LAKEPORT >> Tj Talamoni-Marcks, an incoming junior at Clear Lake High School, has been invited to represent California on the 2017 California Pacific Conference Boys Basketball Team by Down Under Sports.
Tj will depart for Queensland, Australia, on July 10 to compete for individual honors and a team championship during his nine-day stay on the Gold Coast. As a sophomore center on Clear Lake High’s junior varsity team last season, Marcks’ strong play inside helped the Cardinals win an undisputed North Central League I championship with a 14-0 record. Clear Lake won its final 15 games en route to a 24-2 record.
Marcks had to raise $5,900 for his Australian trip and while donations from groups, businesses and individuals helped him achieve his goal, he put up $1,000 of his own money. While playing down under, Marcks will on a 12-member team that features players from California, Nevada, Arizona and Washington.
A multi-sport athlete at Clear Lake where he also plays football and is a member of the track team, Marcks, 16, is the son of Kimberly Cobarrubia (Marcks) and Leo Cobarrubia, the grandson of Georgeanne Marcks, Kim Marcks, Talamoni Talamoni Jr. (deceased) and Tuto’atasi Laumatia (deceased), and the older brother of Treppa Talamoni-Marcks.
“I am a proud tribal member of the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake,” Marcks said in a letter of introduction to Down Under Sports. “The sport of basketball is my passion and I’ve been playing since I was 8 years gold. In sixth grade I was requested to join an AAU team from Santa Rosa. In addition, for the past three years I also played on an AAU team for the Lakeport Basketball Club. I have an extreme love for the game and the strong desire to play. Basketball has taught me to control my anger and frustrations in life (on and off the court).
“Basketball has taught me to work with a team, to trust my teammates, to trust my coaches and to be a better team player. Basketball has given me amazing opportunities to travel from the California Bay Area to Las Vegas, Nevada and now basketball is providing me a once-in-a-lifetime chance to travel internationally,” Marcks added.
On his way home from Australia, Marcks will stop off in Hawaii on July 18-21 before returning home.
Apart from the time he spends on the court, Marcks also gives back to his community. He referees youth basketball games on Saturdays for the Westshore Youth Basketball League and assists youth with reading, spelling and other educational needs for the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake.
Down Under Sports’ goal is to continue to provide athletes who excel in their sport the opportunity to experience the culture, beauty and grandeur of the land down under all within the framework of spirited and intense competition.
