By Cesare Milanti/ info@eurohoops.net
Tremont Waters has grown up in Connecticut. He started to love basketball there, where he has his roots, in New Haven. He fell in love with the game, first at South Kent School and then at Notre Dame.
He went on to become one of the players with the most passionate connection with the LSU Tigers fans, where he broke the record for assists dished in an NCAA season, previously recorded by Ben Simmons.
He was a leader, the leader. And every time he ran to the basket or dribbled in front of any opponents, it felt like he was performing a Caribbean dancing show. Because deep down, he has Puertorican blood in his veins.
As wished by his father, Tremont Waters decided to follow his mom Vanessa’s roots and represent his country of origin.
He first did that by trying out for the Puerto Rico men’s national basketball team’s U-17 squad, and then, after three seasons between the Boston Celtics and the G-League, he was selected with the first pick overall in the 2022 Puertorican BSN draft by the Gigantes de Carolina.
Most importantly, he made his debut with Puerto Rico’s jersey in the 2023 FIBA World Cup Americas Qualifiers, in which they are fighting for a spot in next year’s competition. And he’s happy about it.
“I’m enjoying my experience with Puerto Rico. I’m just trying to do whatever I can to help the team win, taking it game by game and just helping the guys around me, while learning from them at the same time. If we focus on one another getting better, I feel like our chemistry is just growing. We just need to let the game speak for themselves”, he said in an interview with Eurohoops.
Nelson Colón’s team, which sees Promitheas’ George Conditt as another key player, is currently fighting with Mexico and Uruguay in Group F of the second round of qualification, behind USA and Brazil.
Tremont isn’t worried about the opponents. “We’re having fun growing together and being able to play representing our country. We’re right above Uruguay and Mexico, but we’re not worried about them. We will continue to just focus on ourselves and the things we must do in order to be successful”, he added.
Seeing him controlling Puerto Rico’s tempo and taking over on the offensive end when needed, makes the comparison come out naturally: there’s a lot of Carlos Arroyo in him, and he can become his heir with the national team.
Waters would be blessed to achieve that. “I think I’m on track, but I’m not too focused on things down the road. If those things happen along my journey with the national team, I’ll be beyond grateful and blessed for it. Overall, if I do end up getting that honor or fulfilling that role, then great. I’m extremely blessed to be able to do that”, he said about potentially taking Arroyo’s heritage.
Also, Tremont Waters hasn’t captured only Puerto Rico’s attention. This, indeed, is his first season overseas, and he decided to start his European journey in France, with Vincent Collet’s Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92.
First in the French league with a 9-1 record, the Puertorican point guard is currently averaging 14.9 points and 4.6 assists per game, entering the élite 50/40/90, as he’s shooting 58.3% from two, 41.5% from deep, and 92.3% at the charity stripe.
So far, it has been great. “I’m enjoying myself. It’s a different style of basketball, but my dad always told me to be a sponge and try to learn as much as I can, and that’s a great attitude I have. I didn’t even know I was in the 50/40/90 club but just focusing on one practice and one game at a time it’s helping me develop. To know that it’s an honor, I’ll try to build on that and get better”, he said about his numbers, that gave him the opportunity to play in the French league All-Star Game.
ALL STAR GAME by GORILLAS – Sélection MONDE 🌐
Le 5 ⭐ @Dcash_11 @TheNatural_05 Dominic Artis, Markis McDuffie, Tres Tinkle
⁰Le banc ⭐ @Domolejniczak13 Ronald March @TheRealMM10 Tremont Waters @desirodriguez6 Mbaye Ndiaye#ASG2022 #allstargame pic.twitter.com/Xw1exI7fav
— All Star Game by Gorillas (@ASGLNB) November 30, 2022
Tremont Waters could also say in the future that he once played with a generational superstar, those guys who have the ability to write the history of the game. In Paris, in fact, he’s sharing the locker room with Victor Wembanyama, and playing with him “is a blessing” for him.
“He’s more leaning towards being the next #1 pick in the NBA Draft, and you’re just wowed by his talent. He really is a generational talent. To be able to see how he reads the game while teaching him a few things as well it’s been fun. He’s a sponge as well, he’s willing to ask me questions. To be able to play with someone who’s such a great guy and a phenomenal basketball player, it’s a blessing. I appreciate it every day. We laugh and joke, but when it’s time to lock in we know that our job is to win games, so we’re gonna continue to get better with everyone. Victor knows that for sure and I’m super excited about what he has coming in the future”, Tremont Waters commented on Wemby.
He takes his journey day by day, game by game, one step at a time, so he doesn’t know yet whether he’ll keep on playing in the Old Continent or move back to the USA. “I’m pretty much open to whatever my journey takes me. In this moment of my life, I’m focusing on where my feet are. I’m embracing the opportunity to be able to play the game I love. Wherever my journey takes me next, if that’s here in Europe or back in the NBA, I’ll be blessed and more than happy to go do what I need to do at whatever level”, he said on his future.
“I’m focusing on just being in the moment and just trying to be the best Tremont I can be on and off the court. I was talking with my agent and I felt like the G-League situation, despite being great, didn’t give me enough opportunity to show other people around the world my talent. If this helps me get back to the NBA, perfect. If this helps me get a spot in a EuroLeague team, perfect. I’m just going with my flow, letting God continue to guide me wherever he wants me to go”, he added.
Whether it’s with Puerto Rico, trying to get that ticket to the 2023 World Cup, on destroying the opponents on the pick-and-roll situation with a generational talent like Victor Wembanyama, Tremont Waters remains the same. Going with that Caribbean flow.
PHOTO CREDIT: FIBA Basketball