PHC Player of the Year Candidate: Jalen Sanders (2017)
(Photo credit: Colorado Sports Network) With the countdown to the start of the 2016-17 season ticking down quickly, we are hitting the ground running with our season preview content. Among the content we’ll providing periodically until the start of the…
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Continue Reading(Photo credit: Colorado Sports Network)
With the countdown to the start of the 2016-17 season ticking down quickly, we are hitting the ground running with our season preview content.
Among the content we’ll providing periodically until the start of the season is a look at 20 candidates for the Prep Hoops Colorado Player of the Year Award. Our inaugural award last season went to Overland’s De’Ron Davis.
So who is today’s candidate?
Jalen Sanders
When we spoke with Valor Christian coach Troy Pachner before the start of the last season, he was understandably optimistic at his team’s chances for a strong season.
Pachner cited a strong and deep junior class that had experience and was ready to leave a mark. That started at the top with 6-5 small forward Jalen Sanders.
Sanders certainly didn’t disappoint, leading the Eagles to the Class 4A championship. Valor fell short against a red-hot Pueblo South team, but with all of that talent and experience coming back for another season, there’s no reason to think Valor Christian won’t be right back in that mix.
Sanders, of course, will be a major reason for that. During a 25-3 season that included a JeffCo League title, Sanders was one of the state’s most well-rounded players. His per-game averages: 17.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.7 blocks per game. Few players in Colorado affect the game in more ways than Sanders, who is difficult to guard because of his ability to score from the perimeter, back an opponent down on the block, score on putbacks with his active energy and deftly find open teammates.
That set of skills is what has Sanders garnering a handful of offers from Division I schools. Sanders had already picked up offers before his final grassroots season with Billups Elite, but his play this past spring and summer with the club only elevated his stock.
The future is bright for