Carey Booth studies his Cherry Creek High School basketball game tape alongside his father to get an NBA-level film review.
The lanky 6-foot-9 junior with 3-point shooting range has a growing list of Division I scholarship offers. But itap not all roses when Calvin Booth, the Denver Nuggets general manager, breaks down his son’s game.
Dad, you see, keeps it real.
“There will be times he wakes me up really early in the morning if he watches the film and doesn’t like what he sees,” Carey Booth said. “Itap mostly the stuff I can control. Like my running, defensive rotations, effort and all that. … You can’t really fight it. Sometimes, you want to get mad because he’s your dad and all that. But then you realize he knows what he’s talking about.”
Booth has emerged as the next elite college basketball prospect from Colorado. Itap no surprise when you consider his father played 10 years in the NBA before starting his front-office career. His daughter, Carter Booth, played on a 5A state volleyball championship team at Cherry Creek and is early enrolled to play in college at Minnesota.
Itap entirely possible Carey joins his sister up north. His first major scholarship offers came from Minnesota and Georgetown. Stanford has since picked up recruiting interest, Booth said. He hopes to make a college decision by next fall prior to his senior season.
“We had many D-I coaches through our open gyms and fall workouts, specifically to look at Carey. Itap just gone up from there,” Cherry Creek head coach Kent Dertinger said. “I think what schools are seeing is the potential. Carey has got a frame that still can be developed. He’s a young junior. He’s only 16 years old. … His greatest strength is probably his perimeter shooting. Having a 6-9 kid behind the arc who can shoot it? There aren’t too many high school kids that are going to be able to alter or defend his shot.
“He still needs to work on his strength. Thatap come a little bit from last year. He’s developing more parts of his game and becoming a legitimate rim protector and rebounder. He’s really worked hard on the defensive side of the ball.”
Booth grew up around NBA practice facilities with rare access to players. He said watching LeBron James inspired a love for the game, turning him into a gym rat. Itap paid off on the court with Booth averaging 11.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks this season.
Booth explained why he doesn’t feel pressure attached to his last name.
“Pressure is generated if you feel like you haven’t put in the work,” he said. “But I’ve put in so much work that I’m confident in my game and me being able to succeed at the next level and this level.”
The Nuggets promote a family atmosphere. Head coach Michael Malone stays up to date on the athletic success of the Booth kids. Malone smiled last week and said: “Oh, yeah. Calvin doesn’t shut up.”
“Like all of us, you have a sense of pride when your kids do well. Rightfully so. What I love about Calvin, though, is he’s not one of those parents where their kids can do no wrong,” said Malone, who also shouted out Calvin’s wife, Keisha Booth. “They’re honest with their kids. They applaud and celebrate their success. And when they don’t play to their abilities or work hard enough, they let them know that. I think thatap what parenting is. Itap not just participation trophies.
“They’re about all the right things — whether itap on a basketball, volleyball court — or off.”
Carey Booth said the basketball relationship with his dad has evolved over recent years to become less hands-on to allow him space to grow his game. The Bruins (9-8) replaced all five starters from a year ago but have won seven of their last nine games. Booth has taken strides to increase his leadership role.
His long-term plans are to follow in the footsteps of his NBA father. But reaching more immediate goals will create a Booth hoops legacy that’s all his own.
“I want to win a state title,” Booth said.
