Derrick Morton-Rivera has always had the ability.
Now he has the confidence to go along with it.
Morton-Rivera is a junior on the Father Judge High School basketball team, and ever since securing a spot on the varsity team as a freshman, he’s been one of the best shooters in the Catholic League.
During his freshman year, he helped the Crusaders improve.
Last year, he helped Judge make a giant leap to the Palestra.
“Last year I was more of a shooter, and it was a learning process,” said Morton-Rivera, who lives in Mayfair. “First year, I didn’t understand everything, now I do. I know how to do the right plays. Because of that, scoring is easier for me. It gives me different chances to score and I can do way more things.
“My freshman year I had a lot to learn to be better. Last year I learned a lot, too. We had a lot of good players last year, my role was to be a shooter. And we got to the Palestra. That was our goal from the start last year, we really wanted to get there to see what it’s like.”
This year, things are much different.
Sure, the Crusaders still hope to get to the University of Pennsylvania for the second time this millennium. But this year, the goal is much more.
And Morton-Rivera knows his role will be much different.
This year, instead of waiting for his turn, Morton-Rivera is one of the stars who has been leading Judge since the start of the season. And as his role grows, so has the Crusaders’ hopes of making the Catholic League championship.
In an exceptionally crowded and competitive division this year, the Crusaders finished third in the Catholic League standings.
That gave Judge a first-round playoff matchup against sixth-placed Neumann-Goretti, a team that is annually one of the best in the PCL. A win there would send the Crusaders back to the Palestra, which is great. But not the goal.
“Our goal was the Palestra, but this year, we definitely want more, we want to win (the championship),” said Morton-Rivera, who has played with the seniors on this year’s team for three years. “I want to win for the seniors, for sure. They did a lot for the program. They are very important and were very important to getting us (to this point). They have been here for four years, it was tough for them, they took a huge step. Now we want to get a championship for them for all they did for the program. It would be good for us and good for them. And good for the coaches, they deserve it, too.”
Morton-Rivera credits his coaches, along with his teammates at Judge, for helping him become the complete, all-around player he’s grown into.
He also credits his first coach, a guy very well known to Catholic Leaguers, Derrick Rivera, who graduated in 2006 as Neumann-Goretti’s all-time leading scorer.
“My dad taught me basketball, he’s why I play the way I do,” Morton-Rivera proudly said. “And it’s why I play at Judge. He knew Coach (Chris) Roantree and when we were looking at schools, we knew he was good. My dad taught me a lot. He was a great coach and still helps me.”
While his dad is one of his biggest fans, Morton-Rivera brings an entire fan club to Judge games.
“I just love to spend time with my family, I have a really great family,” Morton-Rivera said. “They come to every game. My mom, grandmom, cousins, aunts, uncles. Even friends of family, a lot of people. My dad of course is at every game.”
Every time he takes the floor, he’s playing for them.
He’s also playing for the school and the neighborhood.
Ever since enrolling in the school, Morton-Rivera has bled Crusader Blue. He’s right where he wants to be.
“I love Judge, I love the school, my classmates, and I love how they treat us in school,” Morton-Rivera said. ”They really prepare us for the real world. It’s strict, but that’s good. We can’t just do what we want. That prepares us to be a better person. Teaches us work and stuff. And coming from Judge is a good thing around here because a lot of people here went to Judge.
“You get respect. When you go to Judge, you get credibility. My mom and grandmom go out with their Judge hoodies and people will talk to them about it. The neighborhood really loves Judge. It’s a good feeling.”
The community certainly wants Judge to make its mark this year. So does their star player.
“I really want to win with this team,” Morton-Rivera said. “We’ve been working together last year, all offseason and all season. We’re a very close team. We were close last year, we lost some really good guys, but other guys stepped in.
“Offensively and defensively, we work together. We can win, we have what we need. We want to do it for each other.”
