Negrete’s success is a family affair
Carlos Negrete is a 6-foot-5 senior guard at Santa Margarita Tesoro whose family members enjoy shouting his nickname, “Flaco,” which means skinny in Spanish.
One of his grandmothers is from Ecuador, the other from Puerto Rico. He has a grandfather from the Dominican Republic. Bring them and the rest of the family together in a gym on game night and the only ingredient missing from a full-on party is salsa music.
“Latins are loud and like to have fun,” Negrete said. “During the game, it feels like they’re on the court and right next to me, with their cheering, their oohs and ahs.”
Negrete’s grandfather, Louie Rodriguez, was so thrilled with his grandson’s 27-point performance against Long Beach Poly in December that he pulled two $100 bills from his pocket and insisted he take them.
“My grandpa loves watching his grandchild succeed,” Negrete said. “He was stoked. He tried to give me the money, and I told him it didn’t matter, that I loved him and gave him a hug. But I did take it. You have to. That’s the way he feels. He’ll take it personally.”
High school sports frequently revolve around those who play the games to earn college scholarships. Certainly, Negrete is hoping he gets that opportunity, but his real motivation centers on his love for the game and sharing that experience with his family.
“They follow me everywhere, through the good games and bad games,” he said. “It’s nice to know they have your back. My two grandmas don’t really know basketball that well. They know if the ball goes in the basket, that’s good, and if it doesn’t, try again next time.”
Negrete set school records last season for most three-pointers in a season with 42 and highest three-point shooting percentage at 42%.
He’s the team captain for Tesoro, has a 3.5 grade-point average and embraces his rare demographic profile of being a tall Latino playing basketball in South Orange County. He also enjoys wakeboarding, bodyboarding and snowboarding.
“I don’t look Hispanic,” he said. “Teachers will say, ‘Carlos?’ ”
He has brown hair, a light complexion and grew up speaking Spanish as his first language. His mother is a real estate agent. His father works for Broadcom. He has been a varsity basketball player since his sophomore year.
“I’ve been one of those kids who loved sports all along, and basketball stuck with me,” he said. “I love shooting. My dad got me a hoop, and that’s all we would do is shoot. When my parents said, ‘Enough is enough,’ I had to come in. I’d eat and go shoot. As soon as school got out, it would be the first thing I’d do after homework.”
Tesoro Coach Steve Garrett has come to rely on Negrete’s leadership and unselfishness.
“He helps our team stay together on and off the court,” he said. “He’s a great team player.”
In his senior season, Negrete can’t think of anything better than having family members sitting in the bleachers and cheering, then getting together with them afterward to share the highs and lows.
“It’s fun, especially dinners after the game,” he said. “Even if you lose, the family doesn’t care. They just want to make sure they love you.”
During games, the grandmothers are animated. If Negrete pulls down a rebound, they cheer. If he makes a shot, they’ll stand and even wave a jacket. During a South Coast League game at San Clemente, there were more than a dozen cousins, aunts and uncles in the bleachers.
Tesoro is 16-8 overall and in second place in the South Coast League with a 5-2 record. The Titans play again Friday night at Aliso Viejo Aliso Niguel.
Negrete hasn’t forgotten that his grandfather suffered a partial stroke three years ago after a brain hemorrhage. For him to be at every game “is priceless,” Negrete said.
As for the $200 he received, Negrete said, “It’s sitting in my drawer, and I’m saving up to get a new snowboard.”
And what happens if he scores 30 points and his grandfather wants to give him $300?
“I always try to say no, but it never works,” he said.
It’s touching to see how family support can strengthen and even inspire a teenager to succeed.
“We love him to death,” his grandfather said.
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