Lester Diaz: A truly special talent

 

A few weeks ago, Olmsted head coach Rich Skrabucha sent me an email that got my attention.  If you know Skrabucha, you know he has a great perspective on things.  So when his email read "If Diaz isn't on one of your top two All-Centercourt teams, then no teams should be submitted", I felt compelled to go and see for myself just how good this Diaz kid was.  

 

So in the eleventh hour of the 2014 regular season, I finally did something I wish I'd done long ago - I went to a Lafayette game to watch Lester Diaz.   Going back to last season, I would notice the name Diaz leading the Violets in every box score I looked at.  Then the all-league teams were revealed at season's end, and there was Lester Diaz, junior at Lafayette, Yale Cup II Player of the Year.

 

 At the start of this season, I checked the box scores following a Lafayette/Park game...Diaz 39 points.   A week later, Lafayette faced Olmsted, and following the game I was contacted by Skrabucha regarding Diaz.  

 

"He killed us,"  Skrabucha said of Diaz.  "We had two guys on him at all times and threw everything we had at him - he'd just find open guys.  He made two moves that were just plain ridiculous.  I wish I had them on tape because it's hard to even explain them.  Around the back, between the legs, splitting two guys --- just unreal".

 

My first Diaz experience came on Saturday, when the Violets hosted City Honors.  Within 15 seconds of the opening tip, I witnessed a half court bounce pass through traffic that made it into the hands of a teammate, who was waiting under the basket where he finished.  As the game wore on, I saw hanging jumpers fall that were shot over defenders, lightning quick moves to the basket, passes that you rarely see at the high school level, and some trademark 3-pointers that I still can't believe went in.

 

It didn't take long to realize that I was watching one of the very best high school basketball players in all of WNY, along with being the most exciting and entertaining player.  In fact, I immediately made plans to go back and see him again on Monday when his squad played an away game on a bigger court.  

 

For those unfamiliar, Lafayette's gym is short in length and extremely narrow. The free throw line extended is as far as the three-point arc goes, before meeting the sidelines.  The rims are very unkind double iron playground rims screwed into a wooden backboard.  Surprisingly, Diaz likes playing on his home court.  However, in such a tight space, it seemed that I wasn't seeing everything he could do.  

 

Seeing Diaz on a bigger court did allow him to flourish even more.  Against Emerson at Waterfront School, he had more space to manuver, or perhaps it would be better stated as the defense had less room to trap him with.  The result was Diaz dribbling the ball to any spot he desired, drawing the defense with him long enough to zip a pass to an open defender.  When the defense doesn't follow him, a single defender is either blown past or shot over.  And if you aren't right up on him, he'll shoot it...from just about anywhere.  In the Emerson game, he knocked down three shots from halfcourt, and none of them were desperation heaves, but rather shots taken in a normal half court set.

 

I watched a highlight video of him,  available by clicking here.  The later portion of the video shows him knocking down a series of deep, half court 3-pointers.  When I saw it, I wondered as anyone would, how many halfcourt shots he misses to get those few to fall.  When I watched him play live, he made three of four attempts from a distance that any other player would get immediately yanked from a game for even attempting.  It's astounding to see, and appears to provide the kind of momentum that coaches draw up lobs for dunking big men to gain.

 

Beyond his precision passing, remarkable range, sick handle of the ball, array of space creating moves, and ability to hang in the air long enough to stick a jumper in your face, is a fierce competitor.  Diaz goes 100 mph for 32 minutes and plays defense like it's personal.  When his team was struggling against the size of City Honors, the 5-8 scrapper suggested he defend the post.  When he misses a free throw, he slaps himself on the back of the hand.

 

So far this season, Diaz is averaging 31.3 points per game, which likely leads that of any player in WNY, including a season-high 43 points against Buffalo Arts.  Make the argument that he's not doing it against strong enough competition and I'll offer up the aforementioned 39 point outing against Park, or I'll remind you that he's rarely guarded by less than two defenders at a time.  And in my travels this season, only Sterling Taplin has shown better court vision and passing.

 

Diaz was born in Puerto Rico where he grew up, and began playing basketball when he was eight years old.  It quickly became apparent that Lester was special - that he had a skill set and a knack for the game of basketball that you can't teach.  Basketball became his passion, the only sport he wanted to play, the only thing he wanted to do.  His mother recognized that while he thrived against local competition where he was, there was a place where his chances of being noticed and rewarded for his game were more plentiful.  So at the age of 16, and with Spanish being the only language he spoke, Diaz and his mother came to Buffalo where some of his aunts already resided.

