Ralph Barreras has been patrolling the sidelines at Sam Houston High School the past decade, building a power program in one of the most unlikely places.
He didn't build a team…he built a community.
Case in point. Cy Woods was a huge favorite in a playoff game against Sam Houston back in 2015. Woods had the likes of Samir Sehic (Tulane) and JJ Caldwell (Texas A&M).
Sam Houston had a small team and a short bench. But in strolled the band, the cheerleaders, the dance team, the mascot, little kids in Sam Houston gear – the community to cheer on their Tigers.
Sam Houston won in overtime and Barreras and his band and brothers had arrived.
Barreras has turned down several jobs, but the Heights in HISD has lured him from the Tigers' den. Barreras will build another basketball community inside another inner-city school, which hasn't won a playoff game since 2013.
VYPE's Matt Malatesta caught up with Coach Barreras as he begins his new journey.
