Booth

and standing third in the conference.

The NBA restart is slated for July 30 with an eight-game seeding round with 22 teams. The playoffs are scheduled to begin Aug. 15.

“We strongly feel like we’ve become one of the premier teams in the Western Conference,” Booth said. “Doing it year after year and gradually taking a step into the next echelon is our goal. We’re excited about that challenge.”

Booth is a big part of the Nuggets’ turnaround, said Tim Connelly, the team’s president of basketball operations.

“Calvin is one of the brightest minds in our league,” he said.

Connelly worked alongside Booth in Washington and New Orleans before luring him to Denver. The door opened for Booth in April when GM Arturas Karnisovas left to become president of basketball operations for the Chicago Bulls. Booth was being hotly pursued as a GM candidate by several other teams.

“I don’t think my job description will change a lot,” Booth said. “I probably won’t be spending as much time on the road scouting as I did before. The higher you climb up the ladder, you have to balance more responsibilities and minutiae in the administrative aspect of it.

“We run a different shop here in Denver. One of the most vital keys to our success is our continuity in the front office, the coaching staff and players.”

As he grew into his size-18 shoes, Booth was regarded as a project throughout much of his high school days. As a senior, he averaged 17.7 points and 10 rebounds to earn second-team all-central District honors in 1995.

He continued to flourish at Penn State, earning second-team all-big Ten and defensive player of the year as a senior. He set the Nittany Lions’ career mark with 428 blocked shots.

After Washington made him a second-round pick in 1999, Booth held serviceable roles for seven teams.

Booth’s coach at Groveport, Mike Moran, isn’t surprised that Booth became a success off the court.

“Calvin was a really smart kid who had a tremendous work ethic,” Moran said. “He was one of those prototype students of the game. He was very quiet, but he was observant and absorbed things like a sponge. He listened extremely well and has always surrounded himself with top-notch people.

“It started with his parents. They set high standards for him.”

Booth’s father, Calvin Sr., died in February at age 66. He was a 33year veteran of the Columbus Police Department.

Booth and his wife, Keisha, have four children between 6 and 16 years old. Their eldest daughter, Carter, is a 6-foot-7 junior volleyball standout in the Denver area who already has committed to Minnesota. sblackledge@dispatch.com @Blackiepreps