Team Preview: Desert Pines Jaguars

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Desert Pines is a city powerhouse. Under legendary coach Mike Uzan, the Jags captured 3A titles in 2017, and 2018. In their second season as a 4A program, the Jags reached the state championship with a team led by current Oklahoma PG, Milos Uzan, Current Georgia Tight End Darnell Washington, and Dayshawn Wiley, one of the rising Junior College Prospects in America. After a year off from Covid, coach Uzan resigned, but not before making sure that the program would be left in the proper hands. In stepped longtime assistant Daimar Harris. In his first year, he led the Jags to 16 wins and a 6-place finish in the newly formed 5A conference. With a year under his belt in the big seat, the coach admits to having more patience than in his inaugural season, but that is where the changes end. "Our priority is still defense" "If we can't score, neither will they" It's that defensive-led mindset, that has the Jags eyeing their rightful spot. "This is still a place to compete for a title" says Harris. One glance at his physically gifted squad, and it's easy to see why. In this article, we preview the Desert Pines Jaguars. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Returners</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1486124"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"1.4ppg 3.6rpg 1.4apgrnrnGot a good look at Ricks back at the u003ca href=u0022https://prephoops.com/2022/09/top-250-expo-recap-superlatives/u0022u003eTop250 Expou003c/au003e a few weeks ago. He was much more skilled today than I remember him a month ago. He showed that he can be a capable shoter, as well as a physical finisher. He has the frame, energy and effort to be one of the cities top glass cleaners.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1006242"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"11.7ppg 4.8rpg 1.5spgrnrnExcited to see what Tatum does in his senior season. He was a monster down low, scoring at will against defenders. Tatum does a good job of demanding the ball in the post. He's an athletic guy that easily switches and hedges ball screens, and can get out and finish in the open floor.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["986971"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"8.5ppg 1.4rpgrnrnPrince is an underclassmen, that plays like a senior. He's another knockdown shooter for the team, and the combination of he and Davis getting hot, could get ugly for teams looking to play zone. He'll have to provide solid decesion making, backcourt ballhandling, and perimeter defense, for the team.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-6495b6ca51a7d"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Newcomers </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1465681"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Watching Coleman during the workout, made me nostalgic, as the talented freshman was given nothing. He was challenged in every drill, and had his defense actively attacked by the team's veterans. To his credit, he didn't break, He competed with Tatum on duck in's and showed catch and shoot ability during the drills. His development througout the season, will be a key factor to the teams success.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1655142"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Jones is a newcomer  who will look to contribute. The lefty has some shooting ability, and will serve in a variety of perimeter roles.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1655146"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Brown was mentioned as one of the suprise players on the squad. I really liked the guards defensive effort and energy. He played at the top of DP's aggressive press during full court play, showing active hands and the ability to get defelctions. The scrappy guard is sneaky good, and should contribute on the perimeter for the squad.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1364317"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"4.9ppg 4.5rpgrnrnMajor is a transfer from Cheyenne. He'll provide some defensive versatiltiy and interior depth to the squad. Like all the Jags, he'll have to be versatile on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball for the team to be successuful.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1655153"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Roby was another solid guard for the Jags. He showed some ability to get his own shot, knocking down a coulpe mid range pull ups throuought the practice.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-6495b6ca51aed"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Sleepers</em> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1655032"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Duhart is a nice sleeper find. The 6'5 wing has the ability to impact the game in a variety of ways. He was better in the games than the drills, showing the ability to knock down threes and some grab and go ability. He's a nice pick up for the team, providing another long active body for the team.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-6495b6ca51b14"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top Prospect </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["989247"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"15.1ppg 2.1rpg 1.3apg 1.7spgrnrnBoykin has too many things to like, to not be considered for this spot. The teams leading scorer , he's one of the state's top student athletes. A sniper, with a 4.0 gpa, he has the ability to impact games with his shooting and transition finishing ability. He averaged over 15 per game for the Jags last season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-6495b6ca51b38"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/gBruaDxzep0","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/gBruaDxzep0 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->