Prep Hoops Spring Kickoff Preview: Unsigned Seniors
There will be a ton of talent taking the floor during the inaugural Prep Hoops Spring Kickoff, which tips off Friday night.
Some of that talent will be in the form of unsigned seniors. There a handful of those players working hard through the spring circuit in the hopes of displaying their skills to coaches one last time.
Below we take a closer look at some of those players to watch:
Padiet Wang, 6-4 guard/forward, Colorado Chaos: Wang is a versatile and long player who turned plenty of heads with his athleticism during the Class 5A playoffs, when he was a lob dunk waiting to happen. He has also shown he is more than just a high leaper. Wang can knock it down from outside and handles the ball well in transition. He also has a great frame and motor to be a strong perimeter defender at the Division II level.
Will Wittman, 6-3 guard/forward, Shining Stars 2016: We have been following Wittman closely since we launched last June, and he only continues to get better. In truth, it’s puzzling that he hasn’t received more looks. Wittman has a long frame and is strong at the basket. He rebounds well for his size. He averaged 8.2 rebounds per game this season to go along with 13.8 points. He also shoots it well from outside and gets after it defensively.
Chudier Bile, 6-6 small forward, Colorado Hawks: Bile will bring a strong does of toughness to the Hawks. He is among the state’s top few pound-for-pound rebounders. Each time we view Bile, his ability to go after the ball always impresses. On top of that, Bile has worked very hard to strengthen his outside jump shot, and after a cold spell through the middle of the season, he really came on from long range late. Bile is a constant double-double threat, averaging 18.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per game during his senior season.
Jordan Phillips, 6-6 wing, Colorado Hawks: Phillips is an athletic wing who averaged 18.7 points per game. He can shoot it from the outside, hitting 55-of-144 from 3-point range (38 percent) during his senior season. Phillips has received recent low-major Division I interest and is hoping to turn a few more heads on the Adidas Gauntlet circuit this summer. It will be interesting to see how he gels with the rest of the talented Hawks squad.
Jack Studer, 6-3 guard, Shining Stars: Studer is a Division II or III steal waiting to happen, and he has received some light interest on those fronts. He is fast with the ball in his hand and knows how to knife through the lane and get to the hoop. He is an extremely high-academic player who transfers his class smarts into a high IQ on the court. Studer averaged 18.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.9 steals per game. He’s one of the state’s best kept secrets.
Antonio Capley, 6-11 center, Billups Elite: Capley averaged 13.6 points, 11 rebounds and 2.7 blocks during his senior season at Ralston Valley. The low-post big man has increasingly improved his footwork at the basket and is a strong rim protector. He shot 59 percent from the field. Capley saw his interest pick up during his senior season.
Tyler McFarland, 6-3 guard, Shining Stars 2016: McFarland is a strong lefty shooting guard who can really get hot in a hurry from long range. He has a strong frame and can finish through contact when he attacks and gets to the rim. He averaged 14.5 points per game and hit 56-of-145 3-pointers this season (39 percent). McFarland said during the playoffs at the end of February that he is still weighing his basketball options, including the possibility of attending a prep school.
Tyrei Randall, 6-5 wing, Colorado Hawks: Randall catapulted his all-state first team senior season at Rangeview with a huge grassroots season last year with the Hawks. He’s back for a final spring with the team as he weighs his options for the future. Rangeview coach Shawn Palmer told us last month that Randall was still deciding about whether the next step could include junior college or a trip to a prep school. As long as he’s playing with the Hawks, Randall will be a huge factor thanks to his versatility and willingness to share the basketball.