'The heart of our team': Riverside sophomore PG Flinn leading with blue-collar confidence

Out of nowhere, a 12-year-old Huck Flinn decided to shoot Riverside head coach Allen Arnold a DM on Instagram.

He still has it saved on his phone. He laughs — and slightly cringes — looking back on it now.

“I was out of my mind,” Flinn said. “I have no idea what I was thinking.” 

It was early 2023, and Flinn was still a middle schooler at the time. He was only in the seventh grade. But he was crushing it at that level for Riverside Middle School. 

So, he took his shot and reached out to Arnold. 

“I was doing really good in middle school ball at the time,” said Flinn. “So I decided to DM Coach Arnold on Instagram. I said something along the lines of ‘Hey Coach, could I ever get into a practice with y’all? I’d love to show you what I’ve got and be a part of the varsity team.’”

It was an admirable attempt from Flinn, one that he says Arnold “politely shot down.”

“He kind of nicely told me that I had to be an eighth grader, at least, before that was possible,” said Flinn. “And to be honest, that was a good thing. I could not have done that as a seventh or eighth grader.”

Though Flinn would eventually have to wait two more years to fulfill his wish — making varsity as a freshman in 2024-25 — it showcased a personal confidence rarely seen in a player so young.

It was a belief in himself that Riverside Middle head basketball coach Branden Thomas remembers well.

“What always made Huck so different to me was his mental,” said Thomas. “It’s not even that he was too confident. I would say that he’s just always been fearless. That fearlessness is what gives him such a strong belief in his ability. And you still see that today.”

It’s not often that freshmen earn consistent playing time on Arnold’s Riverside High teams.  

Part of what makes his program so successful? Arnold’s ability to mold players and shape them over time. Growth while waiting in the wings is key. Many players don’t see constant minutes until their junior or senior years. 

But Flinn? He was different.  

Flinn earned 12-15 minutes a game from the very start of his freshman year.

“I think he just saw something in me that a lot of players don’t have,” said Flinn. “A lot of the small stuff. My focus is on winning, not always on the highlight plays. I love the gritty, hard-nosed part of the game. I love defending. That’s what I think gave Coach Arnold the belief in me early on.”

There’s very little flashiness in Flinn’s game. His contributions, Arnold often emphasizes, rarely show up on the stat sheets.

But he shows up when it matters. Flinn is there to be a pest on defense, take the occasional charge, shoot smart shots, make the right pass when needed, and run the offense as a pure facilitator.

It’s Arnold’s dream.

And in year two, those 12-15 minutes per game have become 25-30 minutes instead. Flinn, as a sophomore, has become vital to Riverside’s success.

“Huck is the glue that holds us together,” said Arnold. “We don’t want to have him off the floor hardly at all. He’s embraced this role where he understands he doesn’t have to score a lot of points. He runs our offense the way we want it run, and he has become possibly our best defender. 

“He’s the heart of our team.”

In the huddle and on the court, Flinn is vocal and has taken on a leadership role as just a sophomore. When he speaks, players listen. If any of his teammates have their heads down during a game, he’ll yell words of encouragement in their direction to lift their spirits — reminding them to focus on the next play.

“He’s almost another coach. He’s another set of eyes on the floor for me,” said Arnold. “He’s kind of like my assistant out there. He’s done a great job this year being a vocal leader this year.

“And he doesn’t just do it during games, either. He does it at practice every day. He’s our most vocal kid, all the time. To me, that shows his future is going to be very bright.”

Senior standout Sebi Boyogueno will likely (and rightfully) take the headlines for a Riverside team that currently sits atop 5-A Region 2 with a 19-2 overall record. 

But Flinn’s ascendance this season, as both a true point guard and a leader, has arguably been the most important cog in the Warrior machine. His performance will be crucial should Riverside look to make its second trip back to a state championship in three years. 

Flinn is embracing his vital role with the team. But he’s not taking any of it for granted.  

And he’s not satisfied yet, either. 

“I’m proud that my coaches and teammates have trusted in me. I love that I’m able to be able to play all these minutes and contribute,” said Flinn. “But I try not to get too high about it. I know all of this could be over in one moment, in one play… I’m not satisfied yet.

“All I can think about is winning state. I think about it all the time. That’s such an amazing feeling that we’re working towards as a team.”

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