Oxford's El adds sting to Hornet's offense

 

By PETER DiGIOVANNI

Special players have the ability to carry the fortunes of their respective teams on their backs. As a rule, won-lost records are tied directly to how well a player can perform when he is not surrounded by players as talented as he is.
These players also tend to be the main focus of every opposing coach and team and are expected to carry the load no matter what type of defense is thrown at them.
This season, Oxford’s Darren El averaged 22 points per game, far and away the most of any area player, and also went over the 1,000-point mark for his career with the Hornets.
The 6-foot-1 senior was the Oxford offense and many times faced double- and triple-teams. No matter what was thrown at him, El was clearly the most dominant offensive force in the area, combining a deadly outside shot with the ability to penetrate to the basket or score in transition.
For all of the above reasons, El has been named the Daily Local News Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
“Darren was just incredible for us this season,” Oxford coach Sean Harvey said. “He could beat anybody to the basket when he wanted to, and he worked so hard on reading and utilizing screens to get open. He used fade cuts, curl cuts and whatever he needed to get his shot, and he also could get to the basket on anybody.”
Octorara coach Gene Lambert also was very impressed with El’s game.
“Darren could get his shot on anybody and he carried Oxford to their wins. He was a great offensive player,” he said.
Oxford was not expected to have a successful season, but with El carrying the load, the Hornets won 17 games and advanced to the first round of the Class AAAA District 1 playoffs.
The Hornets’ leader, who will play his collegiate basketball at East Stroudsburg University, was all about obtaining team goals.
“I like to score, but I will do anything to help this team win,” El said. “My main goal was not to see how many points I could score, but to see how many games we could win.”
El was also savvy enough to learn his craft from former Oxford stars like Ryan Bogan and Julius Gray, both 1,000-point scorers during their tenures at Oxford.
“Darren waited his turn behind Ryan and Julius,” Harvey said. “But he used that time to learn the game and develop the ability to shake free from defenses and to be able to get his shot. Darren and I worked on a lot of things in the summer leagues and he made himself a better player.”
El relished his role and was clearly the one player opponents wanted to stop whenever Oxford would appear on their schedule.
Darren El carried the Oxford torch with class and dignity and was, in every sense, a very special player.