High school basketball: MVPs shared great game-changing qualities

Being a one-dimensional player just wasn't good enough during the 2008-09 basketball season. The best players in Utah were great offensively and defensively and led their respective teams to outstanding seasons.

This year's five Deseret News boys basketball MVPs were also the consummate teammates and absolutely indispensable to their teams' success.

Four of this year's five MVPs guided their teams to a state championship, whereas the one who didn't led his team to a 24-0 record before coming up short in the title game and is a Mr. Basketball front runner next season.

Here's a list of this year's MVPs as picked by the Deseret News. The first-, second- and third-team selections were voted on by the coaches:

5A MVP: Rayes Gallegos, West Jordan

In the past 12 months this West Jordan senior has gone from being an athletic player with potential to a state championship MVP.

The Jaguars' offensive and defensive standout, Gallegos was instrumental in leading his team to a co-Region 3 title and the 5A state title.

"For the success we had it wouldn't have been possible without Ray becoming the player he became," said West Jordan coach Scott Briggs.

Offensively he averaged 16.7 points and shattered the school record with 66 3-pointers. Defensively, he was the ace of the team and there was no way Briggs was going to give him an easier assignment to keep him out of foul trouble.

Gallegos took just as much pride in defense as offense. In the opening round of the state tournament his primary task was shutting downtown Viewmont's best player, which he did exceptionally well. In the quarters West Jordan needed him to score, and he led the team with 16 points. In the semifinals, the Nebraska-signee was more balanced with seven points, eight rebounds and five steals, and then in the championship game he was simply sensational with 22 points and four 3-pointers.

Over the past couple years he's become a much more consistent player, and his versatility enabled him to be a factor every game.

During one particular game this season the coaching staff discovered they were taking Gallegos' production for granted. They originally thought he'd had an off night because of a sub-par shooting performance, but a closer look at the stats revealed he grabbed double-digit rebounds and had seven steals.

"It just goes to show our expectations as the season went along, we just started expecting these things," said Briggs.

He delivered when it mattered most as well.

4A MVP: Kyle Collinsworth, Provo

Even though the Bulldogs came up short in their quest for perfection and a third-straight state title, the best player in 4A this year was unquestionably Collinsworth.