After the El Cerrito High boys basketball team lost to Bishop O'Dowd in the Northern California Division III semi-finals last season, well-respected coach Michael Booker laid out a simple challenge for the biggest player on his team.

"We are only going to go as far as you take us next year," said Booker.

Nine months later, Eric Nelson has heeded his coach's words loud and clear.

The 6-foot-7 senior center, who oozes potential, has lived up to a lot of that promise this season.

Nelson is averaging a team-high 7.6 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game, but his presence goes way beyond simply what the numbers state.

For a game that is increasingly losing its niche as a "big man" sport given the multiple perimeter players layering the hardcourts these days, Nelson is one of the few athletes in Northern California who really can say that he has the potential to control the paint.

And controlled he has.

The Gauchos, who won the Alameda Contra Costa Athletic League last season, are once again off to a tremendous start and on pace to defend their title.

El Cerrito (11-5, 2-0 ACCAL) is currently in first-place and is coming off a recent impressive victory over league foe Berkeley High. In that contest, Nelson was spectacular, as the springy post scored a team-high 15 points en route to a dominating win over a team in the Yellowjackets that many pundits picked as the favorite to grab the ACCAL crown this season.

"No matter who I play against, I try to dominate," said Nelson. "But I know there's always room for improvement. I always try to work on my craft every time I'm in the gym."

Part of that craft has been a gradual focus on simply controlling his skill-set down low in the post. While he stands 6-foot-7, Nelson weighs only a shade over 200 pounds. But, given his sometimes stunning ability to move up-and-down the court for someone his size, Nelson certainly causes more problems for opponents than he creates for his own team.

"He did a really good job preparing himself over the summer," Booker said. "He's worked on the things that he was weak in. He's a dominant force and a factor that teams have to account for now. Last year, teams didn't necessarily have to account for him. He's done a good job."

In more ways than one, Booker confidently felt Nelson had much more improvement to be made after the loss to Bishop O'Dowd last year. Rarely do high school coaches lay out such a strong statement on the foot of one player, but Booker felt strong enough in Nelson's abilities that he went ahead and put the pressure on his big man.

Nelson said this week that he relishes that load he has to carry.

"It motivates me to work hard," Nelson explained. "I don't want to let the team down. We are a competitive team and we want to play until the end of March. At first I was really nervous, but after a few games this season, I know we can do it."

In the coming week, El Cerrito will be favored in its games against Richmond, Hercules and Alameda. More than likely, its next real test will come on Jan. 25 when the Gauchos tangle with Pinole Valley.

The Spartans are ranked No. 10 in the latest Patch.com North Coast Section poll. El Cerrito is ranked No. 6.

"I just worry about winning the league," said Booker. "That's what I tell them. Anything after that is icing."

How Nelson plays the rest of the season will go a long way to determining exactly how much icing the Gauchos will taste come March.

If they do get through league, a likely rematch with current No. 1 Bishop O'Dowd and All-American big man Brandon Ashley awaits.

A Nelson vs. Ashley matchup would certainly be a "must-see".

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