SPANISH FORK — One look at Spanish Fork Dons senior center Juan Vergera, and you know that he belongs on a basketball court.
He's not just 6-foot-5. He's a solid and athletic 6-foot-5. And his intelligence and coachable personality comes out quickly in every conversation. Put a basketball in his hands and you soon see that he has the touch and feel of a 5-foot-10 guard.
Despite possessing all those quality basketball traits, however, Vergera didn't play high school basketball last season and almost didn't play again this season. But Vergera himself, and many others — including his former teammates and coaches at Provo High — are elated that he's back on the hardwood doing what he loves most.
"It means a lot to be back on a team and to be back in organized basketball," Vergera said. "It's just so much fun being back in this kind of competition and atmosphere and being able to represent a school. There's just nothing that compares to playing high school basketball."
For his freshman and sophomore years, Vergera was a Provo Bulldog. He wanted to remain a Bulldog and planned on being an integral part of Provo's team in his junior and senior years as well. For a variety of personal reasons, however, distractions took him away from basketball. He began neglecting his academics, began missing class and was struggling with some issues at home. Instead of helping the Bulldogs win a state championship last season he was playing basketball in a city recreation league.
To get his academics back in order, Vergera enrolled at Landmark High School in Spanish Fork. But he wanted to return to playing basketball for Provo. So he participated with the Bulldogs in their spring and early summer camps. However, he was living most of the time with his mother and siblings in Spanish Fork.
Because of Vergera's home situation, Provo coach Craig Drury suggested that he consider playing his senior season for Spanish Fork High instead.
"He's a very good player and he would have contributed significantly to our team," Drury said. "But if he was going to live in Spanish Fork and attend school in Spanish Fork, I thought that's where he should be playing basketball. I really didn't want to lose a player of his caliber, but in this case he had my blessing."
Drury even went as far as to introduce Vergera to Dons coach Mark Bailey during a summer league.
"I saw him in the summer and said 'wow, that's a big boy,'" Bailey said. "But I really didn't think more of it and really expected him to stay at Provo. But I was really hoping the kid just played somewhere, because it's such a great sport and there's so much good that can come from it."
Feeling a little confused as to exactly where he belonged, Vergera considered just not playing again. Eventually, he began to realize that Drury was only directing him in the direction that would be best for him. Slowly, he became more comfortable with going out for Spanish Fork's team — even though he was a senior and a stranger to the other players.
"I met some guys over here and they told me that tryouts were in a month, so I just showed up at the gym," Vergera said.
Once Vergera was in Spanish Fork's gym, it didn't take Bailey long to see that he would be a huge addition to his team.
"He's a big body and I saw immediately that he has a very good feel for the game. He's a good passer and he sees the floor real well, and I knew we could use that on our team," Bailey said. "He came from a great program. He's a Provo big-man product. He understands what we've been trying to do with our post players."
Feeling accepted was a big concern of Vergera's, and even something that Bailey worried about. Early on the team had a night out for ice cream, and Bailey was encouraged when he saw Vergera mixing it up and laughing along with the other guys.
"That was awesome," Bailey said. "That is more important than anything else in basketball, that he's having a good experience."
Vergera said his worries about fitting in at Spanish Fork were quickly erased by how fellow seniors Devin Nelson, Dallin Naulu, Zach Clayton, Matt Gardner, Shaun Peterson, Steve McVey and Cameron Catmull embraced him.
"These guys have been playing together for years so I thought it would be pretty tough, but they've welcomed me in with open arms. They've all been really cool about making me feel like a part of the team," he said.
Originally, Vergera's role with the team was to split time with starting center Kevin Roberts — who was also a new addition to the Dons' roster. Also, as one of the bigger post players in the valley, Vergera has been vital in developing the inside skills of all of Spanish Fork's big men.
"He's actually helped our other big guys in getting tougher and stronger down there in the paint. He encourages them, pushes them to work hard and he understands the inside game better than most high school players," Bailey said.
Recently, Vergera's role has changed. Roberts suffered a torn ACL at a tournament in Logan and is out for the year. Now, Vergera is starting in the post and playing the majority of the game.
"I can't let there be any slack out there," Vergera said. "Kevin's out and we feel really bad about that, but I have to go in there and step things up and make sure we don't lose anything."
So far, the Dons haven't missed a step with Vergera's increased minutes. His confidence is growing daily and so is his contribution. He's averaging 12 points per game in Region 4 play and had a career-high 17 last week in a win over Timpanogos.
"He's a guy we want to get the ball to because good things normally happen when it touches his hands," Bailey said. "He's been playing really good basketball for us and he's going to have to continue to play that way if we're going to be successful."
For now, Vergera is cherishing his senior season. And when it's over, he's hoping there will be more basketball to come. He plans to attend either Dixie State or Snow College, and try to walk-on at whichever of the two he ends up at.
"I love this game and I want to keep playing as long as I can," he said.
If he does, he'll have fans from two high schools cheering him on.
"I wish nothing but the best for that kid," Drury said.
E-mail: jimr@desnews.com