Event Preview: Mile High Classic — 16U
With teams from seven different states set to take the floor this weekend, the 16U Division of the Mile High Classic at Gold Crown Fieldhouse will be loaded with talent. Below we take a closer look at some of what…
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Continue ReadingWith teams from seven different states set to take the floor this weekend, the 16U Division of the Mile High Classic at Gold Crown Fieldhouse will be loaded with talent.
Below we take a closer look at some of what to expect from the division this weekend.
Favorites
The Colorado Hawks White, the program’s No. 2 16U unit, is ranked No. 7 in our first Grassroots Team Rankings, and for good reason. The group oozes athleticism and is long and talented at every position. Another strong contender is Billups Elite 15U, which captured the Prep Hoops Spring Kick Off 15s title and is playing up a division in this tournament.
The D1 Minnesota Prospects are also a strong unit, ranked No. 6 among grassroots teams in that state by our colleagues at Prep Hoops Minnesota. The Rocky Mountain Vipers, who cracked our first rankings list at No. 10, are setting out to prove they belong among the state’s best. Don’t be surprised if South Central Elite or B&B Academy Black also make big runs.
Players To Watch
Laolu Oke, 6-5 small forward, Colorado Hawks White
The rangy, athletic Oke possesses fluid movement on the court. He has a nice mid-range game and is able to play multiple positions on the court. He was impressive for the Hawks in the Prep Hoops Spring Kick Off earlier this month.
Marcus Winston, 6-5 small forward, South Central Elite
The athletic Winston is a force on the glass, and he too has a nice mid-range game. He’s versatile because of his long range and skill set.
Garrett Ripsam, 6-2 guard, Colorado Chaos 2018
Ripsam is a smooth shooter who plays with a strong motor. The Fossil Ridge product has consistent range from 15 feet out past the 3-point line and he defends the perimeter well and rebounds decently for his size.
Adam Thistlewood, 6-5 forward, B&B Academy Black
Thistlewood had an impressive sophomore campaign for Golden, which finished second in the 4A JeffCo League. He averaged 10.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, and he closed the season with a career game of 26 points, six rebounds and six assists in a victory over Silver Creek. And Thistlewood can knock it down from the outside. An intriguing prospect.
Jalen Talbott, 6-0 guard, Rocky Mountain Vipers
Talbott is quickly making a name for himself as one of the top guards in the 2018 class. He has flown under the radar after playing on the JV squad last season at backcourt-heavy Eaglecrest, but he’s shown early this spring that he is a force to be reckoned with because of the toughness he brings to the position.
Te’Rae Johnson, 6-0 guard, Colorado Premier
Johnson is an electric and athletic scorer who tallied 14 points per game this season for Vista PEAK, the Class 4A Colorado 7 League champion. Johnson is an athletic guard who can get above the rim and is also eager to get his teammates involved.
Anthony Davis, 6-2 guard, D1 Minnesota Prospects
The 10th-rated player in the 2018 class in Minnesota, Davis is a fast, high-leaping guard who is dangerous in multiple ways.
Justin Berry, 6-3 guard/forward, Colorado Titans Black
Berry has a strong frame and is a determined rebounder. He’s the kind of player who is willing to battle and do the dirty work for his team. The Broomfield product can play multiple positions and, like a lot of players in the Titans pipeline, is a hard-nosed defender.
Predictions
Each pool winner will advance to the championship bracket. Here is our prediction for each pool and then the playoffs, beginning with the quarterfinals. The teams we predict to advance each round are in bold.
Pool A: D1 Minnesota Prospects
Pool B: Colorado Fire Elite Black
Pool C: Minnesota Comets — Servanty
Pool D: Colorado Thunder Black
Pool E: Billups Elite 15U
Pool F: Colorado Regulators
Pool G: South Central Elite
Pool H: Rocky Mountain Vipers
Pool I: P2P Blue
Pool J: Colorado Chaos 2018
Pool K: Colorado Hawks White
Quarterfinals
D1 Minnesota Prospects vs. Rocky Mountain Vipers
Colorado Thunder Black vs. Billups Elite 15U
South Central Elite vs. Colorado Fire Elite Black
Minnesota Coments — Servanty vs. Colorado Hawks White
Semifinals
D1 Minnesota Prospects vs. Billups Elite 15U
South Central Elite vs. Colorado Hawks White
Championship
D1 Minnesota Prospects vs. Colorado Hawks White