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FBCA Magazine Feature: Gimme the Rock

Matt Malatesta
Jul 28, 2020

Owen LaRocca

Photo by Bradley Collier of VYPE Media

THE NAME LAROCCA WAS ONCE LEGENDARY AROUND HOUSTON FOOTBALL CIRCLES

But that was over 25 years ago.

Josh LaRocca shocked the college football landscape when he quarterbacked the Rice Owls to a win over the mighty Texas Longhorns in 1994. The 19-17 win snapped nearly a 30-year Texas winning streak.

"I don't give my dad much credit," Owen LaRocca jokes. "But I guess that was a pretty big deal. If you don't know about trying to be a high-level athlete, it's hard to understand. He understands and has taught me to never be satisfied. He knows how much work it takes. When I think I've had a pretty good day working out, he reminds me that I didn't do enough."


Josh earned some NFL training camp invites and played in NFL Europe for a few years before getting into commercial real estate.

Owen prefers the round ball, however.

"I grew up playing baseball until the seventh grade," Owen said. "Then I just got obsessed with basketball. I figured out that basketball would be something I would do every day since then. The adrenaline I would get while playing was awesome."

LaRocca dove into the AAU world as an eighth-grader and played for TNBT led by coach Eric Love. "I had a great coach who invested in me," he said. "The game just clicked, and I was in the gym five days a week and playing a bunch of games on the weekend. I figured out what I was good at and what I needed to work on."

He entered FBCA and played on a dominant junior varsity team as a freshman. As a sophomore, he made the jump to varsity on a team that went to the TAPPS Final Four.

"The biggest difference this year was the vocal aspect of my game," he said. "As a sophomore, I was listening and learning from the older guys. This year I was one of the guys to set the tone. There were no days off. I had to be the guy to get on the younger guys if they were taking a day off. I learned that you have to be the first in the gym and the last to leave."

The Eagles finished third in district and were bounced in the first round of the postseason.

"The ultimate goal is to win a championship," he said. "Two years ago, I got the taste of state. This year, we played well but the season ended abruptly. My senior year, I want to be efficient as I can be before moving onto the next level. "I want people to remember what we are capable of – to remember what we did a couple of years ago. We want to build this program into a consistent winner."

When he's not hooping, the only-child likes doing what most teenagers do but also giving back.

"I like to play video games but I also like running camps for kids," he laughed. "I'm an only child so I don't have the daily tasks of dealing with siblings. They are pretty fun and I'm good with them. Overall, I'm a pretty boring person. I sleep and play basketball."

He watches hoops as well, which helps hone his game.

"I love to watch Devin Booker and Tyler Hero," he said. "I modeled my jump shot after theirs. They have great skill sets, which is key for me when I play against more athletic players with size. I have to out-play people with my shot and basketball IQ."

CLICK HERE to view the ENTIRE 2020 VYPE FBCA Magazine.

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Future Backfield Duo of UT Football?

VYPE
26 Feb, 2021

Houston - Major recruiting news dropped in #txhsfb when nationally ranked recruit Rueben Owns out of El Campo High School committed to the Texas Longhorns.

The Black Unicorn To Austin TX 🤘🏾#HookEm @RuebenOwens2 @MikeWestHTX @TXStarsFootball pic.twitter.com/KXHsPcTsZO
— Rueben Owens ll #BlackUnicorn (@ii_rueben) February 26, 2021

Owens is the first commit for new head coach Steve Sarkisian in the 2023 Class, but when he arrives in Austin he will join Jaydon Blue, the No. 1 RB in the country in the Class of 2022, out of Klein Cain. Blue committed to the Longhorns earlier this month and welcomed Owens to the family on social media.

Join the family🤟🏾 https://t.co/nETsyrrv8P
— 23🏈 (@JaydonBlue) February 26, 2021

The #txhsfb recruiting landscape in Houston is hot. Texas A&M seems to be winning the recruiting battle in Houston, but the Longhorns made a huge splash in the commitment of Owens. If Longhorn fans want a glimpse of the future, be sure to check out Jaydon Blue and Rueben Owens this fall.

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VYPE 2021 Softball Preview: Private School No. 1 St. Agnes Academy

Joshua Koch
26 Feb, 2021
Billy Hicks enters year two leading the Tigers and should be excited about his team. With nine starters back from a year ago, including senior 3B/OF Ashley Burns (Trinidad State JC), the Tigers should be definite contenders again.
Read More... Read Less
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VYPE 2021 Softball Preview: Private School No. 2 Episcopal

Joshua Koch
26 Feb, 2021

The Knights enter 2021 seeking the program's 11th crown and sixth in the last eight seasons. Caitlyn Cain is back for her third year as head coach and returns seven starters.

Shortstop Courtney Davis was on pace for a monster 2020 season ending with a .364 batting average and brings speed to the base paths. LeAnn Dromgoole is the ultimate utility player who pitches and can play any position on the field. She swings for the fences at the dish.

Read More... Read Less
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