HOME SWEET HOME
3/13/2007 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
If home is where you live, then Junior Denson may not know exactly where to go.
If home is where the heart is, then Junior Denson knows right where to go.
Truth be told, Denson has never known where home is, which may explain why he's never more comfortable than when he steps on the hardwood. That alone is good news for California Baptist, which begins play Thursday in the 70th Annual NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship in
To Denson, even that fabled arena feels like home. He is the only player on this year's roster that played in CBU's last NAIA Tournament appearance in 2005.
“It's a great achievement for the team to get here,” said Denson, who ranks second on the Lancers' career chart for assists. “It couldn't have a better ending. We are excited to be back, but we're not just happy to be here. This was our first goal, and now we have a goal to make some noise, go deep and see what happens. We want to prove that we belong here, and show that we are a legitimate team.”
All 32 teams here are legit. It's the best 32 teams the NAIA has to offer. The Lancers punched their ticket by going 16-6 over their final 22 regular-season games, earning an at-large berth. Along the way, the Lancers upended NCAA Division III No. 1-ranked and cu
And Denson is picking no finer time to have his best collegiate season. He is enjoying career-highs in scoring (14.0 avg.), assists (4.83 avg.), rebounds (3.2 avg.), free throw percentage (.853) and steals (2.0 avg.). He earned NAIA Player of the Week (Jan. 24) and his first-ever All-GSAC honor. It really is a happily-ever-after ending for a guy who has traveled a long, arduous and rocky road to get here.
Up until high school, Denson never lived anywhere for more than a year at a time, often switching schools midstream. His parents never ma
“I've always been good at making friends, but I was never able to keep them, because we were always moving around,” recalls Denson. “It was challenging.”
In seventh grade, Junior, who is named after his father Lionel Denson, Sr., and his mom settled in Alta Loma,
“When I moved out of my mom's house, our contact dwindled,” said Denson. “It didn't hit me until my first birthday (16th) out of the house. My step dad didn't want my mom to talk with me. Things eventually got better, but it was never the same. I can count on one hand, the number of games that she's seen me play. I eventually became used to it.”
Denson's mom and step dad eventually gave up custody.
“That was something I wanted, but when it came, I didn't,” said Denson. “It was tough because I felt alone. I had all my friends, though, and they became my family. They are my first group of stable friends, and all of their families are my family.”
After enjoying a stellar prep career in which he earned a trio of all-league honors, Denson again was on the move. He spent the 2004 season at
He didn't have many options, so when CBU head coach
“I don't know why, but I know that God has had a hand on my life,” said Denson, who admittedly knew little about Christianity before attending CBU. “I've never been in any major trouble when I had every opportunity to get involved with the wrong things. He not only spared me, but he in turn used basketball to get me here.”
After slowly immersing himself in the CBU community, Denson began to grow personally and spiritually. For Denson, life has never been the same.
“Shortly after I got here, I started thinking about things and wanted to live a better life,” said Denson. “God helped me, and he steered me in the right direction towards the right people. This (CBU) is the best thing that has ever happened to me, and the best decision I have ever made. At the time this was my only escape from
Home IS where the heart is, and for California Baptist and Denson, it couldn't be sweeter.
