Athlete Spotlight: Riggs Brothers



Caleb Riggs & Darius Riggs
Okay High School
Okay, OK
Photo by Sarah Royce


About Caleb
Favorite Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Favorite Show: The Wayans Bros
Favorite Cartoon Character: Riley Freeman (The Boondocks)
Favorite Food: Fried Chicken
Favorite Movie: He Got Game
Favorite Quote: "I do it cause my mom still working"
What Super Power do you wish you had: Super Speed

About Darius
Favorite Team: Texas (NCAA BB) & Lakers (NBA)
Favorite Show: First 48 & Sportscenter
Favorite Cartoon Character: Tom & Jerry
Favorite Food: Chinese Food
Favorite Movie: Glory Road
Favorite Quote: "Friends come and go but banners hang forever" - Kobe Bryant
What Super Power do you wish you had: Fly

__________________________________________________________________________________
For the Athlete Spotlight this month, we are heading to the small town of Okay, home of the Mustangs. Caleb and Darius Riggs are seniors and play basketball for the Mustangs, a team that has set a school record by making it to the last three state basketball tournaments. They were the state runner-up in the last two (2016 and 2017), losing in the championship game to Fort Cobb-Broxton both seasons.

For their senior campaign, Caleb averaged 22 points, 2.7 assists, and 5.5 rebounds per game and Darius averaged 16.4 points, 6.7 assists, and 6.7 rebounds per game. The guys end their Mustang career with almost 2,400 combined career points. Caleb leaves with 1,224 career points while Darius ends with 1,171. During their high school career, Caleb and Darius guided the Mustangs to an overall record of 101 win and 18 losses, a school record. 

They are also both highly decorated basketball players, both with multiple All Tournament Team selections from various tournaments through out their careers. Both have been selected to the Muskogee Phoenix All-Phoenix team, Caleb has received the Muskogee Phoenix MVP award, while Darius has received the Muskogee Phoenix Newcomer of the Year award. Both were also recently named to the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State team. 

Even though the Mustangs were not able to bring home the championship trophy, they did do something that no other Mustang team had been able to accomplish, play in back-to-back state championship games. But they almost did not make it to the 2017 Championship game. 

In their semifinal matchup with Pond Creek-Hunter, the Mustangs trailed 71-70 with 1.9 seconds left in the game and their opponent taking the ball out of bounds. Caleb was guarding the inbounds pass and deflected the ball. He was able to recover the loose ball and knock down a jumper as time expired to send the Mustangs to their second consecutive championship game. 

Chad Clark, the Mustangs head coach, knows that their impact is not just what you see on the court. “Caleb and Darius have made so many impacts on this program, but I believe one of the most important is their work ethic outside of practice time”, Clark said. “They spent so much time in the gym throughout their career during the summers, after practice, and on weekends during the season. That is how they became the players they are. Our younger players have witnessed and have taken notice to this. Darius and Caleb have shown our underclassmen how much work and dedication it takes to become great basketball players. Many underclassmen have been putting individual work in on their own time even since the season has ended”.

As for off the court, Clark sees them watching out for others. “Darius and Caleb are great kids,” Clark said. “Their momma has raised them right. They have grown into great young men. One special quality that stands out is they both care for others. I always talk with my teams about making the less fortunate or the kid that sits alone feel good about themselves or feel like he/she fits in, and these two do this often”. 

Caleb and Darius both plan to pursue basketball at the next level while working on their college degrees. Darius is going to play at Panhandle State but is undecided on what his major will be. Caleb is not sure where he will play. 


Authors note: I graduated from Okay High School in 2000, and as an alumnus, I am super proud of Caleb, Darius, and the entire Mustang basketball team and coach Clark. Not just for what they have accomplished the last few years, but also for how well they represented our school and community. Being part of a “small town” is a special thing that not everyone gets to enjoy or even understand. But even though I may not live in Okay city limits, I am still a Mustang for life. 

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