Metro State Team Camp (Session 2): Friday Afternoon Notebook
We were able to spend a good deal of time over at the second session of Metro State Team Camp on Friday — Nick in the afternoon, Kenny in the evening — and saw some good action as teams continue…
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Continue ReadingWe were able to spend a good deal of time over at the second session of Metro State Team Camp on Friday — Nick in the afternoon, Kenny in the evening — and saw some good action as teams continue to find continuity during the second week of summer high school ball.
We talked to several players for a number of recruiting reports that we will release in the coming days, but for now let’s take a look at some of the things we saw over at the Auraria Events Center during the early action:
Big Men Battle Fun To Watch
Two of the state’s top post players in their respective classes — Widefield’s Tre Pierre (6-5, 2018) and Grandview’s Gage Prim (6-6, 2017) — did battle in an early afternoon game, and the two went up against each other often.
Grandview won by about 10 in a game that was closer than the score for most of the way. Was impressed with the way Pierre was finishing through contact, drawing at least three and-ones that I saw. He’s still working to develop some more perimeter skills, as he won’t be able to play the post at the next level unless he surges in height a bit, but his ability to finish should translate at whatever position he finds himself.
Two of state's top forwards in Gage Prim and @trepierre23 pic.twitter.com/Wwja1HWSs7
— Prep Hoops Colorado (@PrepHoopsCO) June 3, 2016
We’ll have more on Gage next week, but the biggest thing that stands out his size and strength. Gage clearly takes his time in the weight room seriously. We also talked to rising 2017 guard Lechaun Duhart, who displayed impressive scoring ability Friday.
An under-the-radar player to watch for Grandview: 6-4 2018 guard Ben Boone. He has good strength and length, is a very solid passer and can knock it down from outside. Intriguing set of skills.
Rampart Has Serious Size
We brought you a story this week on 6-11 2018 Rampart big Dawson Carper and the work he’s done to recover from a broken leg he suffered last fall. But he’s not the only big body for Rampart. Jackson Ehrlin, is a 6-9 2017 big man who is really starting to come into his own, expanding his game to include some nice perimeter elements. We saw him take the ball off the rim, run the floor and finish at the rim more than once Friday. We’ll have more on him soon.
Rampart, which will be a strong contender to win the Class 5A Colorado Springs Metro League this upcoming season, also has size in the backcourt. Cal Zeb Roberson is a smooth 6-3 guard who is decently athletic and plays with good balance.
Safieddine Surging
Jamil Safieddine, a 6-1 2019 guard for Regis Jesuit, has grown in more ways than one recently. In addition to growing physically about four inches in the past year, according his Colorado Hawks club coach, Simeon Boddie, he’s also been putting in extra time in the gym, working to grow his game.
The result has been a big rise in stock for Safieddine, who showed Friday he can get his shot in multiple ways. He’s good at creating with the ball in his hands, using angles to get to the rim. He’s a player that doesn’t wow physically, but he is solid and consistently makes the right place.
His fellow 2019 backcourt mate Levi Dombro also had some nice moments Friday, including a great back cut that he caught and finished through contact, then nailed the free throw for a 3-point play.
Dillon Set For Big Senior Season At Evergreen
One player who caught our eye early this spring at the Prep Hoops Spring Kick Off was 6-5 2017 small forward Mike Dillon, who showed an ability to rebound defend at multiple spots, run the floor in transition and score at the rim while playing for the Shining Stars.
Friday, Dillon was doing all those things while also showing off a consistent mid- and long-range jumper. He has the look of a solid RMAC player with good upside.