DENVER EAST HAS STAR SOPHOMORE IN BASKETBALL
East’s Langston Reynolds might be best sophomore in the state
In just his third year of competitive basketball, Denver East sophomore Langston Reynolds is making a case for himself as one of the best players in Colorado’s class of 2022.
“He can do a little bit of everything,” East basketball coach Rudy Carey said. “He plays defense. He rebounds. He can shoot the ball. He’s a nightmare matchup for most kids.”
Just imagine what he’ll be able to do after a few more years of polish.
Basketball wasn’t his first love, after all. Growing up, Reynolds played football just like his older brother Demari, a defensive back for Mullen’s 2010 state championship team who later played at Adams State. As a witness to the injuries his brother sustained, Reynolds decided as an eighthgrader to make basketball his focus.
Having never played the game competitively, it was a learning process.
“At first it was a struggle,” said Reynolds, a 6-foot-4, 170-pound guard. “You have to have a different kind of skillset. It’s a different kind of game and the speed is different. There were a lot of things I had to adjust to, so it was a big change.”
But his lack of experience provided added motivation.
Reynolds spent his off time in the gym, practicing, lifting weights and studying YouTube videos of his favorite player James Harden. The process was largely self-motivated.
“He’s always been a kid who focuses on doing the right thing,” said his mother, Shaunta. “It’s always been a motto in our family to focus on your goals. He’s always lived his life like that.”
Off the court, Reynolds maintains a 3.3
grade-point average and is involved in the community, volunteering with various organizations including the Ronald McDonald House, Denver Rescue Mission and Special Olympics. He also volunteers helping out at youth basketball camps in the summer.
In due time, he hopes to become a McDonald’s All-American with several scholarship offers in hand. While he’s yet to receive a scholarship offer, he’s visited San Diego State and is on the radar of CU and DU coaches.
Anyone who watched East’s 76-69 win over Lincoln on
Tuesday night could see why. Reynolds was a force in the paint, pulling down a game-high 10 rebounds. He was 7 of 9 from the field en route to 17 points in the Denver Prep League showdown.
Playing defense is one of his strengths. In fact, Reynolds relishes opportunities to play against older, bigger and more talented players.
Against Lincoln, he held his own guarding 6-foot-5, 200-pound Lancers star T.J. Bamba, a Washington State commit. Reynolds blocked two of Bamba’s shots, including a denial of a breakaway dunk attempt in the final two minutes when the Angels were preserving a narrow lead.
Both
Reynolds and his coach expect his development into complete player.
“He’s got to put the mental game together with the physical game, and he’s going to be a great player,” said Carey.
When asked if Reynolds is the best sophomore in the state, the usually stern Carey cracked a wry smile.
“I can’t imagine anybody better,” he said.
In his 44 years as a coach, Carey has coached many great players en route to winning nine state championships.
“The vibe is just to win,” Reynolds said. “Our program is about getting kids to college and getting into the championship. This year we have a really good chancetodothat.” continued a more