Darren Baker wants to play college basketball but there is a big senior season waiting to begin officially on the Monday after Thanksgiving.
A 5-foot-11-inch guard, Baker averaged 15 points per game as a junior for the Lynn Classical boys basketball team who won the Greater Boston League championship and advanced to the Massachusetts Final Four.
“I have to do more this year so we can get back to where we left off last year,” said Baker.
Classical Head Coach Marvin Avery has high expectations for Baker, who has the total offensive game: he can shoot the trey, drain the step-back, break down a defender with his crossovers, and distribute the basketball. Greater Boston League teams will have their hands full this season trying to contain the individual offensive powerhouse.
“Darren will be the best player in a lot of gyms next season,” said head Avery. “He’s going to be my senior captain. He’s looking at Westfield State, Framingham State, and Salem State. He was one of our key players on our Final Four team, and we expect him to be even better this season. And he represents Classical well – he’s a very good student-athlete.”
Baker, who turns 18 in October, said he has been working hard on his game in the off season. He was present at the Lynn Classical Summer Basketball Clinic helping future high school players.
And he has an excellent mentor in Coach Avery.
“Coach Avery has taught me for the last four years the importance of coming to work. He stresses discipline and he’s helping me to become a young man, and he’s been a really big help to my basketball career,” credited Baker, whose favorite NBA player is Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Darren is the son of Darren Baker Sr. and Jasmine James.
