The letters became jumbled and scattered on the table top as if junk mail.

Day after day, letters from colleges around the country would jam the Dranginis mail box. Many remain unopened.

They were addressed to Skyview High junior Kyle Dranginis and came from college basketball programs at Boise State, Gonzaga, Notre Dame, Oregon State, Utah, Utah State, San Diego and on and on ...  They just kept flooding in.

He would get 15 to 20 letters a day and around 200 total.

“It was a little overwhelming,” Dranginis said.

At first, he was flattered by the college interest — heck, it was fun to tear into the envelopes and read what was inside — or receive a call from a prospective college coach.

Many kids his age would throw a party with the attention he was receiving. After time, Dranginis just threw up his hands.

“I was getting kind of annoyed of all the colleges and everything, getting phone calls every day,” he said.

After visiting with Gonzaga coaches in Spokane, and playing in pick-up games against Gonzaga’s players, Dranginis knew where he wanted to go to college.

He called Gonzaga coach Mark Few three days after he was offered a scholarship and verbally committed to play for the Bulldogs.

“I think he’s a lot more relaxed and kind of enjoying things more,” said Dranginis’ mother, Julie.

From the time Dranginis hit what proved to be the winning basket in last year’s 4A state championship game on March 7 to the time he selected Gonzaga, Dranginis had been wading through mail and phone calls.

Today, the 6-foot-4 point guard returns to the tournament that brought him so much attention one year ago.

The defending champion Hawks (19-4) open 4A state tournament play against Hillcrest (20-3) at 6:15 p.m. at Borah High.

Last year, Skyview won three overtime games to complete its 26-0 season. This year, the Hawks enter the tournament following a 49-42 loss to Bishop Kelly in the District III championship game.

Dranginis was named last year’s 4A player of the year after scoring 18 points with six assists in Skyview’s state championship overtime victory against Pocatello.

This year, he’s averaging 20.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game. He’s also blocked 54 shots and had 48 steals in 23 games this season.

“He makes my job a whole lot easier,” Skyview coach Aaron Sanders said. “He does everything for us.”

Coaches have noticed what Dranginis has done since starting for the Hawks as a 6-foot-1 freshman two years ago.

That’s why former Boise State and Nampa High coach Bus Connor told Utah State about Dranginis and Centennial coach Tom Aipperspach told Few about him during a camp at GU.

“They were asking who were the best players in Idaho,” Aipperspach said. “I told them that I thought he was the best and he had a great upside. He’s so young and really a good kid.”

Within days, Dranginis, now 17, was invited by Gonzaga to attend their “Elite” players camp. He attended and impressed.

“I think the coaches really liked the way he played,” Sanders said.

Few and Gonzaga assistants all traveled to Nampa to watch Dranginis play or talk to him at practices.

“(Few) said Kyle reminded him a little bit of Blake Stepp,” Sanders said of the Zags former two-time West Coast Conference Player of the Year. “So I think they saw some qualities in Kyle in other players they have recruited.”

Boise State offered him a scholarship. Utah and Utah State coaches visited him. Gonzaga coaches attended his games and talked with him. Notre Dame, Washington State and San Diego coaches came to his practices.

“I think he relaxed a little bit after he got all that done,” Sanders said. “Kyle’s a really nice kid, a really humble kid and, I think, he didn’t like all the attention he was getting.

“I think he was pretty happy to make that decision.”

Dranginis, a junior, never went on an official recruiting visit, which are not allowed until a student’s senior year of high school.

Skyview athletic director Dan McGee has known the Dranginis family for years. Tim Dranginis won 331 games in 18 years as Notus boys basketball coach. He also won 124 games in 17 years as Notus football coach.

Dranginis’ brother Cody, 23, and sisters Cammy, 21, and Carly, 19, also were standout athletes in high school and college.

“He’s definitely a special player,” said McGee, who coached the Hawks for 11 seasons and won state championships in 2005 and 2006.

“It’s amazing how much success he has had and will continue to have. We’re extremely proud of him and his past accomplishments and his future, with what he has in store.”

By Tom Fox