Isaiah Regalado has developed astounding basketball skills as a member of Gil Basketball Academy, but the MVP is just as proud of the life skills he’s learned along the way. The Alisal High School freshman earned the MVP award this past season as a 6-foot shooting guard. He also earned a scholar athlete honor for maintaining a GPA of 3.5 or … [Read more...] about Isaiah Regalado

Wedged into the southeast corner of California, between the Mexico border and the Colorado River, the city of Calexico offers limited opportunities beyond seasonal farming and government work. As a fifth-grader, José David (JD) Solis didn’t understand the reasons behind his parents’ decision to pick up and move the family 525 miles north to … [Read more...] about JD Solís

Personal tragedy can break someone, or in the case of Daniel Martinez, it can give them resolve and make them stronger. Daniel was just 8 years old when his mother died of breast cancer. Her death hurt beyond belief, but when his father “left the scene” (as Daniel describes it), a young boy and his older brother found themselves in a precarious … [Read more...] about Daniel Martinez

In addition to her school work, basketball is everything for 17-year-old Mikaela Arista. It’s everything to me, it’s my passion in my life,” says the Alisal High School junior. “It’s been a huge support system for me and has helped me in all aspects of my life.” Mikael started playing basketball when she was only 5 years old, encouraged by … [Read more...] about Mikaela Arista

Gabriela “Gabby” Godinez, 18, has been playing basketball since she was 10 years old, and would do so after graduating high school this summer if they were more opportunities afforded her. A senior at Alisal High School, she has been playing organized basketball since the eighth grade and currently plays both basketball and tennis at Alisal, as … [Read more...] about Gabby Godinez