Camarillo honors Jaquez by retiring his number

The band played and Jaime Jaquez Jr. walked through a line of cheerleaders toward an outstretched banner that read, “Welcome Home, Jaime.”

Camarillo High School welcomed its favorite son back to the Scorpion Dome on Tuesday night as Jaquez’s No. 24 jersey was retired in front of a sellout crowd.

The ceremony, held before the Scorpions’ Coastal Canyon League game against visiting Simi Valley, included all the traditional trappings of a high school event, with the added bonus of an on-court pyrotechnic display befitting an NBA star.

As the Miami Heat second-year guard finished his speech to the crowd, sparks flew in the background.

“I didn’t expect that at all,” Jaquez said. “They really outdid themselves. It just shows you how much love and support this community has for itself.

“Everyone here believed in what I could do and thought I would be where I would be.”

Before Jaquez became the Pacific-12 Conference Player of the Year at UCLA, or became the first Ventura County prep player in 31 years to be selected in the first round of the NBA Draft, or finished fourth in the NBA Rookie of the Year voting, He was a student at UCLA Las Colinas Middle School who looked up to varsity stars Jacob Alonzo and Jonah Contrell.

“I wanted to follow in her footsteps,” Jaquez told the crowd. “I saw how incredibly loud it can get in this stadium with all the people coming out to support and cheering loudly.

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“I knew that one day I would try to make the varsity team.”

The 2019 All-County Boys Basketball Player of the Year star led Camarillo to 84 wins in his four-year career, averaging 31.7 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists as a senior.

“Looking back, it was an incredible time,” Jaquez said after the ceremony. “It went by so quickly. I had lots of friends to play with. We had an incredible time. It felt like we were the Harlem Globetrotters. … It was just so much fun.”

Former Camarillo teammate Andrew Wetter was among the friends who attended the ceremony.

“We grew up playing in the park together,” Jaquez said. “Every summer there was pickup basketball in the morning and then we would ride our bikes to Taco Bell for lunch. And then we repeated the entire process for weeks throughout the summer. It was a lot of fun.”

Jeff Hahn, Camarillo public address speaker, served as master of ceremonies. He explained Jaquez’s impact on the basketball program and campus, calling Jaquez a “true ambassador for Camarillo High School.”

“You left a lasting legacy,” Hahn told Jaquez. “They remind every student who walks through the doors that dreams are possible.”

Camarillo High basketball coach Brendan Garrett explained to Jaquez why those in the building would always be Jaquez fans, no matter where his career took him.

“Today’s retirement of the No. 24 jersey is not only about celebrating your individual achievements, but also about honoring the impact you have had on our program and the entire Camarillo community,” Garrett said. “As the current head coach, I appreciate your generosity in giving back to our current players, as you always do. Even though you play for the Miami Heat, you haven’t forgotten where you came from.”

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Jaquez, who wore a tracksuit with his own “Triple J” logo at the event, fulfilled a promise he made as a teenager and outfitted the current team with Jordan Brand gear, including sneakers.

“I knew that if I ever made it, I wanted to give back to my old high school to make sure they always had equipment,” Jaquez said. “We always played against the schools that got free Nike gear and free Jordans.”

The ceremony was scheduled during the Heat’s annual trip to Los Angeles. Jaquez had 10 points, five assists and two rebounds in Miami’s 109-98 loss to the Clippers on Monday. The Heat visit the Lakers on Wednesday night.

En route from a photo shoot in Los Angeles for his partnership with sports drink Electrolit, Jaquez arrived in Camarillo with a delegation that included Heat teammates Alec Burks and Keshad Johnson.

He told the crowd that he carries Ventura County with him wherever he goes.

“I travel around the country playing basketball and I can’t imagine how many times I hear people shouting 805 from the stands,” Jaquez said. “So you are always with me.”

Josh Castaniero, a senior star on the current Camarillo team, presented Jaquez with the No. 24 banner that will hang in the gym. Principal Matt La Belle presented Jaquez with a framed Camarillo No. 24 jersey.

More than 20 members of the Jaquez family attended the event, including father Jaime Sr., mother Angela, sister Gabriela – who currently plays for the top-ranked and undefeated UCLA women’s basketball team – brother Marcos and two cousins who currently attend Camarillo High .

Diego Jaquez played for Camarillo in the JV game that preceded the ceremony.

Camarillo defeated Simi Valley 50-41 in varsity play, extending its school-record winning streak to 17 games.

“It’s really enjoyable because it reminds me of how me and all my friends back in the day got together and wanted to do something special,” Jaquez said of the current team.

Jaquez stuck around after the ceremony and subsequent media session, watched the first half, briefly hopped into the student section and spent halftime signing autographs and taking photos with a long line of children and fans.

“This is an incredible community,” Jaquez told the crowd. “You have supported me from the beginning. I’m always there for a photo or a “what’s up?” or whatever you need. So I would like to thank you again for supporting me throughout my career. I love you, thank you.”

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Camarillo honors Jaquez by retiring his number

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