Mile High Classic Standouts (Part II)
Below is the second part of our series looking at some of the top performers from this past weekend’s Mile High Classic. Most of these performers came from the games we were able to catch on Sunday. Joel Scott, 6-4…
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Continue ReadingBelow is the second part of our series looking at some of the top performers from this past weekend’s Mile High Classic.
Most of these performers came from the games we were able to catch on Sunday.
Joel Scott, 6-4 forward, Billups Elite 15U
Playing up a division, Billups Elite was dominant for much of the weekend, eventually falling in the 16U semifinals to a talented D1 Minnesota Prospects team. Several players on that squad stood out, and Scott was certainly one of them. He came storming out of the gate Sunday with five points, two steals and a block in the first few moments alone against South Dakota Attack, the top club program in that state. The younger brother of recent CU star Josh Scott already has a strong, well-built frame, and he has clearly learned an array of big brother’s low post moves. Scott has really nice footwork down low, but he’s also shown he can handle the ball on the perimeter. Most impressive right now is his well-built, strong and athletic frame that really helps him thrive even against older players down low. Scott should be a load at Lewis-Palmer in the coming years.
Other standouts over the weekend from Billups Elite:
— Joseph Dalton: the smooth, 6-3 lefty guard can really shoot it, and he has good length he combines with good energy on the defensive end.
— Ronnie DeGray III: The 15U MVP of the Prep Hoops Spring Kick Off earlier this month had another strong showing. What we like about DeGray is that he is rarely sped up. He has good awareness of the game and just plays solid in all phases. He’s also nearing 6-5 with a few weeks still to go in his freshman year of high school.
— Kobe Sanders: Sanders is a Class of 2020 guard who will be joining DeGray, Dalton, and fellow Billups standout Bryce Matthews next season at Chaparral. Sanders has a chance to make a big impact right away because of his speed athleticism and high IQ at the position. He performed big-time over the weekend against players two years older. That bodes well for his freshman season.
— Caleb Tamminga: The 6-3 guard came off the bench and brought some nice energy in a close second half against SD Attack, hitting a 3-pointer and getting a layup off a steal to help turn momentum. With nearly of Legend’s varsity team from last year graduating, he has a chance to make an impact.
Cameron Le Van, 5-8 2020 guard, Colorado Premier
Le Van, who will attend Legend in the fall, is undersized, but he hardly lets that faze him. He’s steady and poised at the point guard spot. Against the Nebraska Bison in bracket play Sunday, Le Van lit it up from 3-point range with a stroke that is very pure and without hitches. Le Van has a bright future.
Josh Randle, 6-3 2017 guard, Billups Elite 17U Red
Randle was everywhere for Billups in its quarterfinal loss to Colorado Connect, drawing three charges and scoring the ball efficiently from multiple shots. The lefty has a decent stroke from 3-point range and is long and rangy on the drive. Should be a key contributor next season for a Valor Christian squad that has a great shot at getting back to the state championship.
Another Billups Red standout: Connor Nelson. The 6-3 Denver South product played aggressively on the defensive end and shot it well from behind the arc. He should have a big senior season for the Rebels.
Tray Pierce, 6-8 2018 forward, Colorado Connect
Pierce got pulled up to the top Connect squad after a blistering start to the summer, and he kept the momentum going at the Mile High Classic. Pierce’s evolution will be a key component in George Washington’s attempts to win a state title next season alongside the elite grouping of Jervay Green, Daylen Kountz and Calvin and Jon’il Fugett. For now, he’s working on expanding his game, and we some him find success with a good-looking midrange jumper over the weekend.
What’s more, Pierce is seemingly playing with a lot more confidence.
“I just tried to change my mindset with how I attack,” he told us Sunday. “I want to be more aggressive on the post-up and attack a little more on the dribble.”
Pierce continues to establish himself as an emerging rim protector, and he said another focus this spring is getting stronger on the class.
Another Connect standout: Dominic Coleman. The 6-4 guard finished explosively at the rim and really stroked it from behind the arc. Coleman is close to choosing a junior college to play for next season.
Devante Jones, 6-5 2016 forward, B&B Academy Seniors
Jones was key for B&B in its undefeated run to the 17U Division title this weekend. The Dakota Ridge standout banged hard on the glass and showed off an improving mid-range game. Jones will take the junior-college route right now, and he said he is looking at a few options, which include Otero College in La Junta and Grays Harbor College in Tacoma, Wash.
Troy Brady, 6-0 2016 guard, B&B Academy Seniors
Brady was one of the top handful of shooters at the event (Kolton Peterson nailing 8 3-pointers in a narrow pool-play loss to the Danny Granger Hurricanes wasn’t too shabby either), and that comes as no surprise. Brady is one of the state’s best marksmen, and he’s hoping to find a college landing spot soon. Brady said he will be working out for a few RMAC programs in the coming weeks and also plans to take a visit to Nebraska Wesleyan.