MOREHEAD, Ky. - An only child and raised by a single parent, DeJuan "Rico" Marrero needed a little help if he was to survive on the tough streets of Gary, Ind.
What he got was a lot of help.
Help that eventually led him to the Morehead State University men's basketball program.
A 6-foot-6 fifth-year senior, Marrero leads the Ohio Valley Conference with 11 double-doubles and 3.2 offensive rebounds per game. Overall, he's averaging 11.9 points and 8.5 rebounds, with 30 assists, 24 steals and 14 blocks over 22 games.
Marrero's help started with his mother, Yolanda.
Yolanda, whose parents moved from Puerto Rico to Indiana, worked more than 20 years as a teacher at an alternative high school. Many of the students had been expelled from a traditional school.
Retired from that post, Yolanda now has another vocation with Toi Baylor at the Baylor Youth Foundation – a non-profit organization that aims to guide at-risk students through mentoring programs and high school to lead them to college. Basketball tournaments play a big role.
Growing up, Rico played in some of Toi Baylor's events.
"It takes a village to build a man … and my mom plays the number one part in my life," Rico said. "That's my pride and joy. That's my heart. I get my work ethic from her."
That work ethic is what separates himself from most basketball opponents, Marrero says. And, while that ethic is fueled most by his mother, there have been many more helpers along the way.
Early on, when Marrero was 6 or 7 years old, there was James Welch.
"He was a big advocate in my life. He taught me the game," Marrero said. "My mom said 'you're too tall not to be playing basketball, and I'm going to take you to this gym.'"
Welch, the coach, took Marrero in "like his own son" and mentored him for six years.
That's also when Marrero picked up his nickname, Rico. Turns out he had a teammate named DeJuan. To cut down on the confusion of having two DeJuans, Marrero became known as "Rico" because he is of Puerto Rican descent.
Also paying attention to Marrero at a young age was Marvin Rea, who would become his high school coach at Bowman Academy. With Marrero averaging double-doubles his sophomore through senior years, the Eagles won an Indiana Class A State High School title in 2010 and were runner-up in the 2012 Class 2A tourney.
"As a father figure, he's there. He's high up on my list," Marrero said. "Anybody that asks me 'how did you get this demeanor or (become) the person that you are?' I say Marvin Rea taught me a lot."
While at Bowman, Marrero also was able to play for Puerto Rico's Under-18 team. Just one more learning experience.
Then there's Jared Quarles, Marrero's coach with the Spiece Indy Heat. That AAU club has produced the likes of Mike Conley, Greg Odom, Marquis Teague, Deshaun Thomas and Trey Lyles. Quarles and Marrero still speak nearly every day.
Marrero credits Quarles for steering him from DePaul to junior college and, finally, Morehead.
Having averaged 22 points and 15 rebounds as a high school junior, Marrero was highly recruited as a senior. He narrowed his college picks to Ohio State, Illinois and DePaul.
Marrero perhaps waited too long to commit, though, and Ohio State gave its last available scholarship to Sam Thompson.
That left Illinois and DePaul. But, after catching word that Coach Bruce Weber would be leaving Illinois, Rea and Marrero agreed that DePaul was the best option.
"Then I tore my (right-knee) ACL Oct. 24, and that did a 360 life change," Marrero said.
It was his first serious injury. He was distraught. But he worked hard and came back ahead of schedule to return to the court on Aug. 10, 2013.
Marrero says "I give a lot of appreciation to (DePaul coach) Oliver Purnell for taking a chance on me and showing me about discipline on and off the court. He was a big advocate for that."
But, as a redshirt freshman, Marrero's minutes were inconsistent. He became frustrated. He averaged only 1.2 points and 2.2 rebounds.
He had long talks with Purnell. They came to a mutual agreement that it would be best to transfer.
Marrero reached out to Quarles. His AAU mentor advised to "almost start your college career over" at a top-notch junior college. The choice turned out to be Chipola College in Marianna, Fla.
Marrero got his groove back, averaging 14.4 points and 12.2 rebounds a game.
He also found another role model, a minister named Billy White.
Marrero says he already had faith when he arrived at Chipola, but White "gave me 'the word' all the time." His faith grew and, while without a TV for two weeks, he spent his time reading The Bible.
That was the start of being an avid reader of all things. Marrero especially likes to read inspirational books of a "how to be successful" nature.
