Recruiting Update: D’Arris Dean (2019)
D’Arris Dean- 5’11 G Aiken High School-Class of 2019 Prep Hoops Ohio Rank- #187 2018-19 Averages: 22.0ppg, 4.9rpg, 3.0apg 1st Team All -Conference, 1st Team All Southwest-District It’s always easy to notice the on-court improvement of a player, but not…
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Continue ReadingD’Arris Dean- 5’11 G
Aiken High School-Class of 2019
Prep Hoops Ohio Rank- #187
2018-19 Averages: 22.0ppg, 4.9rpg, 3.0apg
1st Team All -Conference, 1st Team All Southwest-District
It’s always easy to notice the on-court improvement of a player, but not always as easy to see improvements made from a mental and leadership stand point. But it’s no coincidence that the success of the Aiken Falcons directly parallels the improved attitude and leadership of 2019 guard D’Arris Dean. “Last year I really didn’t know what I wanted to do, like if I wanted to take if serious or not,” Dean stated Sunday evening during our interview at Aiken. “But this year I’m serious, I’m focused. Working harder with a better attitude. And it’s carried me a long way.” And it’s these changes are big reason that the Falcons are two wins away from a date in Columbus for the D-II Final Four.
It has been a truly outstanding senior season from D’Arris who finished in the top ten in the Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference (CMAC) in points (21.6, 4th), assist (3.2, T-10th) and steals (3.2, 7th). While he also attributed to the better numbers he produced this season also to a better attitude and mind frame, there is no doubt that his on-court talent was also a big a factor for his success. “The best part of my game is getting to the basket. Can’t nobody guard me,” he stated with a smile on his face. That statement has proven to be true time and time again this season as Dean has truly proven to be a three level scorer. He shoots the ball with unlimited range which provides even more spacing for him to use his quickness and tight handle to create havoc in the mid-range area and in the paint. The young man also has the strength to finish at the rim as he showed in his 38 point performance on senior night against Hughes to clinch a share of the conference title. By my count he finished with four and one’s on that evening while doing an outstanding job of playing the glass on a number of finishes.
But all eyes are on the Falcons huge test Thursday night against Trotwood-Madison, and it was defense that was on D’Arris mind when I asked him about the keys to victory:
“Defense and rebounding, the dirty work. That’s all it is, it’s the little things,” Dean stated. “As you can see Trotwood is taller than us, so it’s definitely rebounding. We are a good defensive team but we don’t want to give a rebound and give them another opportunity (offensively).”
And while his focus was on tonight’s contest, he also has his mind on the future and playing at the next level as well. Dean mentioned interest at the D-II/NAIA/JUCO level from programs including Kentucky State, Morris College (SC) and Sinclair Community College among others and currently has a 2.9 GPA with plans to major in a business program geared toward entrepreneurship. Whoever the young fella commits to will be getting an absolute walking bucket.