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MISSOULA- One Missoula standout athlete has spent the better part of the last four years excelling in whatever game he can find and the Garden City gets one more summer to watch the high school greatness of Riley King.

Our Athlete of the Week has just proved that he's a star even among stars and just what makes Sentinel High School senior, and Missoula Mavericks player, so special? "I'd probably say my ability to get to the rim. You know, I'm kind of a slasher type guy. I can definitely shoot outside when I want to,"

How about on the diamond? "Just getting on base, and being a threat to steal bases. And stuff like that," Kind said.

Let's not forget about the gridiron. "Naturally being able to throw the ball, I guess you'd say. Definitely in that spread formation," he told us.

The recent Sentinel graduate always finds a way to standout, whether he is wearing the purple of the Spartans or the deep blue of the Mavericks- and most recently the white of Montana.

King suited up for the Treasure State in the annual basketball series against Wyoming's all-stars and he led the way to a Montana sweep, scoring 10 points on Friday, and a team high 25 in Saturday's close win.

"We were running a little on-ball picks, and I was able to get to the hole. Just trying to finish, and kind of take what they were giving me. And luckily it worked out good. It was just a fun weekend. It was an All-Star game, but everyone was taking it serous. Wyoming wanted to win. We wanted to win. Yeah like I said, just playing around good players, I mean, it was a blast. And I'm just glad I chose it," King recalled.

King waited deep into his senior year to decide what he wanted to do next and in the end his love of basketball won out. He'll head to Carroll College to play hoops for the Saints. But his football and baseball coaches say he could have just as easily excelled in those sports at the next level.

Mavericks manager Brent Hathaway believes King is a Division I, and potentially a professional, level player on the diamond. He also thinks that each season continued to groom the 6'3" star into what he is today.

'It doesn't matter if he's trying to, you know, sink the winning free throw with two seconds left, or he's the guy with the full count and the winning run on third, you know or he's got to get the last yard in a football game.He competes year-round. So, when he's put in those situations, it's old hat," observed Hathaway.

The football pads are already collecting dust and after this summer, King will also put away his baseball glove. He's sad to say goodbye to those sports, but he can't wait to lace up the sneakers full-time.

"I think I'm going to like it. Just cause it's going to make me focus on one sport, and reach my full potential in that one sport. It's something I'm looking forward to, being able to play the one year-round. And hopefully it works out for the best," King concluded.

King also earned a 3.75 GPA while balancing school work and three varsity sports in high school.

Contact Derek Buerkle