NOTES: Desert Pines’ Je’rell Springer looks to make up for lost senior season

Je’rell Springer’s plan was to use a big senior season with Desert Pines’ boys basketball team as a springboard to a college scholarship.

It never came to fruition.

Springer was embroiled in an eligibility battle with the Clark County School District and the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association and played one game for the Jaguars this past season after transferring from Shadow Ridge.

Now, the 6-foot-6-inch guard/forward is hoping his performances on the travel basketball circuit are enough to convince recruiters before the spring signing period begins April 12.

“It was pretty hard watching knowing it was my final year and I didn’t have nothing else to put out there on the table,” Springer said. “There’s a lot of schools that didn’t get to see me play in high school.”

Springer was a third-team all-state pick as a junior at Shadow Ridge and ranked as one of the state’s top recruits in the class of 2017 by every major internet recruiting service.

Springer was expected to be a major contributor for Desert Pines but was denied eligibility by CCSD and also by a hearing officer, according to NIAA assistant director Donnie Nelson.

Springer received a temporary court order that allowed him to play Jan. 21 against Clark, but he struggled and finished with seven points on 1-for-14 shooting in a 58-56 loss.

“I didn’t have that feeling, I didn’t have that touch,” Springer said. “I think my last real game before that was, like, October.”

Springer’s final attempt at playing for the Jaguars also was denied during a judicial review in district court, and Desert Pines went on to win the Class 3A state title as Springer watched in street clothes.

Springer impressed last summer with 702 Attack and was drawing interest from several schools, including UNLV, before his senior season.

“I had (college) coaches calling me all the time asking if this kid was cleared or not,” Desert Pines coach Michael Uzan said. “It was just an ugly situation. I don’t think it was right by any means, and I think they cost this young man an opportunity.”

Springer impressed at the NC Spring Phenom 150 camp this month in Greensboro, North Carolina, and said he will rejoin 702 Attack at tournaments during the NCAA’s April evaluation period.

Springer has scholarship offers from Pacific and Southern Utah and confirmed he also is weighing the option of attending prep school next season.

“I just feel like I was kind of cheated out of playing, because I had everything they asked for,” Springer said, “… but when I’m successful, it’s going to feel pretty good.”

NIAA HONORS 10 LOCALS

Ten area athletes were selected as Student-Athletes of the Year in Southern Nevada by the NIAA and will be recognized during a banquet April 24 at Orleans Arena.

The winners are: Emmalyn Barnum (Virgin Valley), Bethany-Anne Calvert (Pahrump Valley), Trey Chauncey (Las Vegas), Bailey Cunanan (Basic), Anna Dobbins (Las Vegas), Marckell Grayson (Desert Pines), Nicholas Harris (Pahrump Valley), Brayden Johnson (Virgin Valley), Gavin Mangan (Basic) and Samantha Pochop (Rancho).

Contact reporter David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow @DavidSchoenLVRJ on Twitter.