Aurora – As was expected, it’s a nondescript Colorado schoolboy basketball season in multiple ways, a fact stated more times than, say, how good the Nuggets are supposed to be once Carmelo Anthony is released from his suspension this week to join Allen Iverson for a star- studded serious playoff run.
However, don’t blame Arapahoe senior Levi Knutson.
Slick in Centennial, owner of a Marine’s haircut and still chiseling away at his body of work in progress, Knutson is turning on the light in a state tunnel noticeably dark and devoid of anyone resembling a major star.
“If you haven’t seen him for a while, he’s a lot stronger,” Arapahoe coach Dan Snyder said.
The Warriors’ Knutson, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound guard, hit the weights in first-year coach Snyder’s increased commitment to training.
The coach probably won’t see his star with iron in his hand again until after the season, but it won’t matter – the increased strength lifted Knutson’s already heady game, allowing him to play bigger.
“I worked on all facets (in the offseason), but probably the most important thing was getting into the weight room,” he said. “It gets rough out there.”
Indeed, a Warriors game can include a game within a game, i.e., foes trying to beat up Knutson, playing him in a physical manner, attempting to knock him off his game – and onto his rear – and wear him down. It’s not a bad idea. The senior carries his team like an NBA player with the ball on a cross-over. He’s the prime rib in a meal ticket.
But it’s not that easy to get under his thick skin and into his determined mind.
“Teams try to play him physical, and that happens, but he keeps his head in all circumstances and all situations,” Snyder said. “He’s great at that.”
In most cases, opponents try a series of defenders and defenses against Knutson, the better chances to throw change, deception, fresh legs and more fouls his way.
Knutson counters with the lungs of a swimmer, the motor of a wrestler and a harder body to survive the grabbing, hacking, holding, jersey-tugging, tripping and collisions.
And he’ll have none of this one- man-show stuff.
“My teammates are picking me up, and I’m picking them up,” Knutson said. “We’re one group trying to win.”
Modesty aside, Knutson, bound for the University of Colorado and the Big 12 Conference, has taken command of state scoring. Through the weekend, his average of 27.9 points in 13 games in Class 5A led all classes.
His 3-point range is deep and smooth from all angles, his midrange jump shot is consistent, his drives contain imagination and there have been many trips to the free-throw line.
Against Gateway on Friday night, Knutson’s 36 points paced a 65-61 road victory and series of highlights. In the closing moments, he spinned from the ride side of the lane for a sweet left-handed layup; swished a clutch, midrange jumper in traffic as if it was automatic; and snared a key offensive rebound off a missed free throw to seal it. He scored 12 of Arapahoe’s first 16 points and nine of its final 14.
Also looking stronger against the press and when roaming the perimeter, he withstood another talented player who’s evolving, Gateway’s O’Rion Hughes, leaving the quick junior and No. 2 scorer in 5A in his dust when attacking the basket in the fourth quarter.
“He’s already a great player as a junior and I give him a lot of credit,” Knutson said.
With a 4.0 grade-point average and business degree on his mind, Knutson committed early to CU, before Ricardo Patton announced it would be his final season as the Buffs coach. For Knutson, it was about the place, not the coach: “They have good guys making decisions. I can’t worry about that team; I’m worried about Arapahoe.”
The Warriors, 10-3 overall, 2-2 in the Continental League, are all about challenging for the league title and securing a top big-school postseason seed. And Knutson, who’ll wait with the weights until after the season to build additional muscle and pounds, is too busy playing freely, well and with confidence.
“It has been a blast so far, playing and practicing with teammates,” Knutson said. “We’re coming along, executing and everyone’s doing their jobs.”
Particularly him.
