by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
Riley George Chaboyea is a starting guard for the Red Lake Warriors boys’ basketball team in Red Lake, Minnesota. His parents are William Chaboyea, Sr. and Georgianna Spears. He is an enrolled member of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians and belongs to the Makwa (Bear) clan. The family lives on the Red Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota.
“I compete for a really close friend I lost back in 2015, Nolan Desjarlait Jr.,” said Riley. “He had this crazy passion for basketball at such a young age and nothing compared to his dedication and hard work. His dedication and hard work is what grew me closer to the game of basketball. If it weren’t for Nolan I wouldn’t be the player I am today, he’s my motivation and fuel to everything I do on the court.”
“Riley is athletic, plays basketball and baseball,” said Nolan Desjarlait, Sr., Red Lake HS Athletic Director. “He hustles hard, plays ball with heart and skills. Riley is vocal and has the leadership to take his team to the top. Riley and my son were brothers, they were always on the same team no matter what.”
“I’ve come a long way with this sport and it has given me so many memories to life,” said Riley. “My freshman year wasn’t such an accomplishment, I rarely got playing time on JV and didn’t stick the year out. I worked all summer and came back ready for my sophomore year expecting a lot from myself. My sophomore year was a very good experience year and also my first year on varsity, we finished the season 18-11 and I was awarded ‘Mr. Hustle’ and finished third in points amongst the team. My junior season was a battle, a lot of ups and downs and I can learn a lot from what happened this season to better us as a team for my senior year. We finished the year with a record of 15-12 losing in the second round of playoffs. I was awarded ‘All-conference Team’ and again finished third amongst my team in points.”
“I was also selected to represent the 19U Team Minnesota in the 2020 North American Indigenous games in Nova Scotia,” said Riley. The event has been postponed to July of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In my tribal core values, family plays a central role and elders get treated with great respect,” said Riley. “I translate my values onto the court by showing respect, love and courage at all times even if it’s just at practices or the bus ride to away games. I like to make sure my team and I represent our nation very respectfully when at away games or tournaments. I am taught to respect everyone and everything no matter the outcome and where it gets you. Respecting coaches and teammates will make everything easier as a team, respecting your teammates and coach can create brotherhood, a lot of fun and love.”
“My parents and high school basketball coach are the positive influencers in my life,” said Riley. “Both my mom and dad push me to stay on top of things such as my behavior in school and schoolwork. If I’m not on top of my things there is always a consequence to pay and if it weren’t for them being so hard on me I wouldn’t have the amount of competitiveness I have now and I wouldn’t be where I am without them.”
“Riley is a good leader, he’s vocal on the court and always pushes his teammates to do the best they can,” said mom Georgiana and dad William, Sr. “He thanks his coach Roger White for the team player he has become. He is a student first and athlete second, and has always been active in sports since he was a toddler. Riley has a lot of respect for his elders and the younger generation of kids and is always willing to help in anyway. When he is not active in sports he likes the outdoors, he loves to hunt and fish and provide for his family and others.”
“My high school coach Roger White in my opinion is one of the best high school coaches around and he has earned his spot to be where he is now,” said Riley. “He’s worked with me and believed in me all the way since he came back my sophomore year. The way he teaches us the game is so different, he doesn’t tell you things just to tell you, you can learn a lot from his words if you just listen. Coach Roger has done a lot for me within one year and I thank him all the way for everything he has done for us boys as a team.”
“My passion is for basketball and I dedicate my days and work to basketball,” said Riley. “Baseball is a natural talent and a sport that I just enjoy and value playing. During my high school years I’ve only played one season, and I played in the playoffs my seventh grade year, played all 8th grade year and freshman year. I couldn’t play my sophomore year due to a shoulder injury. I’ve received emails for showcases and recruiting camps but never came up with the funds to attend them.”
“To perform at my best I have to keep calm and relaxed by listening to a lot of music and focusing on the game, only thinking of positive things,” said Riley. “The music keeps my mind and body relaxed, focusing on the positive things will help my spirit and emotion on performing my best and giving my all when I step on the court.”
“Since the COVID-19 situation started and got serious there really hasn’t been much to do, no gyms, and no school,” said Riley. “In Red Lake that’s really all there is to do so for me I really don’t do anything but spend a lot of time at home with my mom. It gets really boring at times especially not being able to be with friends or at the gym but eventually at home my mom will find something for us to do. She still gets me up at 8 o’clock as if I had school and makes me work out. She always makes me start out with stretching and breathing workouts and eventually lets me do my own types of reps or workouts. I’ve been staying pretty well through all of this but the few things that bother me are spring sports being cancelled and also the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) getting postponed.”
“To maximize my performance physically I work out and watch what I eat and drink to stay in shape,” said Riley. “Doing reps of squats, curls, pushups and sit-ups and also not drinking pop. I do these to improve my game mentally also, and I do it to improve my strength and to make me a healthier and stronger player.”
“I connect my spirituality through my sport by dedicating my time and days being in the gym or working to improve myself as a player,” said Riley. “The desire to experience spiritual well-being is one of the reasons I play sports.”
“In stressful game situations I go back to everything I learned at the Point Guard College (PGC) my coach sent me to over the summer,” said Riley. “The camp taught me a lot on how to think the game and handle situations in a easier way rather than panicking and relying on bad habits in tough situations.”
“Throughout my high school years I’ve been on the honor rolls numerous times,” said Riley. “I’ve played all three sports a majority of my years except when I was injured. I’m also really good at baseball, and during my seventh grade year I was brought up to varsity for playoffs and earned myself a spot for eighth grade year. During my eighth grade year I led the team in runs, steals, and RBI’s and was awarded ‘All-Conference Honorable Mention’ at the end of the season. During ninth grade year we won two more games then the following year and I led the team in steals again. During my sophomore year I wasn’t able to play because I tore a ligament in my shoulder and I won’t get to play again this year due to the COVID-19 outbreak and spring sports being cancelled. During my sophomore year I was receiving emails and letters in the mail for showcases and recruiting camps but unfortunately it was during the healing process of my shoulder and I was never able to collect the funds.”
“I’m more than blessed to have the opportunity because I’ve come a long way with both sports and my passion has grown deeper every step of the way and has become something I value and enjoy doing.”
Photo Credits: Mike Barrett and E. Jourdain, Jr.
