MONUMENT — In transition, Lewis-Palmer’s Josh Scott chased down the pass near the baseline, to the right of the basket. Starting with a spin move, he maneuvered through traffic and a defender’s overplay of his right hand, and made a soft, running floater with his left.
The sequence Tuesday night in the Rangers’ 67-44 home victory over Pueblo Central underscored why Scott, playing center at the prep level and listed at 6-foot-10, is one of the top power-forward prospects in the nation. His letter-of-intent signing with the University of Colorado last month was considered a landmark coup for second-year coach Tad Boyle’s program.
Watching Scott play in high school, especially against teams without significant size such as Pueblo Central, leaves unanswered questions, such as whether he has the midrange shooting necessary for forwards at the collegiate level. Although he probably will be in the post some as a collegian too, he’s considered a power-forward prospect. His ability to run the floor as a high school center leaves fans shaking their head in amazement as he starts from under or near his own basket and beats much smaller opponents down the floor, often finishing with layups.
“I pride myself on being the fastest big man in the country,” he said after the game. “I really do. I like being able to say that, and it works out really well because I can run with guards too.”
As a junior, Scott averaged 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Class 4A Rangers, who fell 49-48 in double overtime to Sterling in the state championship game at CU’s Coors Events Center. His confidence was reinforced last summer when he played with the Colorado Chaos, a select AAU team, against elite national competition. He was named most valuable player in the Kansas City Classic tournament.
“I didn’t find one big that I thought could keep up with me, on the perimeter or in transition,” Scott said.
In print, that might look arrogant. In person, it comes off far short of that, more as a confirmation of fact and confidence, and it also comes with subsequent admissions that he needs to work on other aspects of his game.
Lewis-Palmer’s longtime coach, Russ McKinstry, noted that Scott rarely is going to be challenged head-to-head. “Like tonight, they went box-and-one against him,” McKinstry said after Tuesday’s game, in which Scott scored 29 points. “They shadow him or have two guys double-team him, or triple-team him. So the mental challenge for him is not to get discouraged. I think it’s made him a better player, because he runs the floor so well. He knows if he goes into a half-court set, there are going to be two or three guys who take him every time.
“He’s a runner and has very soft hands, and he’s not giving up rebound position to get the run-out. It’s just old-fashioned hard work. His challenge going to college is that he has been so dominant inside, that he’s never had to depend on a jump shot. In practice, he’s probably our best shooter, but you see that when we get in a game, you notice, ‘Why go to that when you don’t have to.’ “
As a sophomore, Scott switched to Lewis-Palmer from nearby Discovery Canyon and, under transfer rules, had to sit out the first half of the season. He already was hearing from college recruiters, but when he underwent foot surgery before his junior season, that caused some to back off to monitor his recovery.
“I know there are a bunch of schools who wish they had jumped on me right after my foot surgery, but CU was right there through the whole thing,” Scott said. “They offered me sophomore year, and they stayed with me. When I made my decision, I knew I wasn’t going to switch it. I’m a loyal person, just like they were loyal to me.”
Scott’s brother Jared, a 6-6 junior, has been his teammate with both Lewis-Palmer, which fell in the state 4A semifinals the past three seasons in a row, and the Chaos. They’re from a military family — both their father, Alton, and mother, Theresa, had Air Force careers — and this is the family’s second stint in Colorado. Though retired, Alton Scott now does civilian work — in minority recruitment and in the honor department — at the Air Force Academy.
Asked whether there was a touch of military discipline in the family, Josh smiled. “Things are strict, but not too strict,” he said. “It’s not what people think, though. We don’t have to make our beds. My room is just as dirty as every other kid’s.”
Out of that mess has emerged an elite player who is determined to keep getting better, and that includes adding muscle to his lanky 220-pound frame.
“Everybody in high school has to get bigger to go to the next level,” he said. “I’ll continue to get bigger, and continue to work on my outside and inside skills.”
He said he doesn’t consider this season anticlimactic after his signing with CU. “I want to win a state championship,” he said. “That’s what I keep working for. That’s what we’re all working for.”
Terry Frei: 303-954-1895 or tfrei@denverpost.com
Great Scott
A look at Lewis Palmer High School’s Josh Scott:
Size: 6-foot-10, 220 pounds
Prospect rankings: ranks him 65th prospect overall and the No. 20 power forward in the Class of 2012. pegs him as the 46th-ranked prospect overall.
What they are saying: After Scott signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Colorado last month, Buffs coach Tad Boyle said: “Josh is as good as he wants to be. The rate of his development as a player is pretty phenomenal from last year to this year. If it continues to next year, he’s going to play a lot.”
Lewis Palmer pipeline: Scott comes from the same high school that produced forward Pat Garrity, who starred at Notre Dame and played in the NBA from 1998-2008, mostly with the Orlando Magic
Terry Frei, The Denver Post
