April 28, 2008

By Anthony Arroyo Journal-Advocate sports reporter

STERLING -- Usually, if you wanted to find Trent Sides, and he wasn't at home, he was at his second home -- Jackson/Edwards Arena. Ever since eighth grade, coaches have allowed Sides to play pick up games with those older than him. He made his way there as often as he could, getting familiar with the players, coaches, and staff at the Bank of Colorado Event Center.

But what makes it so special now is that Sides will get to play pick up games and practice, not only as a student, but as a member of the Northeastern Junior College Plainsmen basketball team.

Trent signed his letter of intent on Friday, making the decision official that he will be balling for the Plainsmen next winter.

"It's an exciting feeling knowing that I'm going to be playing for NJC next year," Sides said. "NJC is a place that I'm very familiar with and, in my opinion, I think it's the best junior college in the nation."

Sides is right, with NJC being ranked in the top-25 quite often during the regular season. NJC was ranked as high as fourth in the nation and finished the regular season ranked 19th with its 27-3 record heading into the Region IX tournament. Northeastern would finish in second, compiling a 30-4 mark. The season before that, the Plainsmen finished seventh at Nationals in Hutchinson, Kan.

"I've seen how successful NJC has been and I always knew I wanted to be a part of that," Sides said. "The coaches are great, the players are great and it should be a smooth transition for me."

The decision to play basketball at the college level was an easy one at this point of his life, but it wasn't so clear a year ago. Sides was an outstanding soccer player and has an older brother who plays soccer at the collegiate level. Trent would have potentially looked into continuing in the sport if it wasn't for a knee injury suffered on the basketball court his junior year playing for Sterling High School.

"Soccer is actually my favorite sport," Sides explains. "I think my body is better fitted for soccer, and I would love to continue playing, but I think it would be less for my knee to take on if I just stayed playing basketball."

Sides didn't play soccer last fall, but his knee was cleared to allow him to play basketball this year, and he helped his team to a `Sweet 16' finish at the Class 4A state tournament. He was voted on the All-Northern Conference Team and was a honorable mention selection for the All-State teams.

Trent finished the season averaging 13.5 points and shot 78 percent from the free-throw line. He was a four-year letterman at Sterling and is ranked fourth all-time in steals (133) and sixth all-time in assists (200).

His game and his talents are something that SHS head coach Mike Holloway feels that will be quite useful at the next level.

"Signing at Northeastern is a great deal for Trent," Holloway said. "He has been a kid that has helped us in our program for the last four years and he has improved tremendously since his freshman year. He is a quality kid that not only provides the skills, but also has a strong character and is a leader on the court."

Sides will join a Plainsmen team that will lose eight sophomores from last year's Region IX runner-up team, including six guards.