Mike Powers | News-Bulletin photo
Ali Abdullah, right, balances basketball, studies and a daily commute at VHS.
Tomé
“He gave me a heart attack, real quick,” Valencia boys basketball coach Jesse Hathoot recalled. “My heart dropped. I couldn’t get a word out. I’m thinking, ‘Oh no.’”
What caused the panic? At the end of the last school year, senior-to-be Ali Abdullah told Hathoot his family was moving to Albuquerque.
“It was a scary moment,” Hathoot admitted.
But Abdullah then finished the thought.
“I’m still going to attend Valencia,” Abdullah said.
“I wish he had told me that to start,” his coach said.
It is not just that Abdullah is an outstanding basketball player. Yes, he leads the Jaguars in scoring at 16 points per game along with seven rebounds a contest. However, according to Hathoot, it’s more than statistics.
“Ali is one of the highest-character kids I’ve ever been around — on and off the court,” Hathoot raves. “‘Yes sir, no sir.’ He’s just a stand-up guy.”
Abdullah credits his mother for his character.
“I think my mom instills leadership qualities in me,” he said. “She always encourages me to strive to do my best. Don’t follow leads but create your own pack.”
Which isn’t always easy, especially as you move through high school.
“A lot of us are changing a lot,” Abdullah said about his fellow students. “We have to figure out a balance. I’ve had struggles, but I have figured out a way to balance two different things.”
In terms of basketball, Hathoot says the best thing about Abdullah is, “He cares more about winning than personal glory or personal accolades.”
Hathoot says Abdullah made Valencia his “open enrollment choice” as an incoming ninth-grade student, clearing the way for him to be able to commute and still compete.
Abdullah, who had a 4.0-plus grade point average last semester, is unsure about his future plans as he gets ready to graduate.
As for the daily drive to school, the senior said he’s used to it.
“I just put on a podcast or some music,” Abdullah said. “I know I’m coming here to put in work every day to finish my education. It’s just one year. Go with the flow.”
Besides, he didn’t want to disappoint his teammates.
“These are the guys I grew up with. I don’t want to abandon my teammates like that. I love these guys.”
Mike Powers spent more than 40 years as a television news and sports anchor, mostly in the Albuquerque market. He has won numerous awards including New Mexico Sportscaster of the Year. He covers a wide range of sports, including the Valencia County prep scene.
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April 25, 2024
