Event Preview: Double Pump Spring Hoopfest
While Colorado’s three shoe-sponsored (Hawks, Billups) or shoe-affiliated (Chaos) teams are headed to Dallas for the start of the Adidas Gauntlet circuit this weekend, they aren’t the only teams headed out of town during the first NCAA live period of…
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Continue ReadingWhile Colorado’s three shoe-sponsored (Hawks, Billups) or shoe-affiliated (Chaos) teams are headed to Dallas for the start of the Adidas Gauntlet circuit this weekend, they aren’t the only teams headed out of town during the first NCAA live period of the spring.
The high-caliber Double Pump Spring Hoopfest will this weekend welcome two Colorado programs in the Miners and Colorado Premier.
Here are a few things to watch from each of the clubs’ teams playing in the tournament.
Colorado Miners 17U
Pool Play Schedule (Times local)
vs. Dallas Mustangs, Saturday, 10:10 a.m.
vs. Branch West Elite, Saturday, 2:50 p.m.
vs. Connecticut Warriors, Saturday, 10:10 a.m.
vs. Hoop Salem, Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
What to Watch
This team has a chance to do some damage this season. After falling in pool play Friday night at the Prep Hoops Spring Kick Off, playing without dynamic 6-5 small forward Hunter Maldonado, the Miners found their rhythm and came on strong with swift offensive movement. The backcourt of Brevin Brimble and CJ Jennings is a great complementary pair. While Brimble is without doubt one of the state’s best long-range shooters, he also does a great job setting things up and stepping back, allowing Jennings to create and flow into an impressive mid-range game.
Both players should see their attention heighten this spring. As should Hunter Maldonado, who proved during the state tournament in February that he is indeed one of the state’s handful of top players. His excellence is derived in his willingness to do the little things. Case and point: In the Miners’ first bracket play game against The Force on Saturday, Maldonado crashed the glass as his team took a last-second shot, putting back the miss on a tip for the game winner. He has great court awareness.
X-Factor: Dalen Jackson. The shifty 5-10 guard, who averaged 14.5 points per game as a junior at Mesa Ridge this season, can provide good depth scoring out of the backcourt.
Colorado Miners 16U
Pool Play Schedule
vs. Cali Elite, Friday, 7:10 p.m.(Bracket play Saturday and Sunday)
What To Watch
It’s often the teams with unquestioned leaders who continue to rise to the occasion during the grind of a grassroots season. Luckily for the Miners, they have such a player in Xavier Cooper. The 6-3 guard is not only among Colorado’s best at the position in 2018, he also may be the state’s toughest. We’ve had the opportunity to watch Cooper in about a dozen games since last summer, and he seems to improve the other time. He doesn’t get to up or down within the flows of the game and makes the opposition work for everything. Another tough player who emerged in a big way last weekend was Ryan Ongala, the 6-7 forward from Rangeview who is an absolute battler on the glass. Ongala up front with an improving 6-11 Dawson Carper gives opponents something to think about when they enter the paint.
X-Factors: Ryan Marquez and Mue Muewwakkil. The two provide great athleticism out of the backcourt.
Colorado Premier 16U
Pool Play Schedule
vs. BTI All Stars, Friday, 8:20 p.m.(Bracket play Saturday and Sunday)
What To Watch
The Premier 16s went 3-1 at the Gold Crown Spring Hoops Classic last weekend, propelled by new addition Te’Rae Johnson. The highly athletic 5-11 point guard had a highlight dunk in transition, but it was his consistency throughout the event that impressed coach Andre Felix. “He did a great job pressuring the basketball and helping to keep the opposition off balance,” Felix said. Premier also had a strong outing from 6-4 swingman Antonio Norton, another newcomer. “He can provide scoring from anywhere on the floor and has the ability to create his own baskets off the dribble,” Felix said.
Colorado Premier 15U
Pool Play Schedule
vs. ESA Powered By Mercadel, Friday, 9:30 p.m. (Bracket play Saturday and Sunday)
What To Watch
The Premier 15s won their first two games at Gold Crown last week before an inability to hit enough shots plagued them in losses their next two. Still coach Mychal Martinez was pleased with what he saw from the unit comprised on mostly new players to the Premier program. He got a strong outing in the backcourt from Eric Kimmel, a 5-10 point guard out of Mountain Vista. “He is an old school type of point guard who doesn’t do anything fancy, but gets the job done and is in great condition,” Martinez said.
X-Factors: Cameron LeVan and Caden Gigstad, a pair of 2020 guards who are playing up and have already shown an ability to make plays in the backcourt.