After watching some of the better big school basketball teams for the coming season go at it over the weekend at Red Mountain High School, I stick to my guns of the type player I like to watch and want to have on my team.

Two that fit the bill are Pinnacle junior Drew Bender and Amphitheater senior Tim Derksen. These are hard-working, grind-it-out players that do a little of everything to help their teams be successful. They both can score, most nights can put up 20 points. They are heady, unselfish players not looking to impress with some fancy length-of-the-floor, zig-zagging move to the basket. They don't need to scored 20 a night or feel they have to. They are not looking for a dunk every time they have a clear path to the basket. They are fundamentally sound players with all-around games. They play smart.

More often as time passes basketball players want to ooh and aah fans and teammates and perhaps coaches at the next level with the fancy stuff. Often it comes back to haunt them and their team. Save the thunderous dunks and showmanship for exhibitions expressly designed for it. When your team is on the court, look to play like Drew and Tim. It's a much more pleasing to the eye and if you're good enough will probably take you to the next level just as efficiently.