 

"My mom wants more for me.  She knows I want to play this game and brought me here for a better opportunity to play basketball" Diaz said,  "Here, the way they play is better".

 

Diaz lives in South Buffalo near South Park High School, but chose to attend Lafayette because of its diversity and vast number of students with whom English is as a second language.  In order to make the daily commute to Lafayette, located on the west side of the city, Diaz takes two separate buses to get to school, two more to get home, and spends two hours a day traveling back and forth to school.  Academically, Diaz has already passed three of the four regents exams he'll need to graduate.  He's also made tremendous strides with his understanding of the English language.  When I sat down to interview him, I asked Lafayette head coach Karl Maggiore if we'd need a translator.  "He understands what you're asking him" Maggiore said.  I ended up being pleasantly surprised at just how well he was able to communicate with me.

 

Diaz seemed very appreciative of his mother's willingness to bring him here to chase his hoop dreams.  He's also formed a tight bond with the guys he goes to work with on the court everyday.  "I credit my coach (Maggiore) and my team for helping me become a better player.  All my team work very hard to get here" Diaz said.

 

After quietly putting together a stellar two-year varsity career at Lafayette, Diaz's name is finally making its way around the local basketball circles.  But those fortunate enough to see him play multiple times over the past two years have been well aware of this special talent.  On Monday, I attended Lafayette's game at Waterfront School against Emerson.  When I pulled into my parking space, Emerson head coach Gary Raimondo pulled up next to me.  "You here to watch Lester", he asked, "he's awesome".  When I was leaving the game that evening, a security guard inquired "So what did you think"?   I was in a hurry to get to another game, so without breaking stride, I said "that kid can flat out play".  As I exited through the Waterfront School doors I heard "I'll say".

 

Violets coach Karl Maggiore talked even more about the reaction Diaz gets from those who watch his games.

 

"I've had coaches like Rich Skrabucha (Olmsted) and Scott Kirsch (MST Seneca) tell me just how impressed they were after games and write to me about his game.  Dave Hoch & Benji Bluman are both referees who have gone out of their way to help his name get out there after seeing him dominate games"  Maggiore said.  "Even the Park players were coming up to him after the game saying how much they respected his game".

 

As for his future plans after high school, Diaz wants nothing more than the chance to continue playing basketball.  "This is what I do and what I love.  I just want to keep playing, that is what I want to do with my life" Diaz said.

 

There was no hesitation from Diaz when I asked him what his goals were for this season.  

 

"To win Yale Cup II and go to Buff State" he said.  

 

An appearance by Diaz and Lafayette this season at Buffalo State College for the Class B1 semifinals would be good for Section VI and fans.  It would give him the kind of exposure that he deserves - the kind that can't be accomplished no matter how much you gush about a player in print.

 

 His brief playing days at Lafayette have been so obscure, the list of colleges Diaz has drawn interest from are next to none, something I expect to change quickly and rapidly.  According to Maggiore, D'Youville coach Earl Schunk expressed interest in Diaz last season.  This season, only NCCC coach Bill Beilein has been in to look at Diaz, and that came at my urging.  Beilein liked what he saw and is interested in making him a member of the nationally ranked Thunderwolves.

 

"He's a highly competitive player, able to create his own shot.  He has great vision and helps his team  get better" said Beilein.

 

Next year at this time, Diaz will be playing college basketball somewhere and turning heads.  It's only a matter of time before the recruiters get wind of this talent and seek out his services for their team.  In the meanwhile, I implore fans of the game to try and find a way to see this kid play before his high school career is over.  My biggest regret is not getting out to watch him play sooner - he's that special.

 

-centercourt

@centercourt42

Comments

[The Wolf]

Wow, that is crazy. He was putting up half court shots with ease. His ball handling skills were phenomenal, and playiing on a home court so small, like you mentioned, makes it easier for teams to double and triple team him, yet he seemed to be able to escape the pressure. After watching that youtube clip and reading your post, I definitely want to go watch him play, and hopes he stays local for college to keep an eye on him.

[hoopster]

You know CC, they used to write and say the same things about me back in the 40s when I played. NOT!!!

Lester seems like a great kid. Awesome story!! There is nothing better than writing or reading a such a positive piece about a special person. Congratulations to his Mom as well. She has apparently sacrificed a lot for her son. You have to love that.

And I'm guessing the secret is out and we'll see Lester get some serious interest from quite a few colleges. Is love to see him play and now that CC has unearthed this gem!

Thanks for a great insightful write up CC!!

[M. De Jesús]

I'm so proud of you!

M. De Jesús

[StateChamps2003]

Quality stuff CC. Great read and well written.

[Omar]

You have a special talent
"DON"

I love you!