Scouting Report: Cherry Creek vs. Thomas Jefferson
Cherry Creek is a team that has a chance to make a deep run in the Class 5A state tournament later this month because it has strong senior leadership, athleticism of the bench and a clear chemistry and willingness to grind.
The Bruins showed all those things Saturday afternoon in a 71-54 non-league road victory over Thomas Jefferson.
“We just need to be more consistent,” veteran Cherry Creek coach Mike Brookhart said. “We’ve had a lot of close games, and we just need to finish them. But we’re getting better and better. We’re playing a little more consistently right now.”
“We like to pressure up and play defense,” Brookhart added. “We’ve got some kids who can really guard the ball and rebound on both ends of the court. At times, we have a lot of pieces, and when we play together we can be a pretty competitive team.”
Below is a closer look at standouts in Saturday’s game:
Cherry Creek
Will Halfon, 6-1 senior guard
Halfon scored seven early points in a multiple fashions. He buried a corner 3-pointer 20 seconds into the game, got fouled attacking the basket, and knocked down a nice pull-up jumper of a pump fake. He’s a crisp passer and can handle the ball well against the press. We’ll have more on Halfon in an upcoming recruiting report.
Hayden Parr, 6-6 senior forward
Parr surprises because of his ability to handle the ball. He has tight-end size at 6-6 and at least 230, but he showed versatility with his ability to run offense on the perimeter, even bringing the ball up the court at times. Of course, Parr is not afraid to bang when he needs to, and that skill will certainly be called upon in the playoffs, but his versatility (he also has nice touch on his mid-range jumper) makes him an intriguing prospect.
Ammon Johnson, 6-3 senior small forward
Johnson gives the Bruins a nice punch as the first guy off the bench. He’s long and athletic and defends his position well. He’s the kind of player who can make a lot happen around the basket with his high activity level. Crashes the glass and has decent mid-range shot. Good free-throw shooter.
Jalen Meeks, 6-1 junior guard
Meeks is the ultimate “hustle guy” for the Bruins. He creates a lot of offense simply but constantly cutting to the basket and finishing plays. He’s very solid with a short- to mid-range baseline jumper that he often gets himself open to shoot. Active defensively. A very solid role player on a good team who demonstrates strong potential.
Dimitri Stanley, 5-11 sophomore point guard
The only underclassmen on Brookhart’s squad, Stanley is a capable ball-handler who doesn’t often get sped up under pressure. He showed the ability on Saturday to dribble into shots from mid-range, and he can nail it from behind the arc as well. Stanley is active on the defensive end and has a strong member. Also a talented football player, Stanley is one of the best guards in the 2018 class.
Thomas Jefferson
Ravel Moody, 6-5 junior wing
Moody’s athleticism rivals that of any player in the 2017 class, and he put it on display Saturday. Moody is very long, and when he is engaged he is a player who is always in the passing lanes and challenging shots. On offense, Moody can pump fake from the top of the key and get all the way to the rim in one step. He needs to continue to work on developing his outside jump shot. He has the ability to make the 3-pointer in spurts, but that becomes a consistent weapon, he will be very difficult to stop defensively.
Galen Street, 6-0 junior guard
Street is undersized but plays his position with toughness. He has a good outside stroke, and he’s not afraid to mix it up inside. Growing into his role as a role player for the Spartans, Street helped TJ swing the tide late in the first half with a tough, contested runner in the lane, followed by a 3-pointer. Competes hard on defense.
Xavier Cooper, 6-3 sophomore guard
Cooper is one of the top players in a very talented 2018 class. He’s great at getting to the basket, and he has the size and athleticism to finish once he gets there. Very active on defense and plays hard on both ends of the floor. Once he hones his jumper, Cooper will be a load to handle each time out.