Predicting 5A’s top distributors

<p>The next installment of our season preview series takes a look at some of the top distributors in Class 5A. This is a forecast of the top 10 dime droppers this season, based on past success, team situations, improvements, etc. Class 4A will follow this week.</p><p><strong>1. Jaizec Lottie, 5-foot-11 junior point guard, Cherokee Trail</strong><br /> The Cougars love to get up and down, and they have the perfect floor general for that style in Lottie. He averaged 4.9 assists as a sophomore last season, then turned heads big time this summer while dropping dimes at the Adidas All-American Camp in New York City. He has great vision and can see the court several moves ahead.</p> <p><strong>2. Reggie Gibson, 5-foot-10 senior point guard, Overland</strong><br /> Gibson came off the bench to average 4.5 assists per game last season. That was already one of the top marks in the state, and now that he is at the controls for the defending state champs, expect those numbers to surge. </p> <p><strong>3. Riley Matticks, 6-foot-1 senior point guard, Legend</strong><br /> Matticks is one of five senior starters for the Titans, a group that knows this is their final and best shot at a state championship. Matticks, who averaged 5.5 dimes per game last year, is the guy who makes it all tick.</p> <p><strong>4. Isaac Phillips, 5-foot-11 junior guard, Mountain Vista</strong><br /> Phillips was an integral part of a very solid team last season, and that experience gained as a sophomore should have him brimming with confidence this season as he guides the Golden Eagles. Phillips, who averaged 5.0 assists, has great athleticism that allows him to get in the lane and make plays on a consistent basis.</p> <p><strong>5. LaDarius Thomas, 6-foot-1 guard, Aurora Central</strong><br /> Thomas was the Trojans&#39; leading scorer and led the team in assists last season. Thomas, a likely future D-I or D-II player, has the ability to find lanes and find teammates, evidenced by his 4.6 assists per game last season. It helps that he has great chemistry in the backcourt with teammate Elijah Coleman.</p> <p><strong>6. Luke Neff, 6-foot senior guard, Arvada West</strong><br /> The University of Denver-bound guard has remarkable feel for the game. His brother Thomas assumed some of the ball-handling duties last season as a point forward type player at times, but Neff will have more on his plate this season. And if 6-foot-11 center Dallas Walton is healthy,  he’ll make for a nice target around the basket.</p> <p><strong>7. Riley Welch, 6-foot senior point guard, Chatfield</strong><br /> After a season spent in New Jersey, Welch, who played his first two seasons at Chatfield is back for his senior season. Welch is a true point guard with a great feel for the game. It will be exciting to see how he’s progressed this season.</p> <p><strong>8. Colbey Ross, 6-foot junior point guard, Eaglecrest</strong><br /> Ross is constantly in attack mode, and his ability to break down his defenders to create shots -- both for himself and others. With Eaglecrest having graduated many of its top players from a season ago, it will be important for Ross to help get his teammates involved to help them gain confidence over the course of a long season. Here’s guessing he’ll be up to the challenge.</p> <p><strong>9. Tynan Velasquez, 6-foot senior guard, Palmer</strong><br /> Velasquez transferred from Doherty to Palmer, where he’ll be playing this season with a number of players he has long played with on The Force club team. That chemistry should help Velasquez be the top distributor on a senior-laden squad.</p> <p><strong>10. Romeo Maestas, 5-foot-7 junior guard, Rampart</strong><br /> Maestas has a quick first step that allows him to get off his defender and get into the lane, where he has solid vision in traffic. Averaged 4.2 assists per game last season, and he’ll be running the show for a very solid Rampart team with the chance to boost those numbers.</p> <p><strong>Others to watch</strong><br /> <span style="color:rgb(34, 34, 34); font-size:12px">Jamison Washington, 6-foot-2 junior point guard, Lincoln; </span>Calvin Fugett, 6-foot-2 junior guard, George Washington; Tyler Hyland, 6-foot-1 junior guard, Rocky Mountain; KJ Sapp, 5-foot-10 junior guard, Cherokee Trail; Kyle Colen, 6-foot junior guard, Smoky Hill; Elijah Martinez, 5-foot-8 senior guard Westminster; Elijah Blake, 6-foot-4 junior guard, Rangeview; Dalven Brushier, 6-foot-2 senior guard, Doherty</p>