Record-setting Darnez Slater dances to own beat, leads Roosevelt into Southern Section playoffs

High-scoring junior guard who broke school single-game record with 52 points makes it look easy and stylish, on and off the court

EASTVALE, Calif. – The strains of Drake’s “Started from the bottom” fill the Roosevelt High gymnasium.

Roosevelt (22-6 overall) warms up on Senior Night. Junior 6-foot-3 guard Darnez Slater bops around the court in Nike sneakers the color of rainbow sherbet ice cream. He drains 18-footers as if he has radar.

A rowdy group of Mustang rooters bellow all the predictable cheers. “Who was that to?” when Norco throws a ball out of bounds. And “scoreboard” when Roosevelt seizes a 4-0 lead.

Slater, who scored a school-record 52 points in a Jan. 26 win home game versus Santiago-Corona, hangs around the periphery. When a defender double-teams a teammate, he gets the ball and makes the net ripple. He sinks putbacks, turnarounds, dunks, lay-ins, and 3-pointers.

Darnez Slater always stands front and center for the Mustangs. Photo: John Murphy

“It felt like everything I shot was going down in the first quarter,” Slater says of his 52-point game. “I had 33 at halftime and so I decided to go for the record. My teammates did everything they could to get me the ball.”

Slater’s 52 eclipsed the school record of 36 by Matt Mitchell in 2017.

That was then. Against Norco, Roosevelt struggles.

SONG AND DANCE

We search for Slater’s parents at halftime and are told his dad is wearing a blue Los Angeles Dodgers’ cap.

“Are you Darnez’s dad,” we say. We also meet his mom, Yarenis.

Yarenis relates how easily basketball and academics come to her son. How growing up, he barely needed any help with his homework.

She also tells of his goofy side.

“Before bed, he and his younger brother, who loved Justin Bieber, used to perform for me. Darnez sang and Davinn beatbox the tone and was the backup dancer. They wore their PJ’s and put on a full show. It was really cute and funny. It made me laugh because they acted like they were on stage.”

Roosevelt’s performance against Norco is not so boffo. At halftime the Mustangs lead 28-27.

“They’re not playing like they usually do,” said Derron Slater, Darnez’s dad.

TRIAL

Near the end of the third quarter Roosevelt still struggles. Mustang coach Steve Singleton covers his face with his hands after a foul is called. He spreads his arms wide as if begging an explanation.

Singleton is miffed at Slater’s play and pulls him. The coach is visibly upset. But before the end of the period Slater is re-inserted. His assist on an inbound play leads to a Denzel Agba tip-in. Roosevelt leads 46-40 entering the fourth.

FINISHING

Roosevelt finds its rhythm in the fourth quarter and outscores Norco 20-13. The Mustangs ease to a 66-53 victory as Slater scores 21 points. He averages 20.4 points, five rebounds, and three assists per game.

On Wednesday, the Mustangs host Dominguez-Compton (17-6) in a first-round Southern Section Division I playoff matchup. SEE ENTIRE SCHEDULE

Following a marathon post-game address from Singleton, Slater emerges from the dressing room. He is unfailingly pleasant and polite but not satisfied with his effort.

“Every game I just want to compete and play the best I can and help my team win,” he says. “I felt I could have played better and been more aggressive, and I could have played better defense. But we got the win and that’s all that really matters.”   

John Murphy is an SBLiveCal contributor and the sports editor of the Century Media Group of Southern California. Contact him with human-interest feature ideas at berdoorman@gmail.com. Twitter: @PrepDawg2

All photos below by John Murphy

Darnez Slater during a break in the action

Darnez Slater before the game

Darnez Slater goes in for two on Senior Night

Darnez Slater is introduced before game on Senior Night

Darnez Slater listens to pre-game instruction from officials

Darnez Slater works on his handles

Darnez Slater and the Mustangs after his school-record 52-point performance. 

More pregame from Darnez Slater

Darnez Slater takes a technical foul free throw

Darnez Slater with an emphatic two