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JM’s Jason Rivera-Torres says choosing Vanderbilt ‘just felt right’

Fred Jeter | 4/20/2023, 6 p.m.
The arrows on Jason Rivera-Torres’ basketball map are pointing toward Nashville.
John Marshall High School senior and basketball standout Jason Rivera-Torres, center, stands with his family after announcing his commitment to Vanderbilt University as a scholar/athlete basketball player on April 14 at John Marshall High School. His family members are, from left: his aunt, Mari Torres of Odenton, Md., seated, his mother, Brenda Rivera-Torres, his aunt, Anna Diez, and his uncle, Louis, all of The Bronx, N.Y. They were joined by Ty White, John Marshall’s basketball coach. Photo by Regina H. Boone

The arrows on Jason Rivera-Torres’ basketball map are pointing toward Nashville.

The slender 6-foot-6 John Marshall High School senior announced on April 14 that he is signing with Vanderbilt University of the powerful Southeastern Conference (SEC).

At Vandy, he will play under Commodores Coach Jerry Stackhouse, a former North Carolina and NBA standout.

“I definitely got a lot of interest from Coach Stackhouse and look forward to learning under him,” said Rivera-Torres follow- ing a ceremony at the JM gym. “Had an amazing visit to Vanderbilt and it just felt right.”

Vanderbilt, among the nation’s elite academic institutions, went 22-15 last year and advanced to the third round of the NIT tournament. The SEC was the nation’s top-ranked conference this past season.

In helping JM to a 28-0 record this past season and another Class 2 State title, Rivera-Torres averaged 15.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.6 steals, 3.4 assists and 1.4 blocked shots. He shot 38 percent from beyond the arc, 72 percent at the foul line and often was a theatrical dunker.

“Jason made coaching easy,” said Coach Ty White, who was MaxPreps.com Coach of the Year.

Rivera-Torres was named first team All-State and just recently was the MVP of the 804 All-Star game at Virginia State.

From New York City’s Bronx borough, Rivera-Torres came to Richmond last summer as part of the cast for the “Swagger” TV series.

That’s when he met with Coach White and the Justices and decided to finish high school on North Side.

In making his college decision public, Rivera-Torres thanked everyone in “his journey,” especially his mother, Brenda, who traveled from New York for the occasion.

There were cheers aplenty during the announcement, and a few tears as well. Jason was just three when his father, Roberto, died. His mother raised him and his brother on her own.

To show what kind of special young man he is, this is what he said of his mom as she sat beside him:

“She’s my superhero, my wonder woman, my sunshine on a

cloudy day ... and my 3-point shot to win the game.”