Kenan Gooden, Eads
Unfortunately for Kenan Gooden, he and his Eads teammates didn’t qualify for this year’s state tournament at the Air Force Academy.
No matter, Gooden still made a lasting impression on Colorado this season.
“There were some nice players at state, but there’s nobody that can play with Kenan Gooden,” Flagler coach Gary Elrick said of the 6-foot senior guard. “A tremendous player. The real deal.”
Gooden, who averaged more than 21 points, scored in double figures in every game this season and carried the Eagles.
“This year, I had to step up and lead a little more,” Gooden said.
As a freshman, he was given more leeway to shoot and let his older teammates take charge of the game, “but in my senior year, I had to set things up more. It was a little bit different.”
His only regret: Not getting a state title.
“Going to state and doing well was a goal of our team that just came up short,” Gooden said. “I don’t play to get personal awards. The main goal is to get a state title, but this is a nice second place.”
Mike Hicks, special to The Denver Post
