David Lopez is not the biggest guy around, but he always got the most out of his basketball talents, first as a player at Phoenix Cortez and for decades as a coach at Glendale Apollo and Phoenix St. Mary’s. Lopez stepped down from his post at St. Mary’s this week.

Lopez’s three sons, Damin, Eli, and Adam, were scrappy players and could play with the best of them, just like their dad did in high school in the 1960s.

David Lopez coached a few players who went on to college and the NBA. He always tried to allow them to spread their wings without it affecting the team concept. He won more than 300 games and a pair of state championships.

Whether it was back in the early days of his coaching career, or more recently when I returned to high school sports with the Arizona Interscholastic Association, coach Lopez was always friendly and respectful, often coming over to say hello when he had the chance.

It was appreciated. And I hope his efforts have been appreciated by players and fans alike at his two schools. After he takes a long deep breath, perhaps he will return to coaching some day. If that day comes, there are a lot of young basketball players out there who will benefit from his leadership.

All the best, David.