Boys’ basketball player of the year: Donovan Dent of Corona Centennial

A near-perfect season was in jeopardy of ending in a surprising defeat. Modesto Christian Excessive had tied with closely favored Corona Centennial within the fourth quarter of theOpen Division state boys’ basketball championship recreation in Sacramento. Stress was mounting on the Huskies.

To nobody’s shock, it was 6-foot-2 senior level guard Donovan Dent responding to the problem. He then made three consecutive baskets, obtained two rebounds and had two assists. A vocal Northern California crowd at Golden 1 Middle out of the blue misplaced its bearings. Centennial got here away with a 59-50 victory to finish a 33-1 season.

“We’re within the state championship recreation, we’re struggling, Modesto Christian is pushing us to the brink and Donovan comes via,” coach Josh Giles stated. “It was indicative of what he did for us. What a tremendous finish to his profession at Centennial.”

For his consistency and excellence enjoying level guard this season and contributing in many various methods, Dent has been chosen The Los Angeles Instances’ participant of the 12 months in boys basketball. He averaged 16.2 factors and 6.6 assists. Dedicated to New Mexico, Dent performed on the freshman group earlier than turning into a varsity backup his sophomore 12 months, then turned a standout as a junior.

Dent stated he acknowledges that some folks didn’t contemplate him a high expertise when the season started, however that solely motivated him to “show them improper.”

He did. From starting to finish, he was orchestrating one victory after one other together with his capability to drive and dish, make open photographs and are available via when his group wanted him. Centennial’s solely loss was a highway recreation at Duncanville (Texas). Giles stated that was the one recreation Dent was not at his greatest.

“Each single time we had a giant recreation, he performed extraordinarily properly,” Giles stated. “Every time we wanted him to be at his greatest, he was at his greatest.”

With 4 returning starters, Dent stated he felt assured in his teammates. “They will double group me and we’ve 4 different choices,” he stated.

Dent left the court docket after successful the Open Division championship on March 12 figuring out his highschool profession was over.

“An ideal ending to his profession,” Giles stated.