Schaefer builds strength on and off the court

By: Carlos Olivares, Hector Amezquita & Nouk Keovyphone

Staff Writers

At only 5 years old, his interest in basketball rooted from watching and playing with his older brother. In later years, the impact of basketball would become not just a sport, but a passion that would help him sprout through the toughest grounds.

Through the years, senior guard/forward and English major Riley Schaefer developed a strong relationship with basketball, helping him alleviate the pressures of life’s struggles.

Schaefer played varsity basketball all four years at Temecula High School, during which he would have four nearly undefeated seasons, four visits to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section tournaments, and earn a scholarship to play for Cal Poly Pomona. As his final season of high school basketball came to an end, his mother was unfortunately diagnosed with breast cancer. This was devastating for Schaefer, but basketball lifted his spirits and lessened his worries.

“When I turned 18 and my season was over … my mom got diagnosed with breast cancer and she’s been battling that sporadically throughout since then till now, so whenever I would be down about her or worried about her, that drew me closer to basketball,” Schaefer said. “Watching her go through stuff, it was hard. It gave me a lot of perspective and made basketball easier because there was less pressure. (Basketball) isn’t like a real problem.”

During Schaefer’s senior year of high school, he received the offer to play basketball for the Broncos, after head coach Greg Kamansky fell in love with his team-first style of basketball play.

“He was a big wing player who we (the coaching staff) thought had potential with really big upside,” Kamansky said. “He also came from a really good family, and overall he had all the characteristics we were looking for in a player on and off the court, so it made it easy for us to recruit him.”

According to the Broncos’ coach, one of the most critical parts of Schaefer’s game, that also separates himself from the rest, is his attitude. For Kamansky, an example of that is the team’s overall success these past couple years, in which Schaefer played a key role in being a leader.

“I’m really proud of him because he made a decision to be a good basketball player and made a commitment to it on the court, and academically, he got better as he progressed, so I was really proud of how he grew up,” Kamansky said. “And like the old cliché, he came in as a boy, and he’s leaving like a man, and that is Riley in a nutshell.”

Schaefer’s selfless embrace of the game of basketball gained his teammates’ trust and respect. His way of putting his team first also brightens the energy on and off the court.

Senior guard William Christmas played alongside Schaefer for four years with the Broncos and connects with him like a brother rather than as a teammate. Christmas praises Schaefer’s sense of putting his teammates first and not just focusing on himself.

Schaefer’s presence has become a huge part in the team’s goal to always win and give it their all.

Not only did both of them bond over basketball, but Schaefer and Christmas shared similarities in their view on life and their sense of humor.

“He’s an overall good guy, and he’s hard working too,” Christmas said. “Of all the teammates we’ve had and all the people we’ve had coming in, including myself, I don’t think anyone has had as much improvement as far as … when they first got here and until they left.”

Their growth throughout their time as Broncos led them to have a relationship beyond basketball. Christmas reflects on the best times shared with Schaefer being the funniest, especially in the locker room because their lockers were right next to each other. The conversational topics ranging from basketball to everyday life left a remarkable stamp in Christmas’ journey as a Bronco.

Schaefer’s CPP journey shaped him into the person he is today. Basketball taught him resilience through his obstacles, both physically and mentally. Although his life has solely been about basketball, this is just the beginning. Schaefer hopes to continue his successes beyond the game that molded him through a possible career in both education and coaching.