LA JOYA — La Joya High’s J.C. Barrientos felt a spark when he first stepped onto the hardwood as a third grader. Since then, Barrientos has lived and breathed basketball, spending most of his free time with a ball in his hands.
He decided in middle school he wanted more from the game, joining a travel team and participating in summer leagues in hopes of earning a scholarship to continue playing after high school.
On Thursday, Barrientos achieved his goal, signing his national letter of intent at the La Joya High School Gymnasium, committing to continue his academic and basketball career at Central Christian College of the Bible, an National Christian College Athletic Association Division II university that plays in the Midwest Christian College Conference.
“I’m blessed,” he said. “There are no words to describe this right now. All the hard work has paid off. All the early morning practices, every tournament, every game, it’s just a blessing. My teammates got me to this level. I trusted them and they trusted me. They believed in me to knock down the shots. My coach believed in me. Everybody believed in me. My family and friends, just everybody believed in me.”
Coyotes head coach Eric Montalvo said Barrientos, a three-year letter winner, came into the program as a shooter, averaging less than half an assist per game during his sophomore season.
This year, Barrientos developed into a playmaker for the Coyotes, averaging 9.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game during his senior campaign, while helping the team to their first district title since 2005.
He also helped the Coyotes to their first playoff victory in 22 years, scoring 17 points during their 67-51 victory over Harlingen South in the Region IV-6A bi-district round.
Montalvo said his ability to create for his teammates was Barrientos’ biggest impact on the court this year.
“A lot of people saw him as just a shooter,” Montalvo said. “But we knew that he could also create plays for the other kids. I think over the years that is what he started doing a little bit more of. He started attacking the basket. He knew when his shot wasn’t going in, so he’d try to make plays for other people and other players as opposed to when he first came in and was just a straight shooter.”
Montalvo added that it’s Barrientos’ laser focus that has helped him grow into an all-around player on the hardwood.
“He has great character and is very disciplined in what he does,” he said. “But most of all, he’s focused. That’s one thing about him. He came in every day and was focused.”
Barrientos finishes his career as a Coyote with 793 points and 161 3-pointers made in 95 games. He added 52 assists during his senior season, bringing his total assist count to 118.
Still, he knows there are improvements to be made as he prepares to play in the collegiate ranks.
“The offense will come by itself,” he said. “But the most important thing is defense and getting more rebounds. It’s going to be a great experience. I’m ready.”
Barrientos plans to major in kinesiology while at Central Christian, with plans to pursue a career as a basketball coach.