by By Dan Ninham
Joaquin Ortega, 17, lives outside Gallup, NM. He’s half Navajo and half Tohono O’odham. He’s from a single parent household. His mother’s name is Yonevea Chee. He was raised by his grandparents Harry and Ella Chee, and older sister, Jordan Ortega, when he was a newborn to six years old since his mom was working three jobs. From then on it’s just been his mom, sister and himself.
“My clans are: Naakai dine’e nishłį, Tohono O’odham bashishchiin, Kinyaa’aanii dashicheii and Tohono O’odham dashinalí,” said Joaquin.
“I’m Mexican People Clan born for Tohono O’odham Nation Coyote Clan. My maternal grandfather’s are The Towering House Clan and my paternal grandfather’s are Tohono O’odham Nation Coyote Clan,” added Joaquin.
“From when I was five to 13 years old I played football,” said Joaquin. “It’s a sport my mom and I love. At the same time I was playing both basketball and football, but due to football being high risk for injuries I chose to focus on basketball.”
“During my seventh grade year I was recruited to play for the Gallup HS Basketball team,” said Joaquin. “The JV coach, Josh Dunlap, saw me and brought me along with the team during the summer. I played in Albuquerque and Artesia, mostly with the JV team.”
“Once I entered my eighth grade year, I started practicing with JV and varsity,” said Joaquin. “I played one C team game and one JV game before I moved up to varsity. My first varsity game was in January 2018 and I was a starter.”
“I’ve been playing for the 4A Gallup HS Bengals basketball team since then,” said Joaquin. “I’ve been a starter since 2018, team captain since 2019, and earned the Defensive Player of the Year award since 2018.”
Joaquin’s basketball accomplishments include being named 2nd Team All District 2017-2018, All Tourney 2018 Gallup Invitational, 1st Team All District 2018-2019, All Academic Team Award 2018-2019, Arizona Northland All Star Game 2019, High School All American Showcase 2019, All Tourney 2020 Sun Devil Tournament, All Tourney 2020 Gallup Invitational, 1st Team All District 2019-2020 and New Mexico All Tournament Team 2020.
“I was recruited to play for an elite Albuquerque AAU Team,” said Joaquin. “Due to the virus, most of our tournaments were canceled. I only got to play in one of the tournaments, which was the Arizona Meltdown Tournament. It was awkward because our team didn’t get to officially meet before the tournament. We met two minutes before our first game. But as the games went on, we slowly started to get to know each other. It was a great experience to play with different players and learn off the other players, and see what they had to offer.”
“My grandparents are traditional and have taught me all that they were taught,” said Joaquin. “They taught me about our clanship. Clans unite us. Through clans I have formed deeper relationships with my peers and elders.”
“Playing basketball on the reservation or in tournaments in Gallup, I meet new people and come to find out we’re related through clans. A couple of my teammates are related through my or my mom’s clans. This has made the team stronger. Instead of a team it’s a family,” added Joaquin.
“My grandmother also taught me the importance of prayer,” said Joaquin. “Although, I’m involved with my traditional side, my mom raised me Christian. Prayer is important because it keeps me grounded. Traditionally, prayer is used to communicate gratitude among others. Christian prayer has the same concept. I’m thankful for the life and blessings I’ve received and prayer helps me communicate that to our Creator.”
“Through these teachings, I don’t go out hoping I’m gonna be the best player or feel like I should be this big star,” said Joaquin. “I learned to be humble. My team, my family helps me be a good player as I help them. The Creator blessed me with the gift of athleticism. I am thankful because I don’t take sole credit for it. I am a good player because my team makes me a good player. My mom and grandparents make me a good player because they make me an even better person.”
“I come from a long line of basketball players,” said Joaquin. “My family has been involved with the sport for as long as I remember. All my older cousin sisters and brothers who have played give me advice about how I could improve my playing, about sportsmanship, or how I present myself as a Native athlete.”
“My uncle, Monte Chee, has always been a big supporter of me and basketball,” said Joaquin. “He is the closest thing I have to a father. He always talks to me about how I’m doing in school and in sports and pushes me to strive for a life beyond Gallup.”
“My nephew Joaquin is a good kid,” said uncle Monte Chee. “I look to him as a lot of help around the house ranching, doing chores and taking care of livestock. He’s familiar and responsible to take on a lot of things he was taught at a very young age. That’s where his leadership and responsibility takes place. I’m really proud of my nephew Joaquin. I always praise him, telling him he can do a lot for himself, but always being up early and communicate with Mother Nature.”
“My nephew Joaquin has a very good attitude when he’s on the court. He tries his best, very seldom he gets frustrated, and that I highlight all the time. There are times where I see him practicing ball early or evenings shooting baskets on the dirt floor and homemade basketball court. My nephew Joaquin is turning out to be a good man,” added Monte.
“Another big supporter and influence is my varsity coach, Josh Dunlap,” said Joaquin. “He has been in my corner since I started playing high school basketball. He saw the potential I had and knew I could be more. He pushed me in practices and games, still does, because he has faith that I could be much more than a high school basketball player. I have so much appreciation for him.”
