Throughout October, we’ll preview many of the top teams from across the country as a countdown to the release of our preseason 2013-14 Student Sports FAB 50. We begin our series with Desert Pines of Las Vegas, a regionally ranked team last year looking to crack the FAB 50.
Note: All information that follows came from a questionnaire that was sent to and returned by the school’s head coach. If you would like your school to be profiled, please return the questionnaire that was mailed out earlier this month or it can be filled out online.
The information can also be emailed to editor Ronnie Flores: ronnie@studentsports.com. StudentSportsBasketball.com thanks the programs that have submitted information.
Team Name: Desert Pines (Las Vegas)
Head Coach: Mike Uzan (128-36)
2012-13 Record: 27-3, 15-4 (J.V.)
Final Ranking: No. 18 (West Region)
Returning Starters: 2
Returning Lettermen: 4
Players Most Deserving of Preseason Honors: F/G Nate Grimes 6-8 2015 (Utah St., Washington St., New Mexico offers), G Coby Myles 5-10 2015 (Southern Utah offer), F Rameek Keith 6-6 2014 (Southern Utah offer).
Newcomers Who Could Make An Impact: Timothy Jefferies 2016, Capri Uzan 2017, Trevon Abdullah 2017, Jordon Simon 2017.
Coach’s General Outlook: We are young but talented. We played Findlay Prep last season and only lost by two points. I think we have what it takes to be ranked in the 31-50 range of the FAB 50.
Events Scheduled To Play In: Penny Hardaway Classic
Team(s) On Schedule Deserving of Ranking: Findlay Prep
StudentSportsBasketball.com Comments: Besides the two point (64-62) loss to Findlay Prep, the Jaguars did not lose to a Nevada team last season en route to the program’s first ever state title. Leading the way was guard Julian Jacobs, but he’s now at USC. Uzan has some size and two starters returning with championship experience and Grimes is a talented transfer from Cheyenne who could develop into a national Top 100 type. Grimes helps make Desert Pines a legitimate preseason FAB 50 contender, but the void in leadership and ability that JuJu Jacobs provided cannot be overlooked.
Send corrections or comments to ronnie@studentsports.com and be sure to leave a comment that others can check out.
RELATED: FAB 50 Consideration Form
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