Fueled by the Game, Reynolds-Diaz Finds His Future at CR

Published on Jun 12 2025

To some, Coast League might look like just another high school sports program. But for students from Humboldt County’s alternative schools, it’s much more — it’s a source of hope, a sense of community, and a rare chance to be seen and supported.

Coast League is committed to providing meaningful athletic opportunities for these students, offering a league grounded in sportsmanship, teamwork, and personal growth through organized team sports.

At College of the Redwoods, that opportunity is expanding into something even more powerful — a growing partnership that helps uplift youth, build confidence, and create pathways for the future.

For over ten years, CR has supported Coast League, offering more than just space in its gym and fieldhouse. It’s offered presence. Opportunity. A bridge. For Ronell Reynolds-Diaz, that bridge led to a future he never expected—a college education and a chance to grow both on and off the court.

Raised in Eureka by his beloved grandmother—“Meemaw,” as he lovingly calls her—Reynolds-Diaz always had support, even when life was tough. “My parents were always around, they were just really young when they had me. So, my Meemaw raised me and my brother,” he shared.

Home was small and sometimes crowded, but it was filled with love. “I wouldn’t trade my memories of those times for anything.”

Basketball entered his life early, through Eureka’s Hoopsters League. That first game lit a spark that never went out. “Once I started, I never looked back,” he said.

In high school, a shift came when he had to transfer to Zoe Barnum High School from Eureka High School. “I didn’t want to go. No one does,” he admitted. “But once I got there, it wasn’t what people made it out to be. Not even close.”

That’s where Coast League stepped in—and changed everything. “Coast League… it’s special,” he said, pausing during the Zoom interview. “It brings people together. Every Friday became something I looked forward to.”

From 2021 to 2023, Reynolds-Diaz played two unforgettable seasons in the league. “What stood out to me was how much the guys helped out. The CR team were refereeing, keeping score… they made us feel like we mattered.”

His talent—and towering 6-foot-8 frame—didn’t go unnoticed. Coach Ryan Bisio of CR Men’s Basketball saw something in him. And that moment opened the door.

“The thing about college basketball is—it’s intense,” Reynolds-Diaz said. “Everyone’s good. You’re expected to lift, run, watch film. It’s more than a game. You’ve got to be adaptable, committed.”

When asked if he would’ve gone to college without Coast League, his answer was honest: “Probably not. Being at CR every Friday, it created a path. A connection. College just wasn’t something I thought about—no one in my family had gone.”

Now, he’s just a few classes shy of graduating from CR. His uncles—one a barber, the other a manager at Lost Coast Brewery—are his role models. “They always told me I could do anything if I stuck with it. I admire how much they believe in themselves,” he said.

But a memory that shaped him most came at age 14, when his great-grandfather Dennis, someone he was deeply close to, told him before surgery that he might not survive. “He passed during surgery from a stroke. That moment taught me something powerful: even the toughest people can be afraid. And it’s okay to say you’re scared. Life is fragile—so don’t take it for granted.”

That lesson echoes in everything Reynolds-Diaz does now. Though his time on the court has ended, the fire still burns. The lessons still guide him. He’s not stuck in the past—he’s building a future, one step at a time. “I’m grateful for that year on the CR team,” he said. “It gave me so much.”

As for what comes next after graduation from CR? He’s not sure—and that’s okay.

Because for Reynolds-Diaz, basketball has always been more than a game—it’s been a guide. And now, even as he moves beyond the court, it stays with him, helping shape the future he’s building one step at a time.