“Joaquin has started since an 8th grader,” said Coach Josh Dunlap, Gallup HS Bengals basketball. “He has won Defensive Player of the Year for us every year since he started with us. Entering his junior season he is on the Class of 2022 Watchlist on NMpreps. He made the All Tournament Team for state this past year in New Mexico. He averaged 15 points a game. At the Pit he had 19 points vs. Espanola and 14 against Highland,” added Josh.
“Joaquin has an unbelievable work ethic,” said Josh. “His drive has helped him garner recognition for his relentless defense and hustle. Joaquin has been picked up by an ABQ AAU team and will compete against top talent in the region.”
“Joaquin will be a focal point on our team,” said Josh. “With his unselfishness, he makes everyone better. When he leaves Gallup High he will be one of the most decorated athletes we’ve had in our program.”
“I’m always on a court,” said Joaquin. “Sometimes it’s a gym court or ‘rez’ court with dirt and pebbles. I’ll work on my shooting and dribbling. I’m not confident with my shooting outside the paint, and I want to change that. So, every afternoon, morning, late night, I’m shooting. I work on free throws and 3 pointers.”
“My own mentality needs improvement,” said Joaquin. “In a game setting I can see and think quickly on how to move the ball, but sometimes I doubt myself. I lose confidence and mentally tear myself down, and that affects my game. Once I stop thinking about the negative outcomes and I focus on playing and having a good game then I’m fine.”
“Prayer is always a component for me,” said Joaquin. “I pray before and after a game. I pray that the best of my abilities and my team’s abilities shine through. I play in a gym with a huge fan base and emotions run high, sometimes I forget myself and make rash decisions based on adrenaline. Once I settle, I think it over and pray that next I’ll be better, our team will be better.”
“In a stressful game, I tend to question myself,” said Joaquin. “When that happens I try to move the ball. If the opposing team is playing good defense, I’ll pass the ball and keep passing until there’s an opportunity for my team to score. If not, I’ll try to make an opportunity happen for myself and for my teammates. I think what really helps is using my team. I know their strengths and they know mine.”
“I come from a single parent household and people have a lot of opinions about it,” said Joaquin. “They think children raised by single parents are more at risk. Being raised by a single parent as a minority with a Hispanic name will prove to have more obstacles. It’s hard living with so many challenges, but Hebrews 12:11 says: ‘No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.’ The journey I endure will be the greatest teacher because I have had challenges thrown my way and I have come out better.”
“Joaquin has been a team captain for the Gallup HS Bengals since his freshman year,” said mom Yonevea Ortega. “His coach values Joaquin’s opinions on his team. He will ask Joaquin which player has improved, who would be a good fit in certain positions and plays. Whenever coach and Joaquin get together they always end up talking about the next game or season and how they plan to improve their team chemistry.”
“Joaquin helps his coach with game strategies,” said Yonevea. “He also exhibits his leadership skills by talking to his players, whether it be about home-lives or how to improve their basketball skills. During the course of the 2018-2019 season, one of his teams was having a difficult time at home and Joaquin talked to him, asking what was the problem, if he was okay and gave a little advice.”
“This year Joaquin has a friend from another school transferring to Gallup High,” said Yonevea. “He wants to make the basketball team and practices with Joaquin. When Joaquin sees something that needs to be changed in order for him to improve his skills as a basketball player, he corrects him and tells him how it could be done another way.”
“A lot of younger kids attend the Gallup games, and since Gallup is basketball town, they see Gallup players on the court and become fans,” said Yonevea. “Joaquin has a few younger fans and would sign t-shirts before the varsity games. I would take notice and make sure Joaquin knew that these kids are looking up to him on and off the court. He has seen how kids admire him because he participated in a kid’s basketball camp and would watch how the kids would try and imitate how he shoots and dribbles.”
“He has been noticed by older peers,” said Yonevea. “They would take notice of his selflessness when it comes to being on the court. He is also very respectful and shows it by greeting Gallup’s elderly fans. He’ll say ‘Hi’ and shake their hands. He does this as well for the officials and opposing teams and coaches.”
“I am an example to others who look for inspiration to fight for their dreams. If I could tell any young athletes something it would be, ‘If you love something and want it bad enough, fight for it,” said Joaquin.
“Not just for yourself, but for others like you who don’t have anyone to tell them that their dreams are important,” added Joaquin.
Photo Credit: Ana and Ryan Hudgens
Many Gallup High School fans are Navajos, young people, Elders and Veterans, who’s come to see the Boy Wonder play intense Gallup HS basketball against powerful teams is enlightening for the fans and Joaquin alike. Thank you for the media coverage..
That is so awesome. Gallup High, The Bengal boys basketball program is blessed with a great player, humble and respectful young man. We should all be proud to have an amazing athlete. Wishing him and all the GHS basketball teams many success and blessings for their achievements. In the crisis of the epidemic of COVID 19, we will overcome this horrible sickness and hopefully we can find a way to get to watch some Bengal basketball.