RAMSEY: Lewis-Palmer's Josh Scott is state's tallest underdog

Each time Josh Scott steps into the gym to practice his shots or into the weight room to increase his strength, he draws fuel by listening in his mind to all the doubters out there.

I think these doubters are phantoms, but it doesn’t matter what I think. It matters what Scott thinks.

He’s the top-ranked basketball player in Colorado and considered one of the nation’s top 40 high school players. He’s earned a scholarship to play for Tad Boyle at the University of Colorado. He averages 30 points for the once-beaten Lewis-Palmer Rangers, who travel to Sierra on Friday to tangle with Wesley Gordon and his unbeaten Stallions.

“I’m an underdog,” Scott said earlier this season a few minutes after leading the Rangers to yet another double-digit victory.

An underdog?

It’s hard to see Scott as an underdog. For one thing, he’s 6-foot-9 1/2. This means he often towers five inches over everyone else on the court. He’s quick, fast, strong and virtually ambidextrous.

“Ah, nothing has ever been handed to me,” Scott said. “I’ve always had to work hard to be ranked as high as I am. I’m going to work hard to go up to Boulder and live up to the hype around me. I’ve always been the underdog, I feel like.”

Boyle, talking by phone from his Boulder office, laughed when he heard Scott’s words.

Scott is the centerpiece of Boyle’s strong 2012 recruiting class. Boyle has placed strong emphasis on keeping Colorado’s best players in Colorado, and talking about Scott is a sure way to place a smile on the coach’s face.

“I’m glad to hear Josh sees himself as an underdog,” Boyle said. “I don’t, but I’m glad he does.”

Boyle sees the same virtues from Scott that I see.

Scott is tall and blessed with an abundance of physical gifts, but it’s his extreme hunger that makes him special. He plays the game as if he’s the smallest player on the court.

Effort goes a long way in sport, especially in basketball. The player who wants the rebound the most usually seizes the rebound. This is especially true if you happen to stand 6-foot-9 1/2.

This endless hustle is rare for a big man. This hustle defines Scott.

“The thing that is going to make Josh great is he wants to be great,” Boyle said. “He needs to get better. He’s not the finished product, but he’s got the hunger and the desire.”

And the confidence.

Over the summer, Scott played against several of the nation’s most famed high school recruits. He walked away from the battles with an intensified belief in himself.

“I outmatched them and outworked them,” Scott said. “And these were the best bigs in the country. I feel great. I feel like – I’m not bragging or anything – but I feel nobody can guard me. That’s just how I look at it.”

On the night Scott spoke, Gordon was leading Sierra to victory a few miles away. On Friday night, the two players will duel head-to-head. They will guard each other. They will be the featured performers in the biggest high school regular-season game in recent memory.

Gordon and Scott are friends. They respect each other. Next season they will be teammates at Colorado, but right now they look forward to competing against each other.

I laughed when Scott said no one could guard him.

What about Gordon? Former NBA superstar and current Springs resident Rick Barry wonders if Gordon is the best 6-foot-7 shot blocker he’s ever seen.

Scott didn’t hesitate. He must have seen the question coming.

“Wesley is an excellent defender,” Scott said, “but at the same time – I’m not trying to talk crap because he is an excellent defender – but, yeah, nobody can guard me.”

Colorado’s most unlikely underdog has spoken. We’ll soon see if he’s correct.

Twitter: @davidramz

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