Mike Vukovcan Sophomore Tre Cameron is one of the most physically gifted athletes in Hopewell High School.
That’s a lofty statement but it’s the truth. Personally, I’ve been fortunate enough to watch Cameron compete in various sports since his elementary days.
Whether it was football, basketball or baseball, Cameron has always been one of the best players not only on his team but also who he was competing against that particular game.
Some athletes are fortunate to be gifted like that and that’s certainly the case with Tre.
With all that being said, last season was a new experience for Cameron as he competed in varsity sports for the first time. Because of the age difference of the kids along with the different programs Hopewell went up against, 2024 was a learning experience. Cameron had to learn how to compete in high school athletics and had to earn his opportunity to get on the field.
On the football field, Cameron showed enough to Hopewell head coach Matt Mottes to become a part time starter at cornerback and saw considerable time as a wide receiver. Cameron’s breakout game came against McGuffey when he had 7 catches for 106 yards, his first career high school 100-yard game. On the defensive side of the ball, Cameron performed well at cornerback but was young and really learning to play the position.
End of my freshman https://t.co/YMcMMRFSRA are some of my highlights.Thank you to @jarma72 @Zachrosa5 @coachjrosa @Reiker_22.https://t.co/YlBsWfCSZR@HopewellSNation @PghSportsNow @CoachTerryPSU @PA_TodaySports @WPIAL_Insider @cjlquips pic.twitter.com/pW2CEEqxE1
— Tre cameron (@Trecameron14) November 8, 2024
Considering the lofty standards that he has for himself, Cameron wasn’t satisfied with his performance and has been grinding hard all offseason to not only open the eyes of opposing teams but also college football coaches.
Make no mistake about it, Cameron has the size and athleticism to play D-1 football and he plans on doing everything possible to make that happen. Currently, Tre is 6’0″, 160-pounds so when he’s able to able 15-20 pounds to that frame, lookout.
Vikings Sports Now had the chance to sit-down and spend some time with Cameron, and we got into a wide range of topics starting with how he’s a different player than he was one year ago.
“Physically, I have really been working over the last year to improve myself,” said Cameron. “Mentally, I’m working really hard to learn more about the game so that I can be a great player mentally and a student of the game. While at the Robert Morris camp on Sunday, their head coach said a lot of players can be elite from the neck down, from the neck up what separates a lot of players. I want to become a great student of the game.”
“My dad has been really helping me with this, staying on my back, trying to help me learn more about the game. Also, Coach Mottes and Coach Zach (Rosa) are really helping me out, which I’m appreciative of.”
Looking back at last season, Cameron says that one area that he’s determined to get better at is with his blocking from the wide receiver position. He knows that the Vikings offense will run the ball a lot and he needs to do his part in doing a better job of blocking at his position.
While he enjoys playing both positions, Cameron says that if he’s fortunate enough to play at the college level, he’d like for it to be at wide receiver.
“Definitely on offense. I just feel with how shifty I am, I can make more of an impact offensively than defensively,” said Cameron.
Speaking of offense, Cameron was excited talking about the 2025 Hopewell offense that features James Armstrong, Brody Rock, Nasir Wade, Logan Triscila, Avery Bokor and others.
“Offensively, I think our team can and will be very good this season. We (teammates) talk about it and the number of weapons that we have this year and how things might play out. I’m really excited to see how everyone on the team will develop throughout the year and what will happen.”
In terms of the physical work he’s putting in, Cameron tells me that he gets up every day from 6 AM until Noon with Larry Moon. Following the morning workouts, he goes home rests, eats a good lunch and is back at Hopewell High School working out with either the football, basketball or track teams.
“When I start at 6 AM, we start with agility work and then after I eat something, at 10 AM, it’s lifting and about strength and conditioning. Then from 11 until Noon, it’s working specifically on cornerback drills. I’ve really noticed a difference as far as my coverage skills and offensively, my hands have gotten a lot better than last year.”
The work and dedication that Cameron and many of his Hopewell teammates have been putting in this offseason is no doubt impressive and will pay future dividends.
My question to Cameron is where this work ethic comes from and the end game/purpose of all this?
“The end game for me is to be able to play football past high school and hopefully one day in the NFL,” said Cameron. “All this drive, really started with my dad and him staying on me and pushing me to try and be the best player and person that I can be every day. My dad, my mom and my entire family has faith in me and have put a lot of time and love into me.”
“I’m very fortunate because every kid is blessed with the family support that I have always received. At times it’s annoying but I know at the end it’s because they are doing it for the betterment of me and my future.”
When looking ahead to his future, Cameron is waiting and more importantly, working towards that first college scholarship offer. Over the weekend, he took part in a prospects camp held at Robert Morris University.
While an offer didn’t come, it’s only a matter of time. To borrow a famous phrase from WWE Hall of Fame manager Paul Heyman, “That’s not a prediction, that’s a spoiler.”
“I definitely think about getting that first scholarship, especially with seeing kids around the WPIAL in my grade already receiving them,” said Cameron. “But I try not to think about it too much and worry more about putting the work in.”
I closed things up by asking Cameron can he imagine what it’s going to be like if he’s fortunate enough to one day receive a college scholarship offer.
“If I get that first one, I don’t know what it’s going to be like for me (smiling). Depending on where I am, I might cry.”
