Extra Points: Draper Leads Chargers in All Phases

Back in August, Stagg forward Darius Draper was tabbed as a preseason honorable-mention  a pick. On Friday night, he lived up to that lofty expectation. Draper scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the Chargers' 55-46 overtime victory over Thornridge.

He also added a pair of steals and blocked a shot.

At 6-6, he's the tallest player on Stagg's roster. His lean, 180-pound frame also means he's fast. And he works well in both phases of the game. He can shoot and play defense.

"He's not the best shooter in the program," Stagg coach John Daniels said. "I am. I'm a much better shooter than he is, even though he's taller than me. He can do a lot of things. He can drive, he can post and he can shoot the three. He also makes big free throws."

Draper went 5-of-7 from the free throw line in overtime to seal the Chargers' win over the Falcons.

"I just take what the defense gives me," he said. "If I drive and someone stops me, I kick it to the open guy. I see myself as a pass-first player. I guess you could label me an over-sized guard."

While he thinks of himself as guard, he plays the forward. And he is not afraid to take on opponent centers, either.

"I like to control the offense," Draper said. "I'll post up if I have a smaller guard on me, but I'll pass it off if I get double-teamed," he said.

"He took their best player in the second half and did a great job defensively," Daniels said. "If he doesn't do a good job against (Sinclaire Stevenson), it's a different game."

Draper, a Worth native, enjoys his U.S. history and psychology classes. While he has has no firm college plans, he says he has a few offers from NAIA schools. He plans to study either psychology or philosophy. In the past, he played baseball and football as well, but he has decided to focus on basketball.

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