Goens ready to go for it this spring

Don't get in the way of Dee Goens, a 6-foot junior point guard from Marist High School in Atlanta, Ga., this spring.

His season ended prematurely and his first real go round on the national AAU circuit will be his first real go round in front of high-level college coaches. His fire has been fueled by a defeat as well as a personal motivation to prove himself as a top flight floor general from the Peach State.

Goens saw his season end in a heart-breaking loss last week and he'll tell you the game was probably his worst to date.

Goens shined down the home stretch, including a huge 30-point game and triple overtime win over region power Miller Grove, featuring four-star guard Mfon Udofia.

"That was a solidifying win for our team," Goens said. "We kind of had to believe that weren't that bad. We were actually a pretty good basketball team because we worked so hard as a team.

"It was probably the craziest game I've ever played in. Then playing against another high-caliber point guard like Mfon made the match-up even more exciting. I got so into it that I didn't realize what was even going on until after the game was over. I think that was the best game, as a team, that we played all year as a collective unit. Everyone contributed. That's why we won."

A total team guy, Goens wont' say it but winning the game and performing well against one of the top guards in the nation was a big feather in the cap for him.

"I saw that as an opportunity to prove myself at the point guard position," Goens said. "I wanted to show that hey I can actually play and that I'm around here too.

"That's been my motivation this whole season. I told my coaches at the beginning of the year that I wanted to gain the respect from people in the state. I wanted to prove the whole season that I could play. I think, for the most part, that I was able to prove that I am pretty good."

Without playing in the state tournament, that win and performance will be his blue ribbon performance for this season. That is why he wants to come out swinging in the spring with the Georgia Stars AAU program.

"It's huge. I really want to keep going (in AAU). When I play AAU, I figure it is my chance to go out there and keep playing hard," he said.

Goens, a strong student, has laid low under the recruiting radar. At least that is what he thinks.

"To be completely honest, I have no clue (who is recruiting me)," Goens said. "I don't really know anything about it. I try as much as possible not to worry about. I wanted to stay completely embedded with my team. I guess I'll start thinking about it later but I have no idea."

Goens has interest from the Ivy League schools, receiving calls from the academic powers. His talent will certainly be charted by the quality mid-level schools as well as the high-majors.

"They've been telling me that if I do what I'm supposed to do, everything will take care of itself," Goens said. "The way I look at it, I'm just another high school basketball player playing a game. I love to play the game. I don't really get caught up in the high school recruiting world. I really don't. I try to stay away from it as much as possible."

In theory, he'd like to stay away. In reality, recruiting probably won't be able to stay away from him.