Parkland basketball player to audition for Mexican national team

EL PASO, Texas – Parkland High School sophomore-to-be Oscar Lucero hopped on a plane Monday night in the hopes of fulfilling a hoops dream – playing for the 15 and under Mexican national team.

He recently got a call telling him he had been selected before practice a few weeks ago. It’s a call he’ll never forget.

“And that whole practice, I mean, my mind wasn’t on basketball,” said Lucero. “It was like… I’m actually gonna go play in Mexico and try to make that team!”

Only 20 players were invited to Mexico City to participate in the tryout. Of those 20, 12 will be selected for the team. Those 12 will then go on to represent Mexico in future competitions, including the upcoming Centrobasket 2016 tournament in Puerto Rico next month.

“As long as you just outwork other players and show the coach that you are coachable, I believe you have a strong chance,” Lucero said.

While making the team is one of his goals, Lucero knows his trip to Mexico City means something to more than just his team and his family.

“I’ve told Oscar you’re not only representing yourself, your family, your community, but you’re representing the state of Texas and our city and putting it out there that, hey, there is basketball talent. We do have basketball players who can represent at a higher level,” said Parkland head coach Jorge Quintero, who has played professional basketball in Mexico.

Those are big expectations for a young kid. But Lucero is used to it.

“I told him when he was at our middle school, Parkland Middle, that the sky’s the limit for you. And like I’ve told him this is only the beginning,” said Quintero.

For now, Lucero isn’t letting the pressure get to him.

“It’s a wonderful experience, you know. I’m getting to travel to Mexico,” he said. “And, I mean, that’s something that you rarely get. And I’m going down there to play a sport that I love. So I’m really excited about it. Really hyped.”