Spring Evaluations: Top Rebounders
Stealing a page from our good friends at Prep Hoops Indiana, today were are beginning our Spring Evaluations series, which will focus on some of the top players we have been able to see in person this spring in regard…
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Continue ReadingStealing a page from our good friends at Prep Hoops Indiana, today were are beginning our Spring Evaluations series, which will focus on some of the top players we have been able to see in person this spring in regard to how they perform in certain categories.
Obviously, though we have logged major hours inside gyms the last two months, it is impossible to see everyone. If you feel there is a player who belongs in a given category, please feel free to give some brief feedback on that player in the comments section.
We begin today with a look at some of the top rebounders we have seen locally this spring:
McCallan Castles, 6-5 2018 forward, Colorado Titans 16U Gold
Castles is one of the most physically imposing players in Colorado’s 2018 class. He has a great, wide frame that he isn’t afraid to throw around. On top of that, he has good vertical athleticism and that “want-to” quality when it comes to rebounding. Add that all up and you have a pretty big weapon on the glass.
Sam Masten, 6-3 2018 guard, Colorado Hawks 16U Red
Rebounding is not all about the big guys. Good teams get contributions in that category from almost every position, and the Hawks certainly have it from the two-guard spot in Masten, whose high-IQ when it comes to positioning and deceptive strength, Masten is a guy who always seems to be able to go it. As an added bonus, he can be an automatic fastbreak starter when he grabs it off the rim. Masten has consistently been the best-rebounding two-guard we’ve seen this spring.
Jake Belknapp, 6-8 2017 forward, Colorado Chaos 2017 Elite
Belknapp had a strong weekend at the Top of the Rockies tournament when it came to dominating on the boards. He seems to be continually gaining confidence in the knowledge that he is often the most physically imposing player on the court, and when he uses his big, decently athletic frame to get after it, he can really change a game with his rebounding ability on both ends.
Jackson Erhlin, 6-8 2017 forward, The Force 17U
Erhlin is another player who seems to really have elevated his confidence level this spring. He’s becoming more fluid, and that has really allowed him to find spaces in the lane to go after rebounds. He grabbed 8.6 per game as a junior at Rampart last season, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get into double digits as a senior.
Tray Pierce, 6-8 2018 forward, Colorado Connect 17U
Playing up a division this spring, Pierce has been his stock rise as much as any big man in his class the past six weeks. The long and lanky Pierce was a force as a rim protector his sophomore season at George Washington, but he told PHC a couple weeks ago that it had been his goal to be more authoritative on the glass. That effort has really paid off, as he’s adding some aggressiveness to his natural length.
Will Becker, 6-7 2018 forward, Colorado Hawks 16U Red
Becker has great athleticism, the best in the state for any big man in the 2018 class. Becker has also been playing with a no-fear attitude that has helped evolve as a player who is especially dangerous around the rim. Becker’s explosiveness makes him an especially dangerous offensive rebounder. He is a putback dunk waiting to happen.
Gage Prim, 6-6 2017 forward, 303 Elite CO Hoopers
Prim has an excellent frame, with a massive upper body that helps him outmuscle players in the air when he’s going for the ball. He has the look of a high-major tight end, but Prim’s evolution on the basketball court during a special junior season at Grandview makes him, in our mind, a potential Division I prospect in the sport. Continued work on explosiveness could make Prim perhaps the top 5A rebounder in the state next season.
Ronnie DeGray, 6-5 2019 small forward, Billups Elite 15U
DeGray seems to be growing physically every week. He might be closer to 6-6 now and probably has a few more inches to go. That’s a scary thought given how effective he already is on the glass. He pulled down five per game as a freshman at Chaparral in the loaded Continental League, and he’s upped his game even further this spring.