San Juan County, Utah — Utah’s most remote high school is in some of the most accessible Navajos from Arizona.
Being so small, it’s not always possible to build a basketball team. In fact, they haven’t been since his 2017. But that changed this year.
Meet the Navajo Mountain Jaguars.
Many high school classes have more students than the entire Navajo Mountain High School. So to make a basketball team, they don’t hold tryouts. They work to convince enough students to give it a try.
Erec Neeley is one of the more experienced members of the team, playing basketball since junior year.
“Here, I would like to point out that Erek, the freshman point guard, is the driving force behind making this team a reality.
The Navajo Mountain Jaguars Junior National Team can be built around freshman point guards. This is good because you don’t have many options.
There are only 30 students in grades 9 through 12, Anderson said. Across the high school he has 15 boys on this team, more than half of the boys.
“Some of us really just started playing basketball,” said junior Paul Bigey, who had never played a game before.
“The hardest thing is probably cardio, working out, because we are pushed every day,” Begay said. “I like it, and probably the most… It’s about gaining experience playing basketball with other people and friends, and perhaps building new relationships along the way.
Everything this team is doing is new on so many levels. Chelsea Graymountain is the head coach and the school’s athletic director. It was her first year and she scrambled to get the season in order.
“I started looking for matches in November, but all the other schools have already set their schedules.
However, the school respected the team Gray Mountain assembled and found time for additional games. She played in high school and coached her final team in 2017.
Anderson brings a language qualification and a desire to learn.
“She’s an experienced player who played in our high school,” he said.
He’s also the one with the gym keys.
They haven’t won yet, but they keep putting their heads up.
“I’m getting better every game,” Neely said.
And they have fan support. This means that the closest competitor in their area will zig zag him through the high desert for 1 hour and 40 minutes (and across the Arizona state line).
When you play Pinnacle Academy at Price, it’s a 6+ hour bus ride. Mileage is 375 miles.
“Who’s your number one fan?” FOX 13 News reporter Max Ross asked the boys.
“Grandpa and Grandma,” Bigay said.
“Probably my aunt,” said Neely.
They said these families traveled to watch and support their games.
Jaguar season ends on Valentine’s Day. They are his JV team playing against his JV teams from other schools, but they want to continue to grow and get better season after season and surprise some people.
