The days are gone when Loren Benally was known as that lanky Navajo kid who played basketball.

"When I first started playing, I wasn't as athletic," he said. "I was too lanky and didn't have a lot of self control on the court. At the time, it didn't seem like I was into it either but as I grew older I took a liking to it."

Loren is now 18 and after much work to build his physical and mental game, he has become one of a very few - if not the only - Navajo playing Class 5A Division 1 basketball in Arizona, a division that produces many National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1 players.

Loren, a senior at Mountain View High School in Mesa, Ariz., started on the JV team as a sophomore and then lettered as a junior.

But before that, Loren spent his early years in Farmington with his parents, including his mother Janise Benally, and younger brother Cameron.

His father, Dino Benally, originally from Shiprock, later moved the family to Albuquerque, where they hoped find a higher quality of education.

"I was taught to do what was best for me and my family," said Dino. "I always told myself that I would give my kids the best opportunities.

"So, for me, that meant moving my family off the reservation," he said. "I wanted something on a bigger scale for them. I wanted the best schools. Athletics actually did not play into our decision at all."

New perspectives

As for Loren, he began playing club basketball, which took him around the nation from California to Las Vegas, Nev., to Washington, D.C., and allowed him to observe new talent and levels of basketball.

"I saw a lot of new perspectives, the types of play and how other teams can battle out for all periods of the game," he said. "It was eye-opening and I realized there was a lot more out there than what I know. You can learn more and different things."

Dino later moved the family again, this time to the Valley where they have been for five years now.

"It was bit of a culture shock because I was a minority," Loren said, adding that he is one of only 10 Native Americans at Mountain View. "It posed something new but because of my heritage, I aimed to push for more excellence.

"Being Native and a minority makes you want to push for something great to show that you can come out here and be something great," he said.

Though Loren lettered his junior year, he played in the shadows of dominant starters and upperclassmen.

"I didn't play much as a junior, " he said. "But when I watched from the bench, I recognized the defense.

"It definitely took a lot of hard work," Loren added. "During practice, we'd battle against the seniors and every practice would be your game."

Playing defense

He comes off the bench, averages 3 points and 2 rebounds a game, has 6 steals this season and shoots 60 percent from the field.

"My biggest contribution to the team is my defense because there are some players that are too quick for our guards sometimes and coach allows me to play on them," he said.

He tries to hold their scoring down, he said, and this helps the team, especially in late game situations.

He also plays against some of the best players in the state.

Take Mesa High's Jahii Carson, for example. Carson has signed to play at Arizona State University but Loren doesn't mind guarding him. Loren is a defensive threat against anyone he matches up against.

"I always like guarding the best players," Loren said. "It brings to me a challenge and I like challenges. When I get to play against them and I have to work to hold them down, it's a fun thing to get them off their rhythm, keeping in front of the ball and contesting their shots."

Though he was accepted to Brophy College Preparatory, a private, Catholic college prep school, which only allows a select few into each class based on academic merit, Loren turned it down to learn basketball from the best.

A top coach

At age 61, Gary Ernst is in his 40th year of coaching, 27 at Mountain View. During his tenure, Ernst has coached a range of players.

Ernst was named the 2007 best high school coach by Phoenix New Times and of his seven state basketball championships, six are with the Mountain View Toros. He's also had a state runner-up title.

Ernst has some of the top-notch players in the state but Loren is fitting right in.

"Our players can shoot, they can defend, they're a good size, and the bench is filled with big players too," he said. "We like to play an up-tempo game. Defensively, we like a man-to-man pressure defense and Loren fits in well with that."

Ernst has also seen in Loren what others struggle with.

"Once they get to high school, the kids have to make adjustments to their game," he said. "It takes a certain level of maturity on their part for that process and Loren has fallen into the things we want him to do. He's worked hard as a sophomore and a junior to be where he is at."

Though he stands at 6-foot-3, Loren is considered small.

"He's filled a role that he understands," Ernst said. "We appreciate his effort and he is important to our team. His work ethic is fabulous. He's one of the finest young men you'll meet and he is well-respected."

Always improving

From Ernst, Loren is learning two things that will be applied on the courts and life: always work to improve and always be ready.

"He knows we can always get better," Loren said. "He wants us to get a little better every day and to make sure we are ready whether it's for a regular game or state."

Athletes under Ernst must have more than height, speed and passion. They must have time.

"It takes a lot of time," Ernst said. "They have to put in the time and work and most of them play only basketball - no other sports. We also practice year around and do other workouts to get them ready."

Loren, who hopes to attend Stanford University in the fall, holds a 4.0 GPA and is taking AP courses.

Preseason rankings showed the Toros in the No. 2 spot in the state in 5A-Division 1 behind Mesa High. They are currently No. 4 with a 15-2 record.

The Toros are in contention for this year's state title.

"Loren knows he'll be going in," Ernst added. "He'll just have to be ready to make his positive contribution - whether it's a regular game or the state tournament."

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