Jared Cohen
The two-time defending state champion Corona del Sol basketball team looks to be as talented as ever with transfers that have come into the school this summer.
One of which is 2015 guard Dane Kuiper who comes from Wasilla High School in Alaska where he averaged 19.5 points and eight rebounds per game as a sophomore. Kuiper and his family has moved to Arizona which he says he is great change for him.
“The climate change is definitely something you have to get used too,” Kuiper joked. “The level of competition is definitely better down here too.”
Kuiper said that the level of competition in Arizona is much better than it is in Alaska which he already finds is improving his game. he not only finds that higher competition in games against other schools, but also in practices against his own team that has been the class of Arizona now for the last few seasons and has one of the top 2014 players in the state.
“When you play against better players that’s when you really have to elevate it or you’re not going to play very well,” Kuiper mentioned. “That’s what I try to do. It’s great having Casey Benson, one of the best point guards in his class on your team but you can’t get to cocky. We’re trying to get that state [title].”
Corona is not at all short on talent on the floor and Kuiper steps onto a team that was looking to be contenders next season before he had joined. But he doesn’t think he will have any problem fitting into their system and they utilize his own strengths on the court.
“I just have to play my game and fit into their program,” Kuiper explained. “Coach Sammy Duane has given me a lot of freedom to shoot and do what I do so that’s what I am trying to do.”
Kuiper before coming to Arizona was already considered one of the better prospects on the west coast for the 2015 class. He currently has offers from Creighton, New Mexico, Northern Arizona, Oregon State, Pepperdine, Portland, San Francisco, South Dakota State and Virginia. He has also had interest from Pac-12 schools ASU and UCLA.
“I’ve also been getting looks from Gonzaga and Miami,” Kuiper mentioned.
That much attention from the next level and just going into his junior season shows that Kuiper has just scratched the surface of what he is capable of on the basketball court. He mentions he is going to have to elevate his game to play in the Valley so Corona looks to really benefit from a player looking to take his game to a whole other level.
