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Mesa TOP TEN ALL TIME PLAYERS
Richard Obert, azcentral sports
Mesa High has as rich a football history as any high school in Arizona.
Boys basketball was good in the school's early years. But it really picked
up in the 1980s under coach Paul Newendyke, and hasn't stopped rolling
under Shawn Lynch in the early 2000s and now with Scott Stansberry in charge.
It is easy to find 10 players but extremely tough to pick a No. 1. Any of
the top three players can make a case for being the best basketball player
in school history. Here are my top all-time Mesa High boys basketball
players.
Starting Five:
No. 1 Lee Cummard, 6-7, G, 2004
Cummard came from generations of basketball players in Mesa. Just his
family alone would fill a good part of the Mesa bleachers for games. He
was the state's Big Schools Player of the Year in 2004 when he led Mesa to
the state championship, averaging 20 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists.
He was the consummate player with great shooting range and a lethal inside
game to go with it. Very tough, determined, aggressive player who carried
the Jackrabbits during his years. He went on to start at Brigham Young,
where he was the Mountain West Conference co-Player of the Year in 2008.
No. 2 Jahii Carson, 5-10, PG, 2011
This dynamo played only two years at Mesa, but he left a lasting
impression, especially in his final high school game, scoring 58 points in
a Division I semifinal loss to Phoenix Brophy Prep. Almost every game he
had at least one dunk that electrified the crowd. He was a two-time
All-Arizona player, who was named Big Schools Player of the Year his
senior season when he averaged 32.2 points. He had 1,434 points in his two
years at Mesa. He made an impact after sitting out his first year at
Arizona State to get his academics in order. He is now playing
professionally in Australia.
No. 3 David Van Dyke, 6-10, C, 1988
He led the Jackrabbits to the state championship his senior year, scoring
28 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in the final against Tucson Sahuaro. He
holds the school record for career blocked shot with 250 from 1986-88. He
had 142 blocked shots during his senior season. He was not only a
shot-blocking machine who altered many a shot in his Mesa career, but he
was a ferocious rebounder and finisher around the basket. Whenever Mesa
needed a clutch basket and stop down the stretch in the state tournament,
Van Dyke delivered. He ended up playing in 127 games at UTEP from '88-92,
and helped the Miners reach the NCAA Tournament.
No. 4 Aaron Fuller, 6-6, F, 2008
As tough a player to ever go through Mesa, Fuller averaged 24.7 points,
11.6 rebounds and two blocks his senior year when he was azcentral sports'
Big Schools Player of the Year. Fuller played with a chip on his shoulder
after going through the summer before his senior year without a major
college offer. He ended up going to Iowa, where he averaged 9.7 points and
6.2 rebounds in 30 games in 2009-10. He averaged 12.3 points and 9.7
rebounds in Big Ten Play. He transferred to USC, where he was just as
tough around the basket. A great finisher who never stopped hustling.
No. 5 Graham Hatch, 6-4, G/F, 2005
He was a junior on Mesa's 2004 state championship team, making the final
four free throws in the final 35 seconds to help hold off Phoenix Desert
Vista 56-46 in the final. He was a workhorse, did whatever it took to help
his team win. Whether it was busting through a pick to make a defensive
play or scraping the glass for a put-back, Hatch delivered. He was like
that in college at Wichita State, where he had a solid career. Perhaps the
greatest highlight of his college career was helping Wichita State win the
National Invitation Tournament, scoring 12 points and making all four of
his 3-point attempts in a 66-57 win over Alabama at Madison Square Garden
in New York. He was named the tournament's Outstanding Player.
Five to frame:
Donte Medder, G, 2009:
Lightning quick with good shooting range, he averaged 22.6 points and five
assists his last year at Mesa.
Hakeem Rollins, F, 2001:
One of the greatest defenders to come through, but had huge growth spurt
after high school was a junior college All-American at Mesa Community
College.
Matt Komenda, G, 2005:
Another big part of that 2004 state championship team, coming up clutch
late in the state final.
Marcus Robinson, G, 2000:
Scored 601 points his senior year, fourth-most in a season in school
history.
John Allen, C, 1951:
Still hold schools record for most rebounds (319) in a season.
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