DIVISION III HONORS: Agassi Prep’s Booker named Player of the Year

Agassi Prep coach Trevor Diggs knew he was getting a special player in Deishuan Booker when he first saw him in physical education class three years ago.

But neither could have imagined the near-perfect success the two would experience over the last two seasons. Booker, who has become one of the top point guards in Southern Nevada, led the Stars to consecutive state titles and a 52-1 record in two seasons under Diggs, a former UNLV standout.

After guiding the Stars to a 26-0 record this season and averaging 26.4 points, the 6-foot-2-inch Booker was named the Division III Southern League Player of the Year by coaches for the second consecutive season.

“I knew he was talented when I first saw him play,” Diggs said. “He was a Division I talent. He has a gift to play the game. I played at that level. He just sees the game and is one step ahead of these kids out there. He is the most talented guard in Vegas. He’s got top-notch skills and basketball IQ.”

After first meeting Booker in his physical education class, Diggs coached him on the junior varsity during Booker’s sophomore season. Booker, who played at Bishop Gorman as a freshman, couldn’t play on the varsity that season because of Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association transfer rules.

Though it took several practices and games for Booker to buy into his new coach’s system, the two formed a special bond over time.

“It was a battle at first,” Diggs said. “He was used to doing things his own way. I came to Agassi with the attitude from Brooklyn. Once he bought in, it was special. I was the new guy, new coach, new teacher. There was nothing wrong with how he played. I was just more of a hard-nosed coach. He got a sense of how I was, and we got used to each other. He has a friend in me for the rest of his life. He became my family.

“Me and him have been together my whole coaching career. When he moved to varsity, I moved to varsity. It was great to see him grow up.”

Booker remains undecided on his playing future, but Diggs says wherever that may be, someone will be getting a steal.

“He’s still one of the hottest recruits that colleges need to be aware of,” Diggs said. “People always look at it like we play in Division III. If you’re a good player, you’re a good player. If any coach or school would see him play or practice, they’d know he was a Division I player. He’s definitely the most underrated player in Las Vegas.”

Agassi Prep’s Dennis Walker was named to the all-league first team along with The Meadows’ Jake Epstein and Max Hisatake, Lincoln County’s McClain O’Connor, Calvary Chapel’s Matthew Harney, Mountain View’s Connor LeBoeuf and Needles’ Trenton Poe-Evans.

Lincoln County’s Matt Cameron was named Coach of the Year. The Lynx, who failed to make the playoffs in 2014, went 12-4 in Southern League play and were the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.

In girls, Lincoln County’s Savannah Harr took home Southern League Player of the Year honors after helping the Lynx to a third-place finish in the league.

Needles’ Brenna Chavez and Jane Antone, The Meadows’ Bailey Gosse, White Pine’s Debra Kingston and Ashlyn Huntington, Lincoln County’s Easton Tingey, Agassi Prep’s Javoulaee Green and Mountain View’s Kiley Murphy made up the all-league first team.

Needles’ Manuel Calderon won Coach of the Year after leading the Mustangs to the state final.

Contact reporter Ashton Ferguson at aferguson@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0430. Follow him on Twitter: @af_ferguson.