Dessalegn put together a dominant season where it felt like he couldn’t do anything wrong at The Vanguard School. He piled up 15 double doubles and a triple double while averaging 19.6 points and 11 rebounds, showing elite consistency night after night. He reached the 1,000 career point mark and exploded for a season high 40, proving he can take over any game. He’s an aggressive scorer with a deadly mid range touch and is dominant around the rim, finishing through contact and controlling the paint. His production, physicality and ability to deliver in big moments made his season one of the most impressive around

Vanguard school is in a groove and looks like a team that could turn heads and make a deep playoff push, and a big reason for that is their man in the middle, Matty. Matty has been a solid piece who has really turned it on in the last couple of seasons, and now is nearing 1,000 points in only three seasons. What is incredible about his play is he’s averaged a double-double since his sophomore season, and in the middle of his señor year he’s putting up his best season yet. He’s up to 20.6 points and 10.6 boards a game. He’s an inside bruiser, he dominates the paint, and is a willing passer who finds the open man. He backs defenders down, counters, and finishes well around the basket. He also turns defense to offense, and he’s a few games away from the 1,000 point mark, which I expect to happen right at the end of league play. Solid career for him! 

Dessalegn is set to be a key component for The Vanguard School this season, and his game fits perfectly into what they want to do. He’s a strong, confident driver who gets downhill with purpose, using his touch and balance to finish through traffic. His natural instincts stand out as he reads defenders positioning, picks the right moments to attack and always seems to be one step ahead of the play. With a great feel for the game, he can score in multiple ways, whether it’s creating off the bounce or finding openings within the flow of the offense. Dessalegyn brings consistency, poise and a scorer’s mentality, making him a player who can shift momentum fast. Big things are coming for him this season

Matty Dessalegn Matty Dessalegn 6'5" | PF The Vanguard School | 2026 State CO averaged a double double in points and rebounds last season, and Dessalegn should reach an even higher ceiling this year. The 6’5 power forward has an astonishingly long wingspan that he utilizes to swat away shots and take care of the glass on both ends. With patience and poise scoring on the interior, Dessalegn constantly finds ways to punish defenders.

Dessalegn was a man amongst boys as he dominated the paint last year. He put up 16.2 points, and 10.5 rebounds, a game and to show two-way dominance he also added 2.4 steals per game. His footwork is elite, especially his patented spin move that opens up space inside. He’s a paint anchor who protects the rim and finishes strong around it. He’s very athletic and highly skilled. He had a standout summer and shined at Colorado Live to turn more heads. Expect him to be a problem again as he’s built for double-doubles and this year, hopefully those turn into a deeper playoff run. He EASILY rises in our rankings. 

Dessalegn made his presence felt in every game he played, impacting both ends of the floor with his high level instincts and strong feel for the game. With the ball in his hands, he was relentless—attacking the rim, absorbing contact, and finishing with authority. A natural scorer, Dessalegn showed his ability to score from all three levels, but truly thrived around the basket where he consistently found ways to convert. His aggressive mindset and scoring versatility made him one of the standout performers of the event

Dessalegn is another high motor forward who has all the tools to be a defensive weapon at the next level, already hovering around a double double through the season. Most dependable out of ball screens or operating from timely cuts, he makes the most of looks while off-ball. Vanguard sits at 4-0 within league play, boasting great backcourt and frontcourt play that complement each other well. 

Dessalegn is among the most productive rebounders in the whole state, regardless of class, averaging a double double in his games thus far. The 6’5 forward brings a relentless motor, looking to dig into opposing rebounders to gain position. Part of what makes him so effective is the constant mobility, rarely taking what is given, instead working for a second chance opportunity. Posting nearly 20 points on over 11 rebounds per game, Dessalegn’s continued growth will be fascinating to follow. 

Dessalegn’s soft touch around the rim has played a huge part in his offensive production throughout the spring with Box State Legacy. Alongside his wide reach and assertiveness on the glass, he always finds himself by the ball once it bounces off the rim. Continuing to work towards his wing scoring abilities, he is attacking from the perimeter a drastically larger volume than 18 months ago. Like so many forwards in this class, his continued growth as a playmaker and shotmaker from the perimeter will make the difference in his progression.