The Long Arm(s) of the Law

Conner Donohue
Lounge Editor

At 6’4” he stands tall in the hallways of Rangeview, but on the basketball court he looks like any other vertically superior human being, until he spreads his wings. Then 32 unleashes hell.
Thirty-two is graceful and dominating all at once on the hardwood. Opponents can’t block his shot, shoot over him, or keep him off the glass; simply put, Jeff Solarin is a freak of nature.

“I’m 6’4” but I have the wingspan of someone who is 7’2”,” said Solarin.

Those long arms make him devastating on the offensive glass, leading one coach to call Solarin the best offensive rebounder in the state.
“He is excellent at rebounding and doing defensive fundamentals the right way,” said Coach Shawn Palmer. “He is at the top of rebounds and double-doubles in the state.” As of January 27th, the junior forward’s averages of 17.9 points and 9.9 rebounds per game led the Raiders.
Along with these impressive accomplishments, a 6’4” 188 pound Solarin has still not lost his drive and team-centered focus.
“Jeff has some great positive energy along with his basketball skills,” said senior and fellow Captain Yoshio Allen. “He won’t stop until we win.” His leadership and drive make him a key player on the Rangeview team and is a reason why he is a captain as a junior.
Combined with the physical presence of Allen, Solarin has given opponents fits inside on the way to an 11-4 record.
“My role as a captain is to make sure everyone is doing what they are supposed to be doing,” said Solarin. “That everyone keeps up their intensity.”
“He is a gym rat, very coachable, and is always willing to change and improve his game,” said Palmer. Solarin added that the most important part of his basketball career at Rangeview is practice.
“I try to be as prepared as possible before a big game,” said Solarin. “I eat a pre-game meal, listen to music, get hyped, then its game time.”
“Coach Palmer is my biggest influence,” said Solarin. “He encourages me to do my best every day.” Perhaps the biggest factor in Solarin’s work ethic and leadership is his passion for the game of basketball.
“It is one of the biggest factors in my life, it keeps me active, it keeps me from not running the streets,” said Solarin.
Solarin has been a consistent performer scoring in single digits only once (9 pts vs. Highlands Ranch), but could stand to improve at the foul line where he is only making 65-percent of his free throws.
Solarin and those similar to him in both a mixture of skill and leadership ability will again and again prove as great examples for athletes in the future.
“My words of advice for any upcoming basketball players would be to do well in class and practice hard and you will be successful,” said Solarin.
“I like to hang out, listen to music, and play basketball,” said Solarin. He is a Colorado native, and he idolizes superstars like dunk-master Dwight Howard. Solarin even donned a Dwight Howard superman shirt and cape for a dunk contest at the winter sports assembly.
Maybe his long arms don’t help him solve math problems easier and maybe they just make it easier for him to reach the top shelf, but one has to think Solarin would succeed regardless
But the fact of the matter is that Solarin is exceptional both on and off the court and not just because of his wide-winged nature.