A big kid from the small town of Ignacio is making waves on a national scale.
Alex Herrera, a 2010 graduate of Ignacio High School and star center of the Fort Lewis College men’s basketball team, was named to two different All-American teams in recent weeks.
One week after being named to the Basketball Times Division II All-America Second team, Herrera was named to the Division II Bulletin fourth team March 31.
“The All-American stuff is a real honor and privilege. It really surprised me, to be honest,” said Herrera, the son of Chris and Kathy Herrera. “It definitely gives me confidence, but I am not going to settle for just reaching the same level next year. I want to improve and get on the first teams.”
The 6-10 junior averaged 18.9 points and nine rebounds per game as the FLC Skyhawks placed fourth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular season standings. Herrera was named the RMAC Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season while surpassing his own FLC single-season blocked shots record with 97. His 97 blocks led the RMAC and ranked him second in all of Division II.
Herrera now is just one block shy of Rich Hillyer’s FLC career record of 208.
“Blocking shots is definitely a big part of my game. Being able to not only block shots but also affect multiple other shots plays a big role on defense,” he said.
When Herrera was growing up in Ignacio, he never dreamed of gaining national recognition when he signed to play at nearby Fort Lewis College.
“To be a kid from a small town and to gain this recognition is a huge honor,” Herrera said. “It just shows if you work hard you can accomplish anything.”
FLC head coach Bob Hofman credited Herrera’s work ethic for his dramatic improvement.
“It is all cliché, but the accolades he is receiving is a tribute to his hard work as an individual as well as him being able to play on a couple of pretty good teams,” Hofman said. “He was worked hard since he was a freshman, and he has improved more than any player I have ever coached in 40 years from the time he was a freshman to now.”
With all the attention coming Herrera’s way, Hofman knows it will be even harder for the big man to repeat his numbers.
“It puts pressure on our staff. We want to make sure we are good everywhere, and not just at one position,” Hofman said. “Alex is going to see a lot more double teams, and opponents will really concentrate on taking him out of the game. It is going to be our job to make sure the whole team plays well together so he can still have success.”
Herrera credited Hofman and associate head coach Bob Pietrack for his collegiate success, and he hopes to reward them by taking on an increased leadership role to try and help the Skyhawks have a banner season in 2015.
“Hofman and Pietrack are always in the gym helping me get extra shots up and allowing me to constantly improve. I never want to settle for what I’ve already done, and they help push me,” Herrera said. “I have had a leadership role the past two seasons, and I am looking forward to increasing that.”
Herrera’s sole focus is on his senior season, but he knows receiving national attention could help him prolong his playing career.
“It is a great thing to have on a résumé to go play overseas or somewhere after college,” Herrera said.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
