Aurora Central standout Carlton Hurst (2) has worked to improve his all-around game after a tough ending to the Trojans' 2011 season. Hurst has signed to play at Colorado State.
File photo by Paul DiSalvo
Every so often,
Aurora Central boys basketball coach Ian Calvert tinkers with the scoreboard in the Trojans' gymnasium.
Sometimes this happens before the team's workouts, as the coach prepares a pointed greeting for his arriving players. Other times Calvert makes a sudden pause mid-practice to flash his message. Regardless, each and every time the illuminated message is the same: Calvert simply puts a "66" under the visiting team score, followed by "60" under the Trojans' name.
It is a message that both stings and motivates
Carlton Hurst every time he is forced to see it.
Last spring, Hurst and the Trojans had their lofty postseason expectations dashed in rude, sudden fashion with a 66-60 loss at home against Mountain Vista (Highlands Ranch) in the second round of the Class 5A state tournament.
After receiving a first-round bye the Trojans were one-and-done, and Hurst, who recently signed a National Letter of Intent to play at Colorado State University, has vowed to make sure his team does not suffer the same fate again.
"You spend the whole season trying to get to the playoffs, and then to lose in the first game is so disappointing," Hurst said. "He (coach Calvert) puts those points on the board so we know we have to play harder and do more through the season so we can do better in the playoffs."
Much of that burden will fall on Hurst's shoulders. He averaged 23 points a game last year while leading the Trojans to a 20-4 record. Yet what the future CSU Ram remembers most is how it ended: a 5-for-17 shooting performance that was good for just 14 points in the stunning loss against Mountain Vista.
In response to that late shortcoming, Hurst has challenged himself to become an improved all-around player this season.
"Really, this year is about helping all of our players," Hurst said. "We have a lot of seniors on our team who have worked hard for years and are good enough to play in college. I'm hoping I can help them get more exposure.
"We have the talent to go to state but we haven't done it. This year, without a doubt, we have an opportunity to do it if we stick together and play together."
So far on the young season, Hurst is following through with his vow to provide the Trojans with a more rounded game.
After scoring 25 points in a season-opening defeat against Rangeview (Aurora), Hurst bounced back by going 9-for-11 from the field in a win against Hinkley (Aurora), finishing with 20 points, seven assists and six steals.
Although Hurst struggled from the field in a win against Gateway (Aurora) he displayed the sort of all-around game he hopes to unleash more frequently this season, posting a triple-double with 19 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds.
"I definitely think he'll be a lot more well-rounded," Calvert said. "He's passing the ball well and he's being more vocal. It's his senior year, and he's speaking up and taking ownership of all the goals this team has set."
