Desert Pines senior forward Jason West, shown at practice this week, averages a career-high 18.9 points and 10.8 rebounds for the Jaguars. West and coach DeShawn Henry credit his improvement to offseason dedication. Photo by Craig L. Moran.

To watch Desert Pines' Jason West in the pregame layup line is to be impressed.

The 6-foot-4-inch senior uses his 81-inch wingspan and leaping ability to soar above the rim, and only rules against touching the rim before games keep him from putting on a dunking show.

But West has worked hard to make sure he is more than a pregame marvel. After relying on his athletic ability and long arms to be a solid low-post scorer for three years, West has extended his range this season, regularly making 3-point shots.

The added perimeter skills have helped the forward average a career-best 18.9 points and 10.8 rebounds in helping the Jaguars to a 10-3 start.

"Now I see that to go further and further you have to have perimeter skills and just fundamentals," he said.

West also has also become a defensive force, using his long reach and leaping ability to average 3.3 blocked shots.

"People, they just don't penetrate as much as they would on another team, because I'm a shot blocker," West said. "I just think I'm a force in the middle in high school because my arms are so long."

Jaguars coach DeShawn Henry said he has enjoyed watching West's development. West has started since he was a freshman, and he was a double-digit scorer as a sophomore and junior.

"When he came in as a freshman, we used to get him the ball on the block, and he'd just dunk on whoever," Henry said. "Over the past two years, he's really put in the work to improve his ballhandling and his shooting. Players are made in the summer, and he really made a commitment ... to really get better at different aspects of his game."

To improve his shooting range, West said he hoisted 500 jumpers a day. He also worked to improve his ballhandling, though he said that's an area that still needs improvement.

"I think my shot has improved 100 times since the first time I stepped on campus," West said. "If I keep working hard, I think I'll be a real good player."

Henry said leadership has been one of West's areas of greatest improvement.

"I kind of felt over the years that the last component he needed was the leadership," Henry said. "He's definitely done it this year. He's kind of our rock. Our guys feed off his energy, and him being who he is, our players are looking to him."

And West's work ethic is one of the reason's the other players respond to his leadership.

"His jump shot this year has increased and has gotten better tenfold because he works on it," Henry said. "Guys are feeding off him because he's been putting in the work all spring, all summer and they see that. In practice, he goes hard and I think guys are respecting that."

West's improved perimeter skills don't mean he has abandoned his considerable athletic gifts. He still loves the high-flying dunk to pump up his team and the crowd.

"It's nothing better than that, just hearing the crowd yelling," West said. "It's a real good feeling."

West will have to continue to improve his perimeter game to get a shot at playing time in college, Henry said.

"Jason realizes that because of his size, he's not going to be a big-time Division I (recruit), and he's happy with that," Henry said. "He just wants to go somewhere and play."

West has received some Division I recruiting attention, especially from Southern Utah. He said San Diego also has shown interest, and Henry said several junior colleges have contacted the school recently to inquire about West.

But West said his college future will wait until after the high school season is over. He's focusing on finishing his prep career on a high note.

"It's a must," West said. "The last three years I've been here, Desert Pines hasn't really been respected for basketball -- it was mostly a football school. This year, I think we're earning the respect of a lot of people."