David Terrell continues family legacy at UTEP
David Terrell continues family legacy at UTEP
The UTEP basketball team’s quest to keep El Paso’s top talent close to home has found some delayed success.
Jordan Hernandez, the engine for Americas High during Sweet 16 playoff runs in 2020-21 and 21-22, is coming back to El Paso after two successful years at Cochise College in Arizona.
“We’re excited about Jordan,” coach Joe Golding said at Monday’s first practice of the summer. “He played at Americas High School, people might be familiar with him.”
UTEP did not allow any of its newcomers to speak with the media, but Hernandez was at practice with his teammates as a new phase of their season began. He’ll step in as a junior with two years of eligibility plus a redshirt, and be one of two locals on the team along with Chapin alum Antwonne Holmes.
He marks the second Americas alum coached by Mike Brooks to play for UTEP, as Tevin Caldwell played under Tim Floyd in the middle of the last decade.
“He makes No. 2 now and that’s very cool,” Brooks said. “He probably had that dream growing up and now it’s coming. I’m excited for him and I know he’s excited.”
Brooks also thinks Hernandez has a chance to contribute for the Miners.
“I think he has a chance anytime he’s on the floor because of what he brings competitively to any situation,” Brooks said. “We’ve had a lot of success and had some good players come through. Second to none was his competitiveness. Any time a kid like that gets into any kind of program, he’s got a chance to contribute.”
Hernandez, who Golding indicated is a walk-on without a scholarship, was Cochise’s starting point guard last year for a team that went 21-11 with a playoff win, and he averaged 10.8 points per game. He averaged 7.8 as a freshman, mostly as a top player off the bench but he also started six games.
As a senior at Americas Hernandez averaged 13.9 points and 3.4 assists.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on Twitter.