Pueblo South’s Maleek Johnson. (Courtesy of Roxy Burris)
When DJ Johnson reminisces on Pueblo South boys basketball, he comes across as humbled. After all, he knows the program well.
Johnson donned the black and white as a player. He served as an assistant from 1993-2010. He’s even been there for both state championship runs as the Colts won Class 4A in 1995 and 2001.
Now in his fifth season as the head coach, Johnson has been able to carry upon a legacy marked by winning and grit. This year’s team boasts a 14-0 record (including 3-0 in the South Central League) and a No. 1 ranking in the Class 4A poll.
While every season is a little different, and certainly this group is forging their own path, the seeds of success draw back to a tradition built over several decades.
“South’s always had a tradition of good players and good teams,” Johnson said. “Since I’ve been there, we’ve been fortunate to have success in a number of different years. I’m just doing the best I can to try and carry that on and teach the kids the things that I learned when I was younger.”
Back in 1975, the Colts reached the AAA state finals, the highest classification at the time, before falling by a mere two points to Westminster. Soon after Dave Lockett took over the program in 1989, South finished as the 5A runner-up to Palmer when 6A was the largest in 1993.
Then, the 1995 team brought the first gold ball home when they defeated Rampart in 4A. Pueblo South also won 4A over Sierra in 2001 and finished as the 4A runner-up to Sierra in 2009. The 2009 title loss closed out Lockett’s legendary career.
The Colts’ tradition has rubbed off on the current group. And, in some ways, the success South has experienced, over a number of decades, seems to be ingrained in the culture of the city.
“Pueblo is very unique in a lot of ways,” Johnson said. “Kids from Pueblo are tough. They grow up tough, they learn tough. I don’t know if it’s a mentality or it’s a blue-collar work ethic that Pueblo has always carried on from the steel mill back in the day, but it’s always been there. I think that’s what makes Pueblo special.”
(Courtesy of Roxy Burris)
That level of persistence, along with leadership and obvious talent, has been a perfect recipe for the Colts so far this season. After graduating a senior class of Jared Baros, Trey Parker and Bryson Smith — a core that carried South to a 41-10 record the last two seasons, along with Sweet 16 and Great 8 appearances — Johnson wasn’t as sure about this season going in.
But there’s been no need for a transition year. Three new seniors — Maleek Johnson (16.6 points per game), Isiah Pannunzio (14.3), and Brett Devries (13.2) — have influenced the team both in production and leadership.
“When you put together the fact that you only have three seniors, you have a young team, I really didn’t know what to expect,” Johnson admitted. “But it’s been nice to have those three seniors. The things that they bring to the team, the leadership qualities and the work ethic that they bring, has really helped the younger kids come along.”
Maleek Johnson, a speedy and offensively gifted guard, and Pannunzio, a Colorado State football recruit, are now four-year varsity players. Devries has been capable in the frontcourt next to Pannunzio, as well.
“I’m trying to take more of a leadership role this year,” Johnson said. “I just need to play how I play and be the quarterback on the court. Isiah and I know what the varsity level is like.”
Of course, the seniors haven’t been alone in keeping their unbeaten streak alive thus far.
Junior Deshiloh Stanley, the team’s point guard and a player Maleek Johnson praises as a two-way standout, is averaging 11.6 points and shooting 80 percent from the free throw line. Sophomore Lawrence Ramos, only 5-foot-8 but a scrappy defender, chips in 6.6 points per game, and sophomore forward Marcel Barbee contributes 5.6 in the scoring department.
An athletic and Pueblo-tough basketball team that averages 71 points and only gives up 52 a game, South has clearly placed themselves in the top group of 4A title contenders, especially when taken into account the fact they’ve already beaten No. 2 Lewis-Palmer and No. 6 Golden.
Nonetheless, 4A has been a bit unpredictable in recent years and, while an undefeated record through 14 games is certainly worthy of praise, the Colts are confident but grounded while staying focused on the simple game-by-game task at hand.
“We still have our deficiencies,” coach Johnson said. “We have to tighten things up and we have to rebound better at times and we have to play defense better at times. The ranking doesn’t matter. It’s nice to have a good record as far as seeding but, like everybody else, we’re just trying to improve. We’re not resting on our laurels and we’re not happy with where we are in some areas.”
At the same time, the excitement coach Johnson has about this group is obvious.
“There’s a good sense of team, a good sense of unity,” he said.
Maleek Johnson, who admitted the Colts got a little overconfident at times the last two seasons, thinks this is their best chance at returning to the Coors Events Center for the Final Four for the first time since 2009.
“We are more of a team than we were last year,” the senior said. “We have a bench that does well for us and we just have a good overall team.”
If Pueblo South does make a deep playoff run all the way to Boulder, perhaps even claiming the gold ball they so desire, it won’t be just a result of a special lightning in the bottle type season. It’ll also be a direct result of the winning hoops culture at the school and the grittiness of the players, a rugged determination that has defined Pueblo prep sports for decades.
(Courtesy of Roxy Burris)