As American sports continue to diversify, basketball is a sport in which the Latino footprint has grown significantly. This especially holds true for college basketball at the NCAA’s Division-I level. Today, there are a total of 100 Latino players spread over the 351 teams at the Division-1 level. Surely, a sign of the times and the games growth. From potential NBA Draft picks, to key role players, to those just starting their college careers they all have excellent stories to tell.
Christian Negron
This freshman forward from Loyola-Chicago is probably the most unique player on this list. He played his high school ball at Larkin High in Elgin, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago and his talents earned him a spot on Puerto Rico’s national team. He’s also played in the 2016 FIBA Americas U-18 tournament where he led “La Isla” in both scoring (13.4 PPG) and rebounding (13.6 RPG). However, upon returning home he suffered a torn ACL in his right knee causing him to miss his entire senior year, but he hasn’t let that stop him from getting a scholarship to LUC.
“I tore my ACL in September,” Negron told ‘LLERO. “I tore my ACL in a fall league game. I was set back a little bit from my injury, so I’m just trying to get back to where I was before.” Despite wearing a heavy brace on that knee, Negron has been able to play at full speed without any issues but he illustrated that he’s still working on his conditioning. He averages nine minutes per game and is part of a deep 10-man rotation of players (a rarity in the college game) under head coach Porter Moser.
Negron was born in the Chicago-area but his parents came from Puerto Rico which is still recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Negron says his family that remained on the Island was spared considering the intensity of the storm. “They were able to get over to Miami with all that has happened down there…. Thankfully they didn’t get hit too hard, if there even is such a thing (in that situation), “ he said. Negron hopes to return to Puerto Rico’s national team someday. “I couldn’t play (for the Under-19 team) because of my injury. I really hope eventually I can play and represent Puerto Rico again. I think I could (play in the Olympics) because I thought I played really well for them.”
He also aspires to play professionally. “I want to play the game as long as I can,” Negron said. “If I can make some money playing the game, that will be ideal, that will be great. My game is still growing though,” he added. When asked about the growth of Latinos playing basketball Negron says that playing in the Americas Tournament was a big eye opener in that regard. “That was a huge culture shock for me when (I played for Puerto Rico). You always hear about baseball being the number one sport in Puerto Rico especially and in Latin America. I noticed now that more and more people are leaning towards basketball,” he says. Negron currently holds the distinction of being the only Latino player out of all Chicago-area D-1 teams which includes Northern Illinois, Northwestern, DePaul, Illinois-Chicago and Chicago State.
We are looking forward to see more of Negron this season and in the years to come.
Desi Rodriguez and Angel Delgado
In Newark, New Jersey there is a basketball program that’s once again on the rise and making noise in the sport. The Seton Hall University Pirates are once again thriving with these Latino studs at the helm. Before Rodriguez and Delgado arrived, SHU only had one postseason appearance under current head coach Kevin Williard (2012 National Invitational Tournament). They also hadn’t been ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 in over 20 years. Since this tandem donned the Pirates uniform, Seton Hall has made the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons and have been ranked in the Top 25 for three years in a row.
Delgado was born in the Dominican Republic but came to the U.S. in 2012. At 6-feet-10 inches tall and 245 pounds the 23-year-old center is a throwback to the traditional centers that are known for scoring in the paint, rebounding, blocking shots and playing hard-nosed defense. Rodriguez on the other hand is a native of The Bronx, New York and played at NYC’s famed Lincoln High School which produced NBA products such as Stephon Marbury, Lance Stephenson and Sebastian Telfair. The 21-year-old small forward hopes to be Lincoln’s next NBA prospect. At 6-foot-6, Rodriguez just might achieve that goal as his solid perimeter play combined with his accurate jump shot have long caught the attention of NBA scouts. Both men are projected to be NBA draft picks.
The Big East Conference’s dynamic duo ranks in the conference’s top 20 in both scoring, rebounding, and they almost entered the 2017 NBA Draft but decided to ultimately to return for their senior years.
Expect to hear their names called, perhaps in the first round, when the 2018 draft rolls around.
Austin Torres
In the 18 seasons that Mike Brey has been the head coach at Notre Dame, one constant of every team he’s coached has been a stable of dependable role players. Torres is one of those key role players. You see, his job is to be the primary backup to All-American Bonzie Colson. Colson is the leader of the Fighting Irish basketball team, but he needs a breather at some point during the game. That’s where Torres comes in.
The 22-year-old native of Granger, Indiana is actually a third-generation Notre Dame student. His grandfather was there first, followed by his mother, former Fighting Irish soccer player Brenda Torres who graduated from South Bend in 1994. His father is former UND tight end Oscar McBride who played there in the 90’s as well. Austin grew up attending many Notre Dame sporting events and now wears their uniform.
As a reserve he only plays roughly 8 to 10 minutes per game, but in his limited playing time he’s made a significant contribution. He has scored over 100 career points, he’s grabbed over 130 career rebounds, and he gives coach Brey a reliable option in the paint during the middle stages of the game. He’s already received his bachelor’s degree in management consulting and is currently a graduate student.
With a pedigree and stats like that, you bet he’s the one we’d call when we need back up.
Tonny Trocha-Morelos
Colombia may be a hardcore soccer nation, but over the last few years some Colombian athletes have led a movement to change that perception. Chief among them is 23-year-old Texas A&M senior from Cartagena Tonny Trocha-Morelos. Although baseball was his first sport of choice growing up in South America, he switched after realizing that his 6-foot-10 inch frame was better suited for the hardwood instead of the diamond.
Upon switching sports he eventually found himself playing for Colombia’s Under-18 team at the 2012 U-18 FIBA Americas Tournament. Now at College Station he plays in what’s arguably the most high profile conference in the NCAA, the Southeastern Conference. At center Trocha-Morelos has held his own as he averages 10 points and five rebounds per game. Since arriving on campus A&M has made the postseason twice (2015 NIT and 2016 NCAA Tournaments), and narrowly missed postseason play last year.
And if the Aggies stick with their winning ways they’ll be a postseason team again this year. Trocha-Morelos is a major reason why A&M is shedding the stereotype of just being a football school. With his skills as a post player he’s projected as a second round pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.
