Ben Dotten is one of those players who sneaks up on you -- the more you watch, the more you like him. A 6-foot-6 2024 talent on a perennially successful Santa Cruz High School program, Dotten contributes to his team in multiple areas. But this is his season to come to the fore as a must-stop guy for Cardinal opponents considering the void created by the graduation of teammate Aden Curry, the Most Valuable Player of the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League. Dotten himself earned First Team honors last season.
Asked to detail his best basketball skills, Dotten modestly offered, "right now, it's my passing, attacking the rim and my shooting which I improved on this summer. Lawan Milhouse, Dotten's Santa Cruz High head coach soon to be entering his 10th year in the position, said "Dotten can guard the 1-5 spots, his jumpshot is coming along well, he is very good off the dribble and has a pretty good basketball IQ."
Acknowledging that the loss of Curry will be felt, Dotten still forsees another prosperous go-around in 2023-24 for the Cardinals. "We'll have a solid rotation of 7-8 guys."
Dotten is ready to fill any gaps in a leadership role for Santa
Cruz, understanding that "leadership is being verbal but also how
you play and show yourself." He is also looking forward to getting
back on the Cardinal court with longtime teammate and fellow senior 6-foot-3 Demeke Smith.
With recruiting, Dotton "is keeping all options open. I'll go with my gut, wanting a head coach who will be looking out for me and also willing to push me." He sees his collegiate position as playing on the wing.
Regarding a major, Dotten will eventually decide between business
and sports medicine.
His best basketball memories reside in the 'we-not-me' hoops spectrum. "It's all the fierce games we played against rival Aptos High plus how we bonded even more as a team when we were traveling to and from high school and AAU games." To this day, Dotten heads over to San Jose to visit with teammates whenever he has time to do so (he played on the West Coast Elite program during spring and summer).
Crediting "my mother and father for their support" in his taking up and sticking with basketball, Dotten retains fond memories of "battling my Dad one-on-one. He's 6-feet tall and will try to dunk on me to this day despite our difference in height. He's the one who got me into basketball."
Granted, Dotten has big shoes to fill this season but he is prepared to do so. The opportunity is present. So is the talent and drive.
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