Grassroots Rewind: Colorado Miners 17U
J.J. Brimble found the end coming fast in Las Vegas last week. When the final buzzer sounded, with his Colorado Miners 17U team falling just short in the title game of the Diamond Championship Bracket at the Fab 48, Brimble…
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Continue ReadingJ.J. Brimble found the end coming fast in Las Vegas last week. When the final buzzer sounded, with his Colorado Miners 17U team falling just short in the title game of the Diamond Championship Bracket at the Fab 48, Brimble took to Twitter to express his appreciation for his teams.
“Can’t explain how much these boys mean to me,” he wrote.
The core of this Miners team displayed impressive chemistry during their run together, a group of largely Colorado Springs-based players who always played with the kind of chip a team trying to prove it belongs carries on its shoulder.
With two title games and more than 20 victories this season, the Miners proved just that. A closer look:
Record: 21-6
Best Tournament Finish: Runner-up in the Great American Shootout Blue Championship Bracket in Dallas during second July live period. Runner-up in the Diamond Championship Bracket at the Fab 48 in Las Vegas during the third live period.
Offers: 2.
MVP: The title in our estimation is shared by three players. “They each had moments that made you say, that kid is special,” their coach said.
Brevin Brimble, 5-11 point guard. The heady floor general could shoot lights out or play distributor, his IQ guiding his decision-making and his skill-set with the ball allowing him to do what the team needed.
CJ Jennings, 6-2 guard. The consistent mid-range jump shot and quick first step make him a player who can fill the scoring column in a hurry. He is lengthy on the defensive end and plays with a strong motor. Jennings picked up his first Division I offer from Buffalo in July.
Hunter Maldonado, 6-5 guard. Maldonado can affectionately be described as a basketball player. In other words, he can do just about anything needed for a team. It’s a big reason why Wyoming offered in the spring and Maldonado committed in June.
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Malik Salley, 6-3 forward. He may be undersized for his position, but Salley proved multiple times on the circuit that he could defend multiple positions, highly valuable as player who can compete relentlessly on the boards. He has expanded his game in terms of ball-handling and shooting as well, and he will be a key cog for what should be a talented Rampart team this season.
Daylen Jackson, 5-9 guard. Jackson has been described as TNT, a small guard who can explode into cracks in the defense and make plays. He was a sparkplug for the Miners and was a guy who could play on the ball or off.
Emmanuel Burleson, 6-0 guard. A bulldog defender who “will guard anybody, anytime,” according to Brimble, Burleson was often charged with locking down an opponent’s top scorer. Doherty coach Jarris Krapcha often raved about Burleson’s defense last season during the Spartans’ march to the Class 5A quarterfinals.