The Basketball season is here. Our boys basketball teams worked so hard to get ready for every home or away game they have. This year we got some new faces and some returning players and we can’t wait to see what they do throughout the season. It’s time to learn about some of the players who make this season awesome. Let’s meet the boys basketball team. From frosh, we interviewed Eli Torres and Max Garcia. From JV, we interviewed Jeremiah Diaz and Liam Mendoza. From varsity, we interviewed Scotty Ruiz and Jalen Crowder.
Freshman Team
So far the freshman team has had a rocky season with 2 wins and 17 losses. The head coach of the varsity team (Coach AJ) said that this is the best group of freshmen yet. We spoke with Eli Torres, the captain of the team, and Max Garcia.
Max Garcia (Freshman, grade 9, point guard & shooting guard)
Interviewer: What inspired you to start playing?
Garcia: All of my friends play so I decided to try it.
Interviewer: How long have you been playing?
Garcia: I’ve been playing for 4 years.
Interviewer: How do you prepare mentally and physically for a game?
Garcia: I listen to a lot of music.
Interviewer: How do you balance schoolwork and basketball?
Garcia: I work hard to complete everything in school so that I can solely focus on basketball after school.
Interviewer: How does the team support each other?
Garcia: We all work together during every game whether it’s giving pointers or hyping each other up.
Eli Torres (Freshman, grade 9, shooting guard)
Interviewer: What inspired you to start playing?
Torres: I was inspired by Kevin Durant.
Interviewer: How long have you been playing?
Torres: I’ve been playing since I was 5.
Interviewer: How do you prepare mentally and physically for a game?
Torres: I try to stay focused and not get nervous.
Interviewer: How do you balance schoolwork and basketball?
Torres: I do my work after my games or practices.
Interviewer: How does the team support each other?
Torres: We all boost each other’s confidence and we don’t laugh at each other’s mistakes.
Junior Varsity Team
Our JV team has had an okay season so far with 8 wins and 11 losses. Coach Jenkins is the head coach of the JV team and he said that the boys have been playing a pretty good season. We spoke with Jeremiah Diaz and Liam Mendoza.
Jeremiah Diaz (JV, grade 9, point guard & shooting guard)
Interviewer: What inspired you to start playing?
Diaz: My sister inspired me.
Interviewer: How long have you been playing?
Diaz: I’ve been playing for 3 years.
Interviewer: How do you prepare mentally and physically for a game?
Diaz: I listen to music and read my Bible.
Interviewer: How do you balance schoolwork and basketball?
Diaz: I try to do all of my work in school and focus on basketball after.
Interviewer: How does the team support each other?
Diaz: We all lift each other’s spirits and if we have a bad game, we work as a team to correct our mistakes.
Liam Mendoza (JV, grade 10, point guard)
Interviewer: What inspired you to start playing?
Mendoza: I watched a lot of basketball when I was younger.
Interviewer: How long have you been playing?
Mendoza: I have been playing for 10 years
Interviewer: How do you prepare mentally and physically for a game?
Mendoza: I listen to music and try not to think too much.
Interviewer: How do you balance schoolwork and basketball?
Mendoza: I always try to get all my schoolwork done first so that I can focus on basketball.
Interviewer: How does the team support each other?
Mendoza: The whole team works hard to stay positive during hard games and we don’t belittle each other.
Varsity Team
This year the varsity team isn’t doing too well with 5 wins and 15 losses. The team consists of five seniors, six juniors, and two freshmen. We spoke with Jalen Crowder and Scotty Ruiz to find out what it’s like on the varsity team.
Scotty Ruiz (Varsity, Grade 11, Point Guard & Shooting Guard)
Interviewer: What inspired you to start playing?
Ruiz: My father inspired me because he used to play.
Interviewer: How long have you been playing?
Ruiz: I have been playing since i was 4
Interviewer: How do you prepare mentally and physically for a game?
Ruiz: I just try to get really hype
Interviewer: How do you balance schoolwork and basketball?
Ruiz: Before every practice the varsity team has a study hall in the library so that’s when I finish all my work.
Interviewer: How does the team support each other?
Ruiz: We are such a tight knit team so we always have each other’s backs
Jalen Crowder (Varsity, Grade 12, Point Guard)
Interviewer: What inspired you to start playing?
Crowder: My dad played so it inspired me to start playing.
Interviewer: How long have you been playing?
Crowder: I’ve been playing since I was 3.
Interviewer: How do you prepare mentally and physically for a game?
Crowder: I try not to think about the game and psych myself out
Interviewer: How do you balance schoolwork and basketball?
Crowder: By staying focused and doing my best in school to have the best results in basketball
Interviewer: How does the team support each other?
Crowder: We are like one big family and we always are there for each other
So, after talking to the basketball players, we can see how much they put into the game. It’s clear that it takes a lot of effort, helping each other out, and making sure school comes first. These players are showing us that with hard work, you can do anything.
References
Max Garcia
Eli Torres
Jeremiah Diaz
Liam Mendoza
Jalen Crowder
Scotty Ruiz
MaxPreps prep, max. “Elmwood Park Basketball Roster.” Elmwood Park Basketball Roster (2025-26) – MaxPreps.Com, 31 Jan. 2026, www.maxpreps.com/il/elmwood-park/elmwood-park-tigers/basketball/roster/.
