Ball in hand, Cody Shen (12) bolts down the Olive Garden guiding his team in this season’s success as a point guard for the Falcons.
On achieving December male Athlete of the Month, Shen feels that it only further motivates him as he tries to “be the best version of [himself] every single time on the court.”
Forward Harris Notrica (11), commented on Shen’s skill and impact on the team.
“Cody’s really talented, and I’ve known him for a long time,” Notrica said. “He’s definitely one of, if not the best player on our team. He plays really smoothly and as a leader on our team, he cares about everyone’s success, knowing when it’s time for him to score.”
Shen “does a great job of getting to the rim and finding different and unconventional ways to get the point” according to freshman boys basketball head coach, varsity and JV assistant coach, Griffin Jimenez (‘13).
“Sometimes he uses moves that I haven’t seen a lot of kids try with hesitation, which is unique,” Jinemez said. “He’s very comfortable shooting threes from well behind the three point line, shooting from farther back.”
Looking towards the future of his athletic and academic career, Shen is verbally committed to play Division III basketball at California Lutheran University in the Fall. Following his collegiate journey, he dreams to “play professionally overseas whether that’s in Asia or Europe.”
On and off the court, Shen’s journey with basketball is unforgettable.
“I’ve been playing basketball pretty much my whole life and I’ve definitely seen improvement at Torrey starting as a freshman all the way to senior season,” Shen said. “My journey with basketball at Torrey has also really helped my personality. I’ve got to meet a lot of great people that have helped shape who I am and so I’m really grateful for the journey that I’ve been on.”
Leading the team to 15 wins so far this season, Shen holds a major influence on his team’s standards, along with the help of captains Zain Mehio (12) and Amir Sadeghi (12).

“At Torrey Pines it’s all about the gold standard, it’s what our team goes by,” Notrica said. “I think Cody definitely represents that, just the way he carries himself, the way he acts, the way he kind of just has leadership on and off the court. I think he’s a good example of how to carry yourself [as a person and player].”
Shen’s ability to adapt to the mental challenges on and off the court drive his actions, totaling to more than three hours of practice a day.
“[A challenge] I’ve faced is maybe not being like the biggest or the tallest and trying to find ways around that,” Shen said. “Or, maybe not being as athletically gifted, I try to just find different play styles that can help with the type of athleticism.”
Shen’s skill in performance and improvement also guides younger players at the school.
“I think he does a great job of scoring and following directions,” Jimenez said. “He’s obviously got a lot better at that over the years. He does a good job of being an example for the younger kids who are on freshman and JV, so that they have someone to look up to and learn stuff on the court from. It’s good for them to see how hard he works and what it takes to be a great player.”
According to Notrica, Shen’s name is “solidified in the program.” He is one of three players who have been on varsity since freshman year.
“I think when people think of Torrey Pines basketball, Cody is definitely a name that pops up because he’s been here for so long,” Notrica said. “He’s a three year starter, he’s led our team to really, really big wins, just like last year’s LCC game where he had 31 points.”
As his journey with this school’s basketball program progressed, Cody has continued to evolve, and his contributions have become increasingly significant to the success of the program.
“His role has grown over the years and this year he’s obviously played a huge part in our success,” Jimenez said. “There’s been a couple games where he’s carried the ball handling and scoring loads for the team. When we’re playing our best is usually when Cody’s playing his best and that involves scoring.[His impact on court] is important for our program, and our team’s success as a whole.”