Most Recent 1,000 Points Scored Players (Part II)

<p>There’s a prestigious club that not many players get invited to in their careers and is only open to a select few as reaching 1,000 points in a high school basketball career is a benchmark every top scorer hopes to achieve. It’s no easy task.</p> <p>In a condensed season, it is even more difficult, but we had some players do it.</p> <p>Below is a look at those hoopsters that have reached the magic number.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="916985" first="Logan" last="Owen"] – Belleview Christian</strong></h2> <p>Owen is a player that broke the 1,000 points scored mark in the first game, I believe, and he has had one of the most interesting careers of anybody in this class. To see his game transform over the years and witness the selflessness, while also still somehow seeing him score with ease was something to watch. Owen is a four-year varsity player that went from learning the ropes as a freshman, to being the main guy for two seasons, putting up an impressive 17.5 points and a breakout 25.5 points, which was a top-3 finish in the state as a junior to a senior season that all came together. Owen shared the court with one of the most talented players that 1A has ever seen and saw his game elevate to new heights. Belleview Christian went undefeated in Owen’s senior season as he was the perfect second option. Owen finds holes in the defense, is a natural scorer who had one of the biggest jumps in a season from beyond the arc, and also is an athletic finisher at or above the rim. Owen put up a balanced line of 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.1 steals a game and was crowned champions as his team had one of the most lopsided championship victories with him having his moments. Solid career for him.</p> <h2><strong>Christian Still – Dayspring Christian</strong></h2> <p>Dayspring had a middle-of-the-pack season as they picked up some solid wins this year, but what their 6’4 do-it-all wing was able to accomplish over the last four seasons should not go overlooked. Still is certainly a player that has gone under the radar, but when you look at his stats, he was a stat stuffer and brought it on a consistent basis. Still averaged an incredible 18.3 points and 5.6 boards a game, and in his senior year, he elevated his game to unmatched levels. Still put up 25.9 points and 8.1 rebounds a game as the main option that opposing teams tried to slow down and carried the team to victory on multiple nights as he was the only player to score in double figures. Still navigated through double teams and different looks and was able to pick up his 1000^th point early on in the season.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="918901" first="Sam" last="Howery"] – St. Mary’s</strong></h2> <p>Howery is a player that has not gone under the radar, and we have spoken about countlessly over the last couple of seasons, and I honestly do not feel as if that is enough. What Howery has been able to accomplish in only three seasons and the fact that he is already at 1,000 points scored in his career with another year of get-back under his belt is a testament to the work that he puts into his game. Howery constantly wants to get better, and the best part about his accomplishment is the way that it came. In a late junior win over Salida, Howery scored his 1,000^th point on a night that he put up 23 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists. He is a player that affects the game in many ways and for him to record this many points with scoring not being the point of emphasis in his game tells you the type of player that he is. Howery helped lead St.Mary’s to the state championship before fighting in a tough one against Lutheran, and I am sure that he will get back and continue to light up the scoreboard on a nightly basis.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="916974" first="Griffin" last="Lauritano"] – Evergreen</strong></h2> <p>Griffin had an unfortunate ending to a promising season, but that should not take away from the accomplishments that he achieved along the way. Griffin did whatever he wanted on the hardwood for the last three seasons, and his natural feel for the game, mixed with his size and athleticism, made it difficult for opposing teams to slow him down on a nightly basis. Griffin gets to his spots offensively and makes opposing teams pay. He also knows where to be for the open spot, can create for himself off of the dribble of grab a board and start a break alone. In essentially three years, Lauritano averaged 15.1 points and 6.5 rebounds a game. That is while spending the beginning portion of the year getting into basketball shape as the star football player makes the switch over. Griffin is a player that can contribute at the next level and played well over the years.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="965762" first="Blake" last="Essex"] – Mile High Academy</strong></h2> <p>Essex has been one of the best big men in 1A, and this 6’8 stat stuffer cannot be contained. For three years, Essex has been able to do whatever it is he wants on the floor as there has been no answer for him on the boards, and he has his way on the block. Essex is a glass-cleaning big that applies pressure on the defensive from the opening tip, and with his blend of size and athleticism, he is a nightmare matchup. Essex will finish with a school-best 18.8 points and 14.8 points a game average with a senior year in which he put up an otherworldly 20.8 points and 15.5 rebounds a game. Essex has a game that will translate at the next level and had a stellar career.</p>