The 2012 addition of the Denver East Summer Basketball League took place on Mondays and Wednesdays at Denver East and Manual High Schools through out the month of June. The DESL featured 24 teams from across the Front Range including twelve teams that had advanced to at least the sweet 16 of their respective state tournaments this past season. Some of those teams included perennial 5A powers Denver East, Thunder Ridge, Highlands Ranch and Rangeview High Schools. Thomas Jefferson, Sierra and John F. Kennedy from 4A took part, as well as 3A Kent Denver and Jefferson Academy participated this summer. Not only were some of the state‘s top programs on display but also some of the state’s top players took part as well. Highly recruited 6’3 senior shooting guard Carlton Hurst of Aurora Central, University of Colorado recruits Jeremiah Paige of Rangeview a 6’3 junior guard and nationally ranked 6’1 junior guard Dominique Collier of Denver East all showcased why they are some of the state’s top players regardless of class.
As the temperatures climbed so did the play and other players began to stand out such as 6’6 senior Roderick Bernstein of Cherokee Trail who is starting to show signs that he could be one of the state’s top wing players. Fairview has a talented duo of 6’2 senior guard Brent Wrapp and 6’6 senior forward Austin Sparks. Rangeview has another talented guard 6’1 senior Larry Bridges who relentlessly attacks the rim. Denver East’s junior guard Ronnie Harrell might be the best three pointer shooter in the state. 6’7 junior post player Ibrahim Sylla of Denver South is on the verge of a break out year.
The league came to a close on Friday night at Manual High School when Denver East defeated Denver South 49-40 to claim the league championship. Denver East might be the deepest team in the state next year. They will feature Collier, Harrell, 6’6 forward Leonard Davis, 6’6 forward Tyre Robinson, and 6’3 guard J.J. Griffin. All of which are juniors and considered some of the top players in their class and the state. East will also get quality guard play from Sophomore Brian Carey. Could all that talent and summer success equal state tournament success? Possibly, every year since 2007 at least one if not two teams that participated in the DESL have advanced to the elite eight or final four later that season.