When you receive a Pac-12 basketball scholarship as an eighth-grader, you're going to need to get used to being the focus of the opposing team's defense.

Such is the case for freshman standout Joe Sterling of Crespi High School in Encino, Calif.

The sweet-shooting 16-year-old and his team are in the Coachella Valley this week playing in The Desert Holiday Classic. Sterling is averaging just over 20 points per game and had a 36-point outburst in one game, helping Crespi enter this event with an 11-2 record. But here in the desert, he's getting a crash course in life as a varsity player at the top levels.

In his opening game Tuesday, Sterling was hounded all over the floor by a wave of aggressive defenders from Davis High School, one of the top teams in Utah. He was held to a pedestrian 16 points as Davis frustrated him most of the night and went on to win the game 53-46 to hand Crespi just its third loss of the season.

 "It was tough, they were physical and I guess it's an honor in a way to have the defensive attention on you, but we're working on getting better in those situations," said Sterling, a lanky 6-foot-3, 175-pound guard. "Having, I guess you might say, a target on my back helps me in that it makes me have to be even more competitive. Makes me play harder. I'm starting to get used to it and learning all the time."

That target came into clear focus for opponents in November of 2021 when Sterling received a scholarship offer from the University of Washington. A lot could change between now and when Sterling graduates in 2026, but the offer is real.

Sterling said an assistant coach with the Huskies, Quincy Pondexter, knew one of his coaches and came to see him play as an eighth grader. He left impressed and didn't hesitate to make the official declaration. It remains to be seen if Sterling will ever wear Washington purple, but it was an incredible moment for him.

"I was super-excited, I mean a Pac-12 school, that's big," Sterling said. "It's been super-cool and gave me some motivation."

Sterling knows that it's going to take hard work to validate the lofty expectations. He's the classic gym rat. Earlier this year, he was in the gym at 6 a.m. getting up more shots the day after a game. He's also been able to stay humble. In an era where almost every impressive play is punctuated by a yell, or a gesture or some sort of attention-craving antic, Sterling isn't built that way. He just heads back down the court, ready for the next possession. No trash talk.

"He's actually a little introverted, but so am I, so we get along," said Peyton White, a talented sophomore on the Crespi squad. "Pretty much everybody likes Joe. He's a good guy."

 
His in-game body language is that of a veteran player who's been around the block, and that's because he has. Sterling said he started playing basketball as a 2- or 3-year-old and he's been addicted to the game ever since. Youth basketball, rec leagues, school teams, summer leagues and now, at long last, his varsity team. At 16 years old, he is older than a typical freshman, having been held back a year as a youth.

He showed a different kind of maturity in that loss to Davis. He didn't force things. As he was double-teamed and harassed by the defense, he moved the ball around and tried to get his teammates involved. That didn't surprise his coach.

 
"He’s not your typical freshman as far as maturity," said Crespi coach Andrew Moore. "There's going to be ups and downs and highs and lows in a game and in a season, but he's got the mindset to deal with it and the game to deal with it. Games like that give him experience. He's going to see that and get better just by being in those situations."

The second game of the tournament was a little more fun for Sterling and Crespi. The Celts cruised to a 51-37 win over Mercer Island, a school just outside of Seattle, in a game played at Palm Springs High School. Sterling scored 23 points, including four of his signature long 3-pointers.

He has a pure shooting stroke and he's not afraid to pull up from NBA range, but he's proud of his mid-range game, too. Put simply, he's a scorer. Scoring is "in his blood" according to coach Moore.

Sterling said his favorite NBA player is Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks, but if he had to compare his game to someone it might be Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat.

 
"Outside shooting is definitely my best thing, but I like to mix it up and keep the defense honest and try to get into the mid-range game as well," Sterling said.

Sterling will have two more chances at the Desert Holiday Classic, a Thursday game against Liberty High of Brentwood (3 p.m. at Cathedral City High School) and then a Friday game still to be determined.

No doubt, he will be the focal point of the defenses and he'll be ready for the challenge.

"When they're being physical with you, you've just to keep your cool and try to be physical back," Sterling said. "I just try to stay calm. You can't get overwhelmed. I just try to stay calm, stay focused and do the best I can."

"It was tough, they were physical and I guess it's an honor in a way to have the defensive attention on you, but we're working on getting better in those situations," said Sterling, a lanky 6-foot-3, 175-pound guard. "Having, I guess you might say, a target on my back helps me in that it makes me have to be even more competitive. Makes me play harder. I'm starting to get used to it and learning all the time."

 That target came into clear focus for opponents in November of 2021 when Sterling received a scholarship offer from the University of Washington. A lot could change between now and when Sterling graduates in 2026, but the offer is real.

Sterling said an assistant coach with the Huskies, Quincy Pondexter, knew one of his coaches and came to see him play as an eighth grader. He left impressed and didn't hesitate to make the official declaration. It remains to be seen if Sterling will ever wear Washington purple, but it was an incredible moment for him.

"I was super-excited, I mean a Pac-12 school, that's big," Sterling said. "It's been super-cool and gave me some motivation."

Sterling knows that it's going to take hard work to validate the lofty expectations. He's the classic gym rat. Earlier this year, he was in the gym at 6 a.m. getting up more shots the day after a game. He's also been able to stay humble. In an era where almost every impressive play is punctuated by a yell, or a gesture or some sort of attention-craving antic, Sterling isn't built that way. He just heads back down the court, ready for the next possession. No trash talk.

"He's actually a little introverted, but so am I, so we get along," said Peyton White, a talented sophomore on the Crespi squad. "Pretty much everybody likes Joe. He's a good guy."

His in-game body language is that of a veteran player who's been around the block, and that's because he has. Sterling said he started playing basketball as a 2- or 3-year-old and he's been addicted to the game ever since. Youth basketball, rec leagues, school teams, summer leagues and now, at long last, his varsity team. At 16 years old, he is older than a typical freshman, having been held back a year as a youth.

He showed a different kind of maturity in that loss to Davis. He didn't force things. As he was double-teamed and harassed by the defense, he moved the ball around and tried to get his teammates involved. That didn't surprise his coach.

 
"He’s not your typical freshman as far as maturity," said Crespi coach Andrew Moore. "There's going to be ups and downs and highs and lows in a game and in a season, but he's got the mindset to deal with it and the game to deal with it. Games like that give him experience. He's going to see that and get better just by being in those situations."

The second game of the tournament was a little more fun for Sterling and Crespi. The Celts cruised to a 51-37 win over Mercer Island, a school just outside of Seattle, in a game played at Palm Springs High School. Sterling scored 23 points, including four of his signature long 3-pointers.

He has a pure shooting stroke and he's not afraid to pull up from NBA range, but he's proud of his mid-range game, too. Put simply, he's a scorer. Scoring is "in his blood" according to coach Moore.

Sterling said his favorite NBA player is Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks, but if he had to compare his game to someone it might be Tyler Herro of the Miami Heat.

"Outside shooting is definitely my best thing, but I like to mix it up and keep the defense honest and try to get into the mid-range game as well," Sterling said.

Sterling will have two more chances at the Desert Holiday Classic, a Thursday game against Liberty High of Brentwood (3 p.m. at Cathedral City High School) and then a Friday game still to be determined.

No doubt, he will be the focal point of the defenses and he'll be ready for the challenge.

"When they're being physical with you, you've just to keep your cool and try to be physical back," Sterling said. "I just try to stay calm. You can't get overwhelmed. I just try to stay calm, stay focused and do the best I can."

To view this Desert Sun article, please click the following link: Freshman phenom adjusting to life as a varsity star, focus of opposing defenses