Coming into his senior season at Riverside, 6-foot-1 post Anthony Calvillo had all of the physical tools to be a great team-leader and Class 3A standout.

But he still had some maturing to do after a quiet end to his junior campaign.

“He kind of went away for us at the end (of the season),” Riverside coach Clair Costello said. “I think he got a little scared and got a little intimidated.”

But if the four-year varsity player had any doubters in the peanut galler,y he proved them dead wrong with a brilliant senior season, helping to lead the Pirates to a third-place finish in the OSAA 3A State Basketball Championships.

“He never got intimidated this year,” Costello said. “I think he gained a lot of success and a lot of confidence in himself that made him a little bit more outgoing, which he wasn’t before.”

A threat both inside and outside, Calvillo nearly averaged a double-double and was the emotional leader of Eastern Oregon’s most successful boys team. For his efforts, he was chosen the All-East Oregonian’s Boys Player of the Year.

A low-key guy off the court, Calvillo possesses a fierce competitive streak once he laces up his shoes and hits the court. During an especially competitive game against Umatilla this season, Calvillo chipped a tooth going for a loose ball and never left the game.

“It’s just something that hits me pretty much,” he said of his competitiveness on the court. “I just want to win and do my best.”

“He’s the team leader and he gave some speeches and stuff that brought our mentality up and pumped us up,” classmate Robert Turner said.

Calvillo put up 14 points a game during the Pirates’ tournament run and led the team with season averages of 16.4 points a game and 9.6 rebounds. His total 378 points and 62 percent clip from the field were also team highs.

He also blocked 26 shots and snared 59 steals to lead the Pirates in both categories.

Calvillo was selected for the All-State second team and the All-Eastern Oregon League first team and will be participating in the Oregon Athletic Coaches Association Gatorade All-Star Games June 22 and 23 with Turner.

And just as quickly as one of his drop-step jumpers, Calvillo will give credit to long-time teammates like Turner and fellow senior Eric Yoder for his success.

“I’ve known these guys forever and to be on the same team, we know what each other can do,” he said. “I’ve always got other guys I can count on and if I couldn’t do it, they could do it, I know that for sure.

“Every time we go down the court, I know where they’re at and it just helps a lot.”

But as good as Calvillo’s supporting cast was this past season, he was still the one drawing the toughest matchups night in and night out.

On a team that lacked a truly physically dominating player to lock down the interior, Costello continually called Calvillo’s number to take on their opponents’ big men.

“He faced some kids, big kids, 6-5, 6-6 kids that out-jumped him and he outplayed them,” Costello said.

“I liked it,” Calvillo said of taking on taller opponents. “I just like the challenge of being against bigger guys and trying to come out on top.”

Needless to say, Calvillo came out victorious a lot. So much so, opposing coaches completely gave up hope of being able to shut him down.

“When (Calvillo) gets the ball inside he can score over anybody,” Umatilla coach Tony Villanueva said. “He’s got great leaping ability. He rebounds so well and he’s got a nose for the basketball that you’re not going to shut him down.

“When he got the ball we knew he was going to score or go to the free-throw line. You just weren’t going to stop him.”

The thing that makes Calvillo such a force on the hardwood is that he has a high basketball IQ to go along with his athleticism.

“Every time he had the ball or he was moving without the ball you could tell he had a purpose to what he was doing,” Dayton coach Ron Hop said. Riverside defeated Dayton 54-51 in the third-place game at state.

Calvillo has been building his basketball knowledge since he was 2, which he estimates was the first time he ever picked up a ball and aimed it at a hoop.

He started playing organized basketball when he was in the fourth grade and it’s a love affair he hopes to continue, now that his basketball days at Riverside are over.

“Right now it’s just a little bit of worrying, wondering where I’ll be,” he said of his search for a college program to play at. “I’d like to go anywhere, actually, and continue playing and do what I’ve got to do to start a career.”

But coming from Eastern Oregon, a player can have all the talent and intangibles that major programs look for and still get overlooked.

“It’s tough to get scouts’ attention out here because nobody is out here on the east side, just a couple small schools,” he said. “You have to work a little bit more than other people do.”

Calvillo said he’ll probably try the community college route, at least to start off with.

He’s already had a tryout with Blue Mountain Community College, and Treasure Valley Community College has expressed interest.

Costello said that once the All-Star games are completed, he expects Calvillo to have a few more doors open for him.