When a freshman stands on the Panther Valley basketball court, looks up at the banner on the wall, and sees the names of the players who have scored 1,000 points for their careers, they don’t imagine that someday their name might be up there, too.

“No, I never thought for once that I could score that many points,” said Rene Figueroa.

In PV’s first game of the season, Figueroa’s last basket near the end of the game guaranteed him his name on the wall and a permanent place in the history of Panther Valley basketball.

Now that he’s joined the exclusive 1,000-point club, and with most of his senior season still left to play, the question is what’s next? Why reach for the stars if he can touch the moon?

“I have a chance to be the all-time leading scorer for PV,” said Figueroa.

“That is very doable for Rene,” said Panther Valley head coach Pat Crampsie. “He only needs to average about 10 points a game for the rest of the season and he’ll be at the top of the banner.”

Figueroa has already scored 24, 18 and 21 points in his first three games. Last season, he twice dropped down 44 — once against Marian and another time versus Weatherly — to prove he’s capable of throwing down mega numbers on any given night.

“Rene is an all-around tremendous player,” said Crampsie. “His basketball IQ has greatly improved since his freshman year when he would try to dribble through double and triple teams. Now he understands that if the defense closes down on him, there’s someone wide open for a shot.

“Rene’s court vision is outstanding and his passing game makes him that much more of an accomplished basketball player.”

The four-year varsity starter trusts his natural ability on the hardwood.

“The game comes easy to me,” he said. “I rely on being crafty. Get me the ball and I go.”

And when he goes, he electrifies the crowd with his dips, his twirls, and his scoops.

He can flash into the paint for a layup or he can bomb away with NBA distance three-pointers.

He brings that “wow factor” to his game that you rarely see; he’s a gifted athlete that is worth any price of admission to watch him do his thing. Yet, within his creative flair, Figueroa has come to realize that basketball basics are the foundation of his star power.

“Coach Crampsie has taught me so much about keeping with the fundamentals and how important ball movement is,” he said. “He’s taught all of our team how to give up the good shot in order to get a great shot.”

“Rene makes plays that I would doubt that any player who’s come through Panther Valley High School has made before him,” said Crampsie. “And he makes his teammates better because they have opportunities to score when the defense doubles down on him.”

Figueroa’s highest goal for this season is not one for himself.

“I want us to get back to the district and state tournament,” he said. The Panthers are off to a quick 3-0 start toward that goal.

Figueroa has learned that dedication and working hard in everything you do applies not only to basketball, but also to life. He wants to go to college and continue his basketball career, but there’s one more personal achievement for him to accomplish before he graduates.

He wants to walk onto the court and look up and see his name on top of the banner as Panther Valley’s all-time leading scorer.