Diego Magana is a member of the 2013 senior class - a shooting guard prospect that is 6-foot-5, 175-pounds and attends Desert Mountain High School. In my opinion, Diego is the best pure unsigned senior shooter left in the class. He is an elite catch-and-shoot player from 3-point range and can take you off the bounce and rise up for a mid-range shot too. He also is an outstanding rebounder for a SG, since he is 6-5 and knows how to get position down low in the paint defensively. Once he puts on the proper weight and muscle, the sky’s the limit.
Here is a conversation he had with Arizona Preps (AP) ...
AP: Tell me about your family.
Diego: My mom was a badminton player and played in the Pan American games, and won a gold and silver medal. My dad was a great football player. My brother is a nationally-ranked swimmer who is #3 in the country. My sister also got a full ride to swim at Iowa. I’m from an athletic family.
AP: Why did you start playing basketball?
Diego: My mom tried to get me into swimming and I hated the water, I couldn’t stand it at all. So, I picked up a basketball and I just loved it. I loved it right from the start and the rest is history.
AP: What was your 1st dunk ever?
Diego: My junior year was my 1st dunk.
AP: First time you knew you were good?
Diego: When I was a freshman, I played varsity and played a good game, and a lot of people were coming up to me and talking to me after (the game) and asking me who I was.
AP: What weaknesses do you want to improve before you actually play college?
Diego: I want to get stronger and put on some weight. All the Division-I coaches are telling me that my talent is there, but I need to put on weight, which will help me on the defensive end. I think it’s more physical than pure talent.
AP: Tell me about your recruiting process. Has it been stressful, fun or something you have to do?
Diego: It’s a little stressful, but it’s definitely fun, because I have a lot of real good options.
AP: What are your official offers, and what are the schools that are interested in you?
Diego: Well, technically I have a verbal to M.I.T. But they are an admission school and the coach will help me out with the process. They don’t just accept you on your basketball ability - they accept you on your grades. I have a 4.2 GPA and I’m in the International Baccalaureate Program (IB Program). But compared to M.I.T., I am a little below. They normally take 5.0 students. So, I’m still going to apply and hopefully I get in. I have to clear admissions first.
AP: What GPA do you need to get in?
Diego: They accept a range from 4.2 to 5.0 GPA. They have a lot of 5.0 GPA students who go there. They usually accept perfect SAT scores who go there. I have a good SAT score, I have over a 2000 score, but it’s the best-of-the-best over there.
AP: What division is that?
Diego: It’s the best Division-3 School in the country.
AP: What if you don’t go to M.I.T.?
Diego: I have an offer from the University of San Francisco, which is a 3-quarters scholarship offer. I really like USF and I am friendly with Tim Derksen on the team from Arizona, who I played club ball with and I love the coaching staff. I also have many Ivy League schools that are interested in me.
AP: What Ivy League schools?
Diego: Cornell, Brown, Dartmouth and Columbia emailed me a week ago. Also, I some interest with some Division-II schools, and Boston University also has interest in me as well.
AP: Do you have a pre-game meal?
Diego: I like Subway before my games.
AP: What is your favorite food?
Diego: My mom’s lasagna. She’s a great cook!
AP: What is your favorite video game?
Diego: FIFA 2013.
AP: If your not playing basketball, what are you doing?
Diego: Schoolwork - school and basketball that’s about it. Hanging out with friends sometimes.
AP: What is your ultimate goal for the team? And then what is your personal goal?
Diego: Ultimately, you always want to win a state championship, and I think we have the talent to get us there. For my personal goal - if we go all the way, that will make me happy.
AP: Personal goal for the future for you?
Diego: To play college basketball and then to play professional basketball anywhere overseas. I also love economics and business. My dad works in business and I may want to follow that route.
AP: What do you think will take to win it all for Desert Mountain HS?
Diego: It starts on the defensive end and I think we have the talent, and if we share the ball and play as a unit, we can definitely get there.
AP: Knowing what you know right now, what would you change, if anything at all, if you could start HS basketball over again?
Diego: I wouldn’t want to change anything right now. I’m happy that I had 3 great years, and I’m looking forward to my final year. I just want to end it on a high note.
