PTP Combine: Five players you didn't know but do know

Perhaps the part I enjoyed most about our Prime Time Prospects Combine on Saturday was getting the opportunity to evaluate prospects who may not have had as much chance to get their names out there than others. Several of those players not only showed up to the combine but were also among the top performers there. Here’s a look at five players you might not have known but will soon: Jordan Cothran, 6-foot 2016 guard, Rocky Mountain Lutheran. Cothran said he gets asked all the question all the time: Rocky Mountain Lutheran? Is that a 3A school? 2A? “It’s actually a 1A school,” Cothran said with a laugh Saturday while catching his breath in between games at the combine. The small-school situation might explain Cothran’s under-the-radar status, but his talent has the likes of Lamar College interested in the guard. Few if any players brought more energy Saturday than Cothran, who was everywhere on the court and playing with a motor coaches covet. He’s also polished for a player who has spent limited time on exposure circuits. He handles the ball well, runs the court on ever position and is strong enough to finish through traffic. His muscular, compact frame belies a player who could play at the college level. “You know where I found him? I found him playing at the rec, just kind of playing around,” said Colorado Grizzlies club director, Scott Kelley, who has helped coach Cothran the past two seasons. “I thought, this guy is something special.” From our perspective, Cothran certainly has a chance to be a player who could take some seasoning at the junior-college level and carry that over to an opportunity at the NAIA, D-III or D-II level. Austin Remus, 6-foot-1 2017 guard, Valor Christian. Remus was another “where did this guy come from” performer who did a little bit of everything on Saturday. “That kid has the ball on a string, great handle,” one club coach told me Saturday. Remus did show superb ball-handling ability during the combine, both in testing and during the games portion of the event. He confidently ran the point in transition, always making the right pass in traffic. He showed a lost-art ability to get his defender in the air with a pump fake and get the basket with a quick first step. He has a great pull-up jumper that extends to 3-point range. And just as impressively, he wasn’t afraid to sacrifice his body and dive on the floor for loose balls. Remus played some varsity minutes as a sophomore last season for Valor Christian, but I would expect him to play a much bigger role for the Eagles this season under first-year coach Troy Pachner. He’s a very talented offensive player who certainly appears capable of playing at the next level, particularly with two years of high school growth ahead of him. Tyrone Clark Jr., 5-foot-11 2016 guard, Liberty. We will know for sure in the next couple of days when we get the results, but it would be surprising if Clark wasn’t near the top of the list in the max vertical leap category. Despite standing nearly under 6-foot, Clark showed an ability to get above the rim and dunk with both hands of the vertical jump. He was one of the most athletic players in the building on Saturday. Furthermore, Clark, who played with Colorado Thunder this summer, has good ball skills, solid range and was very aggressive on the defensive end. Clark has been far under the radar playing for a growing program in Colorado Springs, but he certainly has the athleticism necessary to play at the small-college level. “I feel like I can bring leadership and athleticism,” Clark said. “Someone that can handle the ball and get my teammates involved, but also score the ball too.” Cameron DeHart, 6-foot-7 2017 forward, Fossil Ridge. DeHart’s size, with a frame that looks like it could still sprout up an inch or two, is intriguing, but so are his skills. DeHart displayed soft touch around the basket, sealing himself well off defenders to put himself in position inside. DeHart also has a smooth mid-range jump shot and runs the floor well. It will be interesting to see what role he plays on a talented Fossil Ridge team this season, and he would do well like many tall young prospects to add some weight, but DeHart is no doubt an intriguing prospect for the right small-college program. Eugene Rivers, 5-foot-11 2018 guard, Gateway. Rivers is a whip-quick point guard, who plays with an edge. He handled the ball well, particularly in traffic and showed great competitiveness while attacking the basket and defending opposing guards. Rivers averaged nearly five points per game for the Gateway varsity squad as a freshman last season, and picked up big minutes down the stretch. He could be a big contributor this season for new coach Jason Dixon at Gateway.