Tevin Caldwell: UTEP’s Natural Talent

The game already in its second overtime, heavy breathing, nonstop fast pace, with sweat running down their faces, the players continued to give the very best they could. Going for the layup with the crowds going wild. The only thought that was running through his head as he took the shot was, “We can win this game, we can still win this game!” Tevin Caldwell makes the shot. That shot being the last one of the night for UTEP on Saturday November 28, 2015 against the Colorado State Rams.

Not only was this game one for the books, but the best and most memorable game Caldwell has had during his time at UTEP.

“We were down 17 points at the end of the first half of the game … Then we came back strong, going into two overtimes.”

The first half of that game ended with Colorado State Rams 47 and the UTEP Miners 30. The game quickly took a turn and the Miners finished it off 73-73. This took them into the first over time. Then at last winning the game in the second overtime, Miners 99 and the Rams 90. During the second over time, Caldwell impressed all with a huge offensive rebound.

Now a senior in his fifth year Caldwell reflects back to when he first start playing basketball, “I started playing when I was four years old. I never missed a season.” A talented man at that, Caldwell played his freshmen year at Americas High School on the freshmen’s basketball team. It didn’t take long for him to go straight to varsity for the remainder of his high school years and being named All-City MVP, All-District and All-Region honoree during his senior year of high school.

Everything was going great for Caldwell, then a scare came during his senior year of high school. He was diagnosed with an enlarged heart. To his dismay, he was not able to play his first 15 games that year. “I didn’t think I was going to be able to play basketball again,” Caldwell expressed, but his fate quickly changed. After reevaluating his condition, he was able to get back on the court.

To this day Caldwell remembers what was to him, the best game of his high school years, “It was my junior year and we played against the Panthers of Permian High School from Odessa. During that game I scored 32 points, had 9 rebounds, and 1 assist.” It’s no wonder that his high school coach at the time, Mike Brooks, took him up to Cochise College his senior year of high school to meet with Coach Jerry Carrillo.

It was then that Caldwell made the decision to play for and attend Cochise College after graduating Americas High School in 2011. During the 2012-2013 season at Cochise College he started in 31 games. He left a mark the night he played against Chandler Gilbert Community College. During that game he scored 21 points and had 13 rebounds.

As Caldwell was finishing up his two years and his time at Cochise College was coming to an end, he quickly got offers to sign with different universities. From District 2 he was given offers from Western New Mexico University, and Fort Lewis College. From District 1 he was offered to sign with Our Lady of the Lake, Loyola University New Orleans, and University of the Southwest.

Before signing, Coach Carrillo made a call to the University of Texas at El Paso. A call that would end up being the reason why UTEP has the talented Tevin Caldwell on their team. Coach Carrillo spoke with assistant UTEP basketball coach Ken Deweese. Carrillo expressed to Deweese of Caldwell’s great talent in the sport.

Carrillo also informed Deweese that Caldwell had yet to sign with a school, as he was still making the decision. Deweese gladly invited Caldwell to UTEP during an open gym session the summer of 2013 to see his skills first hand. By no surprise Deweese was impressed.

Tevin Caldwell signed with UTEP and plays guard for the team. Playing for UTEP had many advantages for Caldwell. El Paso, TX is his hometown and where his parents Tim and Shalon Caldwell live. This meant that his family could attend more games and watch him do what he does best. Not only is he a great player but a great and reliable teammate as well. Tevin Caldwell plans to finish his fifth year in the sport strong.

He is currently finishing his degree at UTEP in Multidisciplinary Studies. Very dedicated to staying conditioned Caldwell spends time frequent time at the gym when he is not practicing.

Always looking up to his father and brother T.J, he would like to join the military after college. Caldwell has always admired his family. He has two brothers and admired his older brother T.J, who motivated him to play basketball. T.J also played basketball when he attended Americas High School.

Very fond of his father, Caldwell credits his father for encouraging him since a young age. Taking him and his brother T.J to the gym to play ball. Although Tevin Caldwell was great at the sport, he did not plan to play college basketball. His high school coach did not let his talent go to waste. The day Coach Mike Brooks drove Tevin to Douglas, Arizona to meet Coach Jerry Carrillo at Cochise College changed Caldwell’s life.

It did more than that. It let universities find and see true talent. It gave El Paso another reason to be proud and it gave UTEP another great athlete to talk about. Through his hectic training and practice schedule and through his intensive school schedule, Tevin Caldwell has remained a humble and kind person. A great athlete at UTEP.