BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | THE MONITOR
PHARR — When fans see PSJA North junior point guard Daunte Galvan’s black and silver No. 10 Raiders jersey flash across the court, one word instantly comes to mind: compete.
The No. 10 is the same number his father, Miguel Galvan, wore when he played for the Raiders in the late 1990s, which is fitting because Daunte got his hunger for battle on the court from his father.
Daunte Galvan has seen a lot in the gym in the last year. During his sophomore season, he put up 14.2 points and 6.2 assists per game while surrounded by veterans on a team ready to compete for a district crown.
This year, Galvan’s team looks a lot different. But the same word — compete — still applies to these Raiders, and Galvan has turned up his level of play to try to push those around him. Nine seniors graduated from last year’s Raiders, and Galvan is one of only a few holdovers.
“There are a couple of guys here who are barely getting their feet wet, but it’s a process, and we are feeling pretty good about it,” Galvan said. “I’m a competitor. I felt pretty good about stepping up and embracing the leadership role. I am pretty excited about this season with my teammates.”
Galvan exploded into the start of the year, averaging 25.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 3.6 steals per game. On Nov. 25, during the Mission Thanksgiving Classic, Galvan set a career high with 35 points in an 85-66 win over IDEA Weslaco. Four days later, North faced Rio Hondo in non-district action, and Galvan went off for 40 points to lift the bar even higher in a 95-63 win.
North coach Jaime Gongora attributes much of Galvan’s growth to his dedication to playing during the summer and his parents’ assistance in getting him to tournaments.
“I think all of that summer play, combined with the confidence that he got his sophomore year, he has really taken his game to a different level,” Gongora said. “If he’s not the best player in the Valley, I don’t know who is.”
Daunte grew up playing basketball with Miguel. The father-son activity fit perfectly for the family early on. Daunte began playing when he was 4. He and Miguel, who played for the Raiders from 1995-99 under Gongora, used to play at parks all across the tri-city area.
“He still thinks he can take me,” Daunte said. “When I was a little kid, I would go for a layup, and he would come block me.”
The games got so intense that Daunte and Miguel once sheepishly returned home to address a bloody nose Daunte had picked up in the low post.
For a long time, Miguel dominated Daunte, teaching him how to play while demanding more. Then, when Daunte was in eighth grade, the dynamic flipped.
“The first time I beat him, believe it or not, wasn’t until my eighth-grade year,” Daunte said. “That’s the first time I ever beat him. … It was physical, intense. We would be getting mad at each other, calling every foul. … I got mad to the point where now, in eighth grade, I got bragging rights.”
Miguel was a tough opponent, but also a great teacher. He coached Daunte for years and still coaches one of Daunte’s summer league teams.
“He would get in my face a little bit,” Daunte said. “But he pushed me to become the player I am today.”
All along, a special moment was headed toward fruition. Daunte was on track to play for the Raiders. Finally, during his sophomore season, Daunte got to start, in front of his father, in that No. 10 jersey.
“He kind of had some tears in his eyes,” Daunte said. “It was important for him to see his son grow up and doing well in the same way he did himself. It was a great day.”
The competition in their relationship is built on a foundation of love and support that has allowed Daunte to become one of the best basketball players in the Valley.
Daunte excels the most at making the players around him better. Junior forward Arturo Beltran is new to varsity after playing JV last year. This year, he was dealing with an injury coming out of football season, but once he hit the court with Daunte, everything changed.
“He wasn’t with us early on because of the ankle injury,” Gongora said. “Then he stepped on the floor and started averaging 18, 20 points a game. He’s a huge difference.”
Beltran is averaging 13.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. He credits Daunte for helping push him to that next level, the same way Miguel pushed Daunte for all those years on the neighborhood court.
“Daunte is one of my closest friends,” Beltran said. “I have been playing with him since we were little — sixth grade. Being able to play with him again, it feels great.”
Daunte will be leading his team into a big weekend today, as the Raiders begin their annual Tri-City Classic Tournament hosting duties. The tournament features top-level teams from out of the area including San Antonio Antonian, San Antonio Veterans, New Way Christian and elite Valley teams such as Weslaco High, Hidalgo, Edinburg High, McAllen Memorial and, of course, PSJA North.
“Somewhere along the line, you are going to play some good teams, because the tournament is loaded,” Gongora said. “You can’t hide in this tournament. We have tried really hard to make this competitive.”
For Daunte, the tournament is just another chance to prove he is a top-tier talent and that his team, despite being young, is ready to compete. And he will be wearing his usual No. 10 the whole way.
“I’m pretty excited,” Daunte said. “This tournament is here on our home court, and we have to represent our school. Hopefully, we come out in the top bracket.”