Jordan Bustamante has emerged as one of the best basketball players in recent history in the Rio Grande Valley.

His star began to rise as a sophomore, when the Edinburg Vela Sabercats punched their tickets to the Elite Eight.

Edinburg Vela took down San Antonio Wagner 57-46. Bustamante at the time was the only sophomore in the lineup. He finished among the team's top scorers with 12 points and 4 rebounds to help the Sabercats secure the win.

"It's surreal just watching him grow as a young man not only on the court but off the court as well," Edinburg Vela head coach Lucio Rodirguez said. "We have a great relationship and just seeing him mature is so crazy."

Fast forward to his junior season, Bustamante took over the stat chart averaging 21.5 points and 7.7 assists per game, up nearly 10 points from his sophomore season.

He led his team to another undefeated district champion season, becoming the District 31-5a unanimous MVP. 

"Going from the baby of the group to the leader it's a very hard transition," Bustamante said. "It helped me off the court and on the court. Helping me become a better man, a better person and a better basketball player."

His senior year seems to be the best yet. Halfway through the season, he's already one of the top scorers in the nation. At one point in December, he ranked number one in the country in scoring for the month. He currently ranks atop the state of Texas in total points.

"It's all just a testament to my work ethic," Bustamante said. "From everyone calling me and my dad crazy when I was six years old having us run outside at 10 at night, getting shots at 11:30 it's all a testament to that since we were young and my dad told me if I wanted to separate myself from other people that I would have to be different and I would have to do the extra that others aren't willing to do and I think now it's showing."

Bustamante also gave a lot of praise to his coach for all the success he's achieved.

"It's been life changing," Bustamante said of what it's been like to be coached by Rodriguez. "He showed me the ins and outs of the game. My mental IQ for this game has grown a lot playing underneath him and it all shows. Why wouldn't I trust a guy that's won six district championships. He's a winner, that's what he does."

"He's a respectable young man that is very coachable," Rodriguez said. "The sky's the limit for him."

Bustamante already has offers from Trinity University, Schreiner University, and Sul Ross State. Now, he's looking to finish out his high school career with a bang.

"I just want to be the best player I can possibly be. Be the best teammate that I can, be the best friend, be the best brother in this brotherhood that we have."