The Lumberjack

Issue date: 3/5/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Roger Tuan

In the case of 6-foot-4 senior forward Devin Peal, that has not been the case. Peal continues to rise.

Peal played his final regular season game Friday night against the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos. He helped lead the Humboldt State men's basketball team to their second straight California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship, defeating the Broncos 79-71.

The Lumberjacks now share the championship title with the Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes, after tying for first place in the regular season standings.

"His leadership skills and sense of humor" is what freshman guard James Givens will miss most about Peal as a teammate.


22-year-old Devin Peal of Richmond, Calif., was born on May 9, 1985. Peal attended both Richmond and John F. Kennedy High School.

After graduating from high school in 2003, Peal went on to play one year of basketball at Portland State University before transferring down to Humboldt State in 2004.

In 2007, Peal received his degree in journalism with an emphasis in broadcasting.


Michael Booker, former summer league basketball coach for Peal, said, "He was a tremendous player for a varsity player in the 9th grade; his level of tenacity was high. He was extremely strong for a 9th grader, and he was strong underneath the basket."

Peal has been a valuable asset to the men's basketball team for three years now, averaging in double figures each year.


"He always wants the ball during crunch time; he is an all-around player," said senior guard Grayson Moyer. "He is a weapon and it's hard for the other teams to match up with him," he said.

Peal ended his final season as a Lumberjack averaging 27 minutes, 18.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

"I knew then that he would be successful," said Booker in reference to how far he knew Peal would go. "He knew what he wanted, on the court and inside the classroom."


During Peal's career as a Lumberjack he had two season-high game performances. The first was on Dec. 16, 2006, when he scored 31 points in a 111-86 victory over the CSU Monterey Bay Otters; it happened once again on Jan. 12, 2008, when he scored 32 points in a 86-60 victory over the Otters.

Being a part of a team that had, at 26-4, the best winning percentage in the history of Humboldt State basketball, finishing No. 4 in the nation, and hosting the West Region Tournament have been Peal's most memorable moments of his career as a Lumberjack.


Peal said that he will miss the team, the different personalities, and getting something different every day.

When Peal is not playing basketball, he said he gets his fair share of the XBOX and sleep.


After finishing up this season Peals plans to do all of the above, and more, overseas. Peal also wants to go back to school and get a master's in sports business management, in hopes of becoming a general manager.

"Take basketball seriously. Don't wait until your last year to win a championship. Your time is now, don't take anything for granted." Peal said to the teammates that he will leave behind.

"Thanks to everyone, for being behind me since day one and making me feel like one of their own," Peal said. "Shout out to the Marching Lumberjacks for their support here and at the away games, they have enhanced my basketball experience; I'll miss them."

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