Prep Hoops Colorado All-Junior Teams
What a season it was for the Class of 2017. Constructing this list was extremely difficult given the amount of eye-popping performances turned in by juniors this season. Second-teamers could have easily been first-teamers, thirds on the second and fourths…
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Continue ReadingWhat a season it was for the Class of 2017. Constructing this list was extremely difficult given the amount of eye-popping performances turned in by juniors this season. Second-teamers could have easily been first-teamers, thirds on the second and fourths on the third, but in the end this was the list we came up with. Congratulations to all the players who made our all-state teams in a phenomenal class that, luckily, still has one more season left to play.
Junior of the Year
Colbey Ross, 6-1 guard, Eaglecrest: The state’s Gatorade Player of the Year is our top junior after leading the Raptors all the way to the state title game while averaging 18.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. Ross took a team featuring a cast largely comprised of new players and led them to within a win of a state title.
Check out the full All-Junior Teams below:
First Team
Jalen Sanders, 6-5 wing, Valor Christian: Sanders was a do-it-all force for the Class 4A runner-up Eagles, averaging 17.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.7 blocks per game.
David Simental, 6-2 guard, Pueblo West: Simental led the Cyclones to the first state championship in school history by averaging 24.3 points, the third-highest total in the state regardless of class.
Braxton Bertolette, 6-2 guard, Fossil Ridge: The sharpshooter averaged 23.6 points and hit 97 3-pointers, including a state-record 16 in one game earlier this season at the Tarkanian Classic early in the season. He was simply one of the most improved players in Colorado.
D’Shawn Schwartz, 6-6 forward, Sand Creek: The Colorado Springs product averaged 19.9 points and 8.5 rebounds per game and had only one game all season in which he didn’t tally double figures in scoring.
Hunter Maldonado, 6-5 wing, Vista Ridge: Maldonado may have been the best player in the state during the postseason, averaging 35 points during a postseason run that took the Wolves to the 4A Final Four.
Kolton Peterson, 6-2 guard, Lakewood: The 5A JeffCo League Player of the Year hit 88 3-pointers and shot 45 percent from long range while averaging 19.7 points per game.
Jaizec Lottie, 6-0 guard, Cherokee Trail: Perhaps the state’s best true point guard, Lottie averaged 16.3 points per game while dishing out 5.8 assists.
Second Team
CJ Jennings, 6-2 guard, Sierra
LeChaun Duhart, 6-2 guard, Grandview
Justin Engesser, 6-5 forward, Colorado Springs Christian
Jervay Green, 6-5 guard, George Washington
Jake Belknapp, 6-8 forward, Mountain Vista
Elijah Blake, 6-2 guard, Rangeview
Third Team
Brevin Brimble, 5-11 guard, Doherty
Calvin Fugett Jr., 6-2 guard, George Washington
Kyle Lukasiewicz, 6-3 guard, Arapahoe
Ravel Moody, 6-5 wing, Thomas Jefferson
Michael Ward, 6-1 guard, Mead
Gage Prim, 6-6 forward, Grandview
Fourth Team
Matteo Busnardo, 6-1 guard, Mullen
Tanner Ervin, 5-10 guard, Resurrection Christian
Trey Marble, 6-0 guard, Prairie View
Umar Jalloh, 6-5 wing, Lincoln
Kayle Knuckles, 6-6 forward, Valor Christian
Corey Seng, 6-4 guard, ThunderRidge
Honorable Mentions
Conner Martin, 5-11 guard, Strasburg; Jamison Washington, 6-2 guard, Lincoln; Isaac Essien, 5-11 guard, Mountain Vista; Dylan Mileto, 6-3 guard, Mesa Ridge; Jacob Pfaffinger, 6-2 guard, Fort Collins; Cameron McCurry, 6-8 forward, Erie; Jacob Storey, 6-7 forward, Erie; Kyler Hensel, 6-2 guard; Bishop Machebeuf; Robert Williams, 5-7 guard, Sheridan; Jackson Erhlin, 6-8 forward, Rampart; Quinten Gutierrez, 5-10 guard Pine Creek; Dallas Bailey, 6-4 guard, Lakewood; Kayden Sund, 6-5 forward, Golden; Colin Rardin, 6-2 junior guard, Rock Canyon, Kyle Colen, 6-0 guard Smoky Hill; Joe Abiakam, 6-2 guard Denver East