There’s something burning in Dionte Rains right now. His summer AAU season didn’t produce the playing time or the notice and offers from college coaches he had hoped. This got the 6-foot guard, rated No. 61 in the Prep Hoops…
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Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log inThere’s something burning in Dionte Rains right now. His summer AAU season didn’t produce the playing time or the notice and offers from college coaches he had hoped.
This got the 6-foot guard, rated No. 61 in the Prep Hoops Indiana Top 180, motivated to put in the extra work.
“I didn’t get to play that much and (the summer) didn’t go as I planned it to, but that sparked a fire in me,” Rains said. “I get up in the morning and put in work and I’m getting extra shots in practice, too. I think it (this high school season) is going to go real well actually.”
That extra work will help Rains build on the notice he did gain this summer. He heard from places like Ball State, Northern Arizona and Toledo. Most recently he has been in contact with Stony Brook and Lincoln Memorial.
The college coaches like his ability to score the basketball. Rains is a guard that has a quick first step and drive to the basket and can finish through contact. He also can shoot well and said he feels he is a dynamic offensive player that can do anything a coach asks of him offensively.
It is the other end of the court he is hoping to improve upon to impress more colleges during the high school season.
“They (coaches) said to mainly work on my defense because I like to play offense more, so like defense and staying in front of my man,” Rains said.
This motivation comes as high school open gyms have become more intense for him and his Anderson High School teammates. With new head coach Ryne Smith in charge, the practices haven’t allowed for any slacking off. This works for Rains who has set lofty goals for his high school season.
He hopes to personally average at least 25 points per game and wants the team to win a sectional title.
It may be high goals, but Rains has the motivation from his summer.
“Everytime I go out there I got something to prove,” Rains said. “I got anger at everybody and no mercy for anybody that is standing in front of me.”