AURORA | Jeremiah Paige is officially ready to extend his family’s basketball tradition at Colorado State.
The Rangeview senior guard — one of Colorado’s highest-rated prospects in the Class of 2014 — signed and sent in his national athletic letter of intent to the Rams on Tuesday, but was recognized with a ceremony Wednesday in Rangeview’s Media Center.
Paige follows in the footsteps of a grandfather Larry Paige and uncle Floyd Kerr who played for Colorado State. Larry Paige got drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1978 and Kerr has a spot in school’s athletic hall of fame, so Jeremiah Paige hopes to bring the family name back to prominence in Fort Collins.
“I don’t know if too many people up there know it, but it’s time to bring it back,” he said about the family tradition. “Family ties can help in and out of basketball.”
The family aspect played a part in the interest of Colorado State, which first contacted Rangeview coach Shawn Palmer after Paige’s outstanding sophomore season. The interest only intensified last season, when he averaged just a shade until 20 points per game as well as 4.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.1 steals per contest, made the Aurora Sentinel’s All-City First Team and was selected for the Show all-star game featuring Colorado’s top 20 players.
After receiving Paige’s signed letter of intent, Colorado State coach Larry Eustachy could comment about him.
“He (Paige) was a guy that, out of all the players (in Colorado), we kind of targeted,” Eustachy said in a statement.
Fort Collins High School’s Toby Van Ry and Nathan Bain of Sunrise Christian Academy (Kan.) join Paige among high school players to sign with Colorado State.
Already on the Rams’ roster are two former Aurora stars, Rangeview graduate Marcus Holt and Aurora Central grad Carlton Hurst, who each have a spot in the Rams’ rotation.
Practice for Rangeview’s 2013-14 regular season opened Wednesday and Paige was able to take the court, a day after being medically cleared to return from a broken wrist he suffered during a summer showcase tournament.
Paige has shown the ability to score, but hopes to work on his passing and rebounding this season, skills which could help him become a point guard at the start or early in his time at Colorado State.
Palmer has long valued Paige’s ability to do anything his team needs, including a playoff game last season in which he was asked to defend Highlands Ranch’s 6-foot-9 post player Zach Braxton, but sees his playmaking skills as ideal for
“I really think he can be a point guard, because he understands the game, has the poise and capability to run a college basketball team,” Palmer said. “I think that’s what CSU envisions, too. It’s nice to have a guy like Trey (senior point guard Bridges) who can allow him to be more of a scorer.”
Paige is looking forward to his senior season for the potential it has for him to continue to grow individually, but also for the possible team success. Rangeview is looking to take the next step after advancing as far as 5A’s Final Four in his sophomore season.
He also wants to leave his mark at the school for the players to come.
“I just want to create a legacy here, make other basketball players that are young know that Rangeview is a good place to go and win a championship,” Paige said.
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. Facebook: Aurora Prep Sentinel
