Ben Boone emerges as leader at Colorado School of Mines
GOLDEN, Colo. — The Colorado School of Mines Orediggers are coming off a season in which they were 14-1 in the conference and 18-3 overall. The season concluded with a heartbreaking 75-74 overtime loss in the finals of the RMAC tournament to top seeded Colorado Mesa. Brendan Sullivan and Kobi BeLs made the all-tournament team.
A basketball program that has produced quality teams over the years, the Orediggers posted a combined overall record of 87-28 over the past four seasons. However, this season has gotten off to a rocky start, with a 3-3 record heading into the December 11 contest against the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.
Gone from last season鈥檚 team are Michael Glen (10.5 points, 6 rebounds) and Austin Means (7.2 points, 5.5 rebounds). Returning players include Sullivan, Bets, Justin Engesser, Titus Reed, and senior guard Ben Boone. The 6-foot-5 mechanical engineering major has elevated his game and has become the leader of the team.
Boone played his high school basketball as a shooting guard and small forward for Grandview in Centennial, Colorado. As a sophomore, Boone was named Honorable Mention All-Centennial league. Other honors included second-team All-Colorado and second-team All-Centennial league as a senior, and member of the state championship team. Boone won three varsity letters and averaged 10 pointes, three rebounds, and two assists per game. In addition to his play on the court, Boone excellent in the classroom, earning Academic All-State honors, and AP Scholar with honors.
Boone came off the bench as a true freshman in 2018-19, appearing in all 31 contests. He got into the collegiate scoring column for the first time against Nebraska-Kearney and averaged 3.3 points in 14.4 minutes per game. His season highs were 13 points versus Westminster and six boards versus Dixie State.
The coaching staff was so impressed with Boone鈥檚 potential that he became a starter in 2019-20, averaging nearly nine points, four rebounds, and two assists in 28 minutes per game. He emerged as a legitimate deep threat, connecting on 44 percent from three-point range. Boone set a new career high of 23 points against Chadron State and nearly reached double digits in rebounds against CSU-Pueblo, hauling in nine. Boone thrived when it mattered most, earning RMAC All-Tournament Team.
In the shortened 2020-21 season, Boone started all 21 games as the shooting guard. He averaged just under ten points and three rebounds per game. His overall shooting percentage was 45 percent and nearly 40 percent efficiency from beyond the arc. Boone really came into his own during the NCAA West Regional, averaging 16 points per game, hitting 5-of-7 from three-point range. Boone also drained five three-pointers and tallied 17 points against Lincoln Memorial in the NCAA Elite Eight. Boone was recognized for his efforts by being names Honorable Mention All-RMAC and NCAA West Regional Most Outstanding Player. Boone continued to thrive academically, named RMAC First-Team All-Academic.
In the early going this season, Boone has picked up where he left off. He opened with 19 points and seven rebounds in 29 minutes against St. Mary鈥檚 (TX). Boone struggled to eight points on 3-of-10 from the floor against Lubbock Christian, but has scored at least 17 points in every game since, hitting a combined 15-of-32 from three-point range. Boone is the leading scorer for the Orediggers, averaging 16.8 points per game. In addition, he鈥檚 leading the team in rebounding and tied for the team lead in assists.
Boone and Sullivan are combining for an average of 32 points per game. It appears Boone has taken over as leader of the team and the Orediggers will go as far as he can take them. For fans of the Colorado School of Mines, the hope is Boone can lead them to the RMAC title and a shot at the Division II championship.
This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.