When Western Nebraska Community College sophomore Raul Delgado heads back home to Mexico he will not only be visiting family, he will also be trying to make the Mexico National basketball team alongside longtime friend and former Cougar basketball player Francisco "Paco" Cruz.
Cruz is also a former WNCC Cougar who will be a senior at the University of Wyoming next year.
Delgado and Cruz will have the opportunity to make the Mexico World University Games roster when they compete for a spot June 24-30 in Mexico. The World. University Games are organized by the International University Sports Federation and are held every other year. The games are open to amateur men and women between the ages of 17 and 24, who have been a college student within the past year.
WNCC third year coach Russ Beck said it shows the talent of the players on the Cougar basketball team.
"It is an honor for us to have two our Cougars that will have the chance to compete in representing their home country against the top amateur players across the globe," Beck said.
Delgado said it is an honor to be competing for a chance to represent his country.
"Mexico has a tons of talent; lots of people who can play the game," he said. "To be asked to be a part of the Mexican team has been one of my dreams. It's always good to play for your nation and wear the Mexican jersey. Also, playing with Paco is going to be an amazing experience because the last time we played together was in 2006 when we went to Brazil for the NBA camp. So, it's good to know we are going to be back on the same court."
Cruz and Delgado will train with the top-60 Mexican players. The top 18 players will then remain in the country for a three-week practice period, including four games.
After that, the team will be trimmed to a final roster of 12 player and three reserves. That group will play a four game stretch against other national teams in Chihuahua, Mexico, from July 27-30, and one of the scheduled games will be against the United States. The final roster will then compete in the World University Games August 13-23 in Shenzhen, China.
Mexico will be in the same pool at the World University Games in August as the United States, Israel, Finland, South Korea and Hungary. All in all, there will be 24 teams taking part in the games
Delgado said this is a good place to showcase just how much he has improved has a basketball player.
"When I got asked the first thing that came through my head was what a great opportunity to show Mexico how much my basketball level has increased the last two years," he said. "Right now, is when I'm playing probably the best basketball that I've ever played, so it's the perfect time. All this time of hard work will show in the basketball court."
Making the Mexico National Team won't be easy, but it would mean a lot to him and his family to play with and against some of the best players in the country.
"To make the national team would mean a lot to me as much to my family as well," he said. "I want my nation to be proud of me and I want my family to feel the same way as well."
Delgado is originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, but graduated from Springville High School in Utah. Cruz is also from Chihuahua, but graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in Denver.
This past season for the Cougars, Delgado had an outstanding, where he averaged nine points and four rebounds a game. Delgado, though, played his best down the stretch in February, where he averaged nearly 16 points and six rebounds a game. Delgado said he is glad he decided to be a part of the WNCC family.
"Being a cougar means a lot for me, especially for the support that they provide for us," he said. "I'm also exited for this coming up year. We have a lot of talent and we should be a better team than last year. We have a packed team with a lot of big bodied guys who are strong. Coach Beck and [assistant coach Yahosh] Bonner have been helping everyone on the team to get better and get that chemistry that we need to have success in the upcoming season"
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