Marrero's faith journey also has carried over. He attends Sunday services at Powerhouse Church of God in Lexington. He gives a tip of the cap to Charles Holloway, Morehead State's chief diversity officer, who introduced him to his church.
When Morehead State came calling for his basketball services, Marrero again relied on Quarles' advice.
"He called me and said 'you know, Rico, I've been with you so long and we passed up a lot of opportunities for your success. I think you need to go to Morehead State. I think you're going to excel over there. You play with a chip on your shoulder. Morehead State's a great place for you. It's a quiet town, not a lot of distractions. I believe you'll have the best two years of your college years there,'" Marrero said. "I trust him. And he's 2-0 right now."
Of course, Marrero was recruited to Morehead State by former Eagles coach Sean Woods. Like Marrero, Woods grew up in Northwest Indiana.
When Woods was otherwise occupied, Marrero was recruited by assistant coach
Preston Spradlin.
Of course, Woods resigned earlier this season, and Spradlin is now interim head coach.
Marrero has nothing but praise for both men.
"That's my guy, regardless of the situation," Marrero said of Woods. "He gave me the opportunity to come to Morehead State. He saw something in me and he brought it out in me. … I give him credit and gratitude because he has helped me be the player that I am today."
Then there's Spradlin.
"Coach Preston makes sure that I stay disciplined," Marrero said. "He talks to me. He still today gives me advice on and off the court. So our relationship when he became interim head coach, I had no worries. Because I'm familiar with him. I know what he's about. I know he strives to be a perfectionist. And his character, his demeanor carries over to me, which carries over to the team. Because they see if I'm bought in, they're going to buy in. Our relationship is great."
Under Woods last season, Marrero averaged 8.2 points and 7.2 rebounds, the latter ranking fifth in the OVC. He led the Eagles with six double-doubles.
And he found Morehead much quieter than Northwest Indiana.
"Yeah, I'm from Chicago (area) – I'm listening to cabs, trains, helicopters, people," Marrero said. "I go out here, I hear flies. I see trees. Wind blowing."
The area's nice, he says. But after a friend told him of spotting a snake, Marrero has cut out trips to the countryside. No doubt he'll be a big-city dweller.
As for basketball, Marrero begins game days by calling his mother, always sure to tell her how much he loves her.
Then, he texts Quarles. He'll have a morning workout. He reads. He prays.
"I make sure I'm doing everything I need to be prepared," he said. "Proper preparation prevents poor performance."
Each game, he says, he goes in confident that he will outwork his opponent. His ability to rebound comes from a relentless attitude.
"Because I'm trying to get to the next level," Marrero said. "And you have to stand out if you want to get to the next level because there's a million basketball players. And what I bring to the table, I believe nobody can teach, is heart."
Diligent work at the free-throw line has raised his percentage from 52 percent last season to 68.6 percent this campaign.
First off, he wants to win Saturday, when the Eagles (10-12 overall, 6-3 OVC) visit Southeast Missouri.
Later, he has eyes on an OVC Tournament championship.
Ultimately, though, it is his wish to play pro ball.
"Wherever God takes me, whether it's Europe; I would love to play in the NBA," he said. "But that's where I know I have to continue to work hard and know my weakness. So wherever God takes me around that time, I'm going to be ready and make sure that I've been working hard so there's no excuse why I'm not prepared."
Aside from basketball, Marrero enjoys video games, his fraternity (Alpha Phi Alpha), photography and, like teammate
Ronnye Beamon, he has an eye for fashion.
A universal studies major, Marrero is set to graduate in May. He already has completed a graduate course (he got an A) and carries a 3.4 undergraduate grade-point average.
After his basketball career has finished, he wants to inspire kids by being a motivational speaker. He wants to work with Alpha Phi Alpha in community service projects. And he wants to own a business, although he's not yet sure what kind.
He already has a mentor in the latter area, Johnny McClendon.
"He's my best friend's dad. He owns a trucking company – Major League Trucking," Marrero said. "He's like another father figure in my life. Like I said, it takes a village to build a man."
Toi Baylor and James Welch.
Marvin Rea, Jared Quarles, Oliver Purnell and Billy White.
Charles Holloway, Johnny McClendon, Sean Woods and
Preston Spradlin.
And, especially, Yolanda Marrero.
Rico Marrero has had plenty of help to get where he is today.
"So I have big influences in my life," he said. "As I do this interview today, I'm like 'wow, I'm humbled and grateful about this.'"
Determined to give basketball, and life beyond the game, everything he has.
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