Palo Verde’s Dressler looks to play in college

Grant Dressler garnered plenty of postseason honors after helping Palo Verde’s boys basketball team reach the Division I state final.

If there was an award for most improved player, Dressler likely would have earned that one, too.

Dressler went from being a role player as a junior to the Panthers’ leading scorer this past season, and the 6-foot-7-inch late bloomer is in line to continue his playing career at the next level.

The small forward made an official visit to Sacramento State this week and also is being recruited by American, Eastern Washington and Maine.

“I grew a couple of inches, and that always helps,” Dressler said. “A couple of friends and I worked out a lot to try to get better. Once the high school season started, we all worked hard to try to get to state. I guess along the way I got better and had a different mindset.”

Dressler averaged 5.1 points per game as a junior for Palo Verde and struggled to get regular minutes on the court. He had a team-high 16 points in a 61-57 victory at Shadow Ridge on Jan. 24, 2014, but only scored in double figures in four other games that season.

“I just wasn’t as aggressive in games,” Dressler said. “I was nervous to make a mistake. Now I know mistakes happen and just to go for it.”

Dressler spent last summer with the IBC Basketball Club on the travel circuit and went on to average 19 points and 8.6 rebounds as a senior for the Panthers while being named first-team all-state.

“Before, I’d say I only cared about me doing well and didn’t put in enough work for it,” Dressler said. “But I started being more about the team. … Not playing influenced that change a little bit.”

The first day basketball players can sign this spring is April 15, and the signing period runs through May 20 (Division I) or Aug. 1 (Division II). Dressler indicated he will wait to sign a letter of intent in hopes an offer from a bigger school comes through.

“I’ll go wherever I felt like the school fits best,” Dressler said.

■ BRAXTON AIMS HIGH — Centennial senior Dajour Braxton posted one of the nation’s fastest times to win the boys 1,600-meter run during the Las Vegas Track Classic at Desert Oasis. And his performance has ignited talk of another milestone.

Braxton crossed the line in 4 minutes, 10.61 seconds on Saturday, which is sixth-best among all prep runners this season, according to Dyestat.com. The Louisiana State commit said his ultimate goal is to break the four-minute barrier in the mile.

Only five prep runners have cracked the famed mark, the last coming in 2011. The mile race is a little more than nine meters longer than the 1,600.

“That’s always a lofty goal,” Centennial coach Roy Sessions said. “I think he’s capable of running about 4:06 right now. It would be an accomplishment out of this world. … He’s the best mile (runner) I’ve ever had. And as far as total athletes, he’s one of the strongest distance guys we’ve ever had.”

■ RECENT COMMITMENTS — Faith Lutheran seniors Greg Benson to the University of Redlands (Calif.) and A.J. Scott to Colorado Mesa, and Quest Academy senior Ammon Aiono to Grossmont College (Calif.) for football. … Las Vegas senior Alexis Berrios signed with UNLV for men’s soccer.

Reporter Ashton Ferguson contributed to this report. Contact reporter David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidSchoenLVRJ.