Eric Sorenson“Well, I’m standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona and such a fine sight to see…”
Long before Darius James arrived in the northern Arizona town, “The Eagles” put the quaint town of around 10,000 residents on the worldwide music map. Now James, a smooth junior guard, is looking to make sure people don’t forget the Winslow Bulldogs are still a basketball power in 3A after four consecutive 20 + win seasons.
Head coach Scott Corum has some holes to fill following a 27-10 season a year ago, which ended with a close loss to Fountain Hills in the title game. Gone are several key pieces at both ends of the floor, but Corum and the Dogs will lean heavy on James to spearhead their attack in the high country.
“He runs the offense really well, he’s like our Steve Nash,” Corum said to Sports360AZ.com during a recent ACU Summer Team Camp. “He can score but he’s really looking to pass more. Getting his teammates involved is really where he’s improved the most.”
As previously mentioned, James also isn’t afraid to put the ball in the basket. Last year as a sophomore he scored 34 points against Hopi and didn’t miss a shot from the field (15-15). A double-digit scorer and 36 percent shooter from behind the arc, the wiry-athletic 5-foot-9 guard can also get to the rim and finish. Part of that aggressiveness came from competing against his older brother Joshua, a pretty good player himself.
“He really pushes the ball and runs the court, he taught me well,” James said to Sports360AZ.com with a wide smile. “We play a pretty physical game of 21.”
When the polite, usually soft-spoken James isn’t playing summer ball with the Bulldogs, you can probably find him working out or on a nearby court in an effort to perfect his craft. It’s safe to say he’s well on his way.
Such a fine sight to see for Bulldog fans.
