Ricci is graduating from high school this year. Ricci began his high school career at South Hills. He got into some trouble and ended up going to a treatment facility in Pennsylvania. While there he made some major changes. He continued to play basketball. Upon returning home, it was found that his family was a major portion of his problem. His legal guardian is his maternal aunt. She has many mental health issues and shortly after he returned home she got mad at him and kicked him out of the home. Despite this, he continued to attend high school and play basketball and was home coming king. He then moved in with a cousin in Mansfield and had to fight to get transferred as his aunt would not sign papers to release him.
Thankfully, he was 18. He began playing basketball at Timberview. He became their star player and led them to the playoffs. He has maintained excellent grades (despite being in 4 high schools his senior year). He found out that he could not graduate from Timberview due to them being one of the schools that required more credits than the state. While this upset him, he began driving back and forth to OD Wyatt part of the day while continuing to work out with his team mates at Timberview. He will graduate this year and with a good GPA. He was nominated for Prom King at Timberview even though he is fairly new to the school. He is a very out-going kid who is also very smart. He has been offered scholarships to many colleges (state and junior) in Texas and is now deciding which direction he will go.
The coaches at Timberview think the world of Ricci as do all of the people who have had the pleasure of working with him. He is a true success! P.S. Ricci states he wants to go to college and major in law or something which would allow him to work with kids "like himself". He remains appreciative of all the help he has received. He is also a very good speaker and might be someone who would be willing to talk to other kids/families.