In His Own Way, Aguilera Stands Out : Century: Offbeat El Modena junior is big reason the Vanguards are favored to win their third league title in four years.

Aaron Aguilera is different, there’s no doubt about it.

This is a kid who kept the price tags on his basketball shoes. Why? He told his teammates at El Modena High School that it looked cool.

This is a kid who drank a glass filled with three raw eggs. Why? To get elected junior class president.

And this is a kid who fidgeted and squirmed while talking to a reporter. Why?

“I hate interviews,” Aguilera said. “While I’m sitting here, someone else is out working on his shooting or working on his rebounding. I hate publicity.”

Hate it or not, kid, better get used to it.

Aguilera, a 6-foot-4 junior center, is a big reason why the Vanguards are favored to win their third Century League title in four years.

Last season, his first on the varsity, Aguilera averaged 11 points and 10 rebounds. This year, those numbers should only improve.

“I think by the time Aaron is a senior, he’s going to be one of the top players in Orange County,” El Modena Coach Tim Tivenan said. “He can be an impact player on this level.”

Aguilera already has shown that ability.

Last season, he had 23 rebounds against West Torrance in the first round of the Southern Section 2-A playoffs. It was four shy of the school record held by Steve Trumbo.

Against Foothill, he scored 20 points, including a free throw that sent the game into overtime. El Modena won, 65-59.

In the regular-season final, he had a key steal in a 15-second, 7-0 run that gave the Vanguards the victory over Canyon and clinched the league title.

“I just tried to do what whatever we need, rebounding or scoring or defense,” Aguilera said. “I’m kind of a utility man.”

Aguilera isn’t flashy, no one is going to oooh and aaah at his play. He isn’t the greatest shooter and he’s a little slow of foot. Heck, even with his size and long arms, he can barely dunk a basketball.

But what he does have is a work ethic that gives him an edge on the court. Aguilera is in constant motion on the court, trying to get open or for position underneath.

“He just works harder then anyone else,” Tivenan said. “I remember last year, I found out that Aaron and another player were getting into the gym at 6:30 a.m. to practice. It didn’t surprise me.”

Nothing much does where Aguilera is concerned. Tivenan can hardly contain the laughter when he talks about the lanky junior. As Tivenan puts it, “We have a lot of Aaron-isms.”

Aguilera is a bit offbeat.

He was named all-tournament at the Bosco Tech tournament last season. When his name was announced, the El Modena players began applauding, then looked around and noticed Aguilera was not there. He had gone to the locker room.

But Aguilera’s most famous stunt was during his run for class president. His campaign speech entailed asking the assembled students exactly how many raw eggs he would have to drink to get their votes.

The answer was three.

“He did it, too, right on stage,” Tivenan said. “Aaron just has a different perspective, he doesn’t go about things in a conventional way. He probably should be left-handed.”

That personality made Tivenan a little skeptical when Aguilera was a freshman.

He was a 6-4 post player and the Vanguards needed some size, but Tivenan hesitated using him on the varsity. Instead, he kept Aguilera on the junior varsity and kept an eye on him.

“He was a little flaky,” Tivenan said. “He played well, but he didn’t seem to be that dedicated. He wasn’t doing that well in class either. But since then, Aaron has really turned it around. He’s even an honor-roll student now.”