesto High in the title game ... As a 2005 junior, averaged a team-leading 16.0 points and 4.4 assists for the 24-6 Tigers who won the Tri-City League championship and advanced to the third round of the CIF playoffs ... Named league MVP and the Stockton Record Co-Player of the Year ... Scored a career-high 28 points in a victory over Douglas High ... Also had 6 points, 13 assists, 7 steals and 6 rebounds in a win over Bear Creek High ... Was also a 3-time all-area pick and team MVP ... Played 2 seasons of varsity football (WR/SS), earning all-area recognition for his defensive play both seasons.
PERSONAL: Born July 30, 1987, in Stockton, Calif. ... His parents are Robert (self-employed) Caffese and Valerie (teacher) Caffese ... Step-mom is Kim Caffese … Comes from an athletic family ... Has 4 brothers (Angelo, Bobby, Justin, Joe) and a sister (Andrea) ... His brother Angelo, was a defensive back in football at UC Davis ... Bobby was a wide receiver at San Joaquin Delta Community College ... Majoring in business ... Enjoys boating and skiing.
CAFFESE at AZUSA PACIFIC YEAR G-GS FG-FGA PCT 3FG-3FGA PCT FT-FTA PCT REB AST AVG PTS AVG 2008 26-22 28-81 .346 5-27 .185 13-31 .419 54 62 2.4 74 2.8
