By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
With one season left in his high school basketball career, Del Rio High School senior Nick Rivera is working hard to make it one to remember.
Rivera, who’s in his third year as a member of the Rams varsity basketball team, is off to a fast start this season. In 20 games he’s averaging more than 17 points per game to lead the team including a season-high 32 points in this year’s opener against Eagle Pass C.C. Winn. He was also named to the all-tournament team at Harlandale.
Rivera said his success isn’t a one-man show.
“First, my teammates have been a big part of my success because they’re the ones who put me in the right position to score when we’re on the court,” Rivera said. “This season I’ve been trying to be a more multi-dimensional player. I’ve been working on everything – layups, mid-range, 3-pointers, free throws – multiple facets of the game so it’s hard for opposing teams to guard me.”
Rams head coach Joe Nieto, who has coached Rivera for the past three years, said Rivera’s maturity and his work on and off the court has contributed to the success he’s found this season.
“Nick has grown and matured in many areas which include the classroom and the gym. His drive and focus have allowed him to develop into the student athlete he is today,” Nieto said. “It’s been a pleasure to see him come up through the program since his seventh grade year. His dedication and commitment to his development has seen him spend extra time in the gym and weight room, thus allowing him to now play with the utmost confidence in his team and himself.”
Rivera has been playing basketball since he was in the second grade. He said he tried other sports when he was younger, but it was basketball that stuck.
“It just came natural to me,” Rivera said. “My dad, Ricardo Rivera, was a big influence on me learning the sport. He worked a lot with me outside of organized basketball … lots of running, individual drills and a lot of shooting.”
“My dad is my biggest inspiration, as are my coaches, my teammates and my family, of course. But my dad is my biggest cheerleader and my biggest critic. It doesn’t matter how good I do, he always has something he sees that I need to improve on. He pushes me and he’s never satisfied with how I play. He does it so I don’t get lazy or complacent.”
Last season was a breakout one for Rivera, albeit a truncated one.
On the positive side, Rivera was named to the District 30-6A All-District Second Team and earned the Rams’ co-Mr. Basketball MVP award along with Nick Cervantes and co-Ram Basketball MVP Offense award with Will Proffit.
But the season came to a premature end due to COVID-19 protocols. That abrupt ending didn’t dampen Rivera’s view on basketball, but instead motivated him to work on his game for this season.
“It just put a big chip on my shoulder for this season. I think I would have had a great season last year if not for COVID. It just fired me up to work harder for my senior season,” Rivera said.
The Rams are off to a 4-8 start this season, but Del Rio’s coaches have pointed out that the hard non-district schedule is designed to get the team ready for a competitive district season.
Rivera said this season the coaches have focused on each player getting better every game, thereby making the team better.
“They always have something for us to improve on. We look at film and what we need to work on and we use that to get better,” Rivera said.
Though the basketball season officially ends in March with the state championship, Rivera isn’t looking ahead but is instead focused on what’s in front of him. However, he does have plans for life after high school.
“I’m trying to get a scholarship, any offer to play basketball in college. My career path is aimed at electrical engineering. I want to help develop wind turbines as a career,” Rivera said.
—
Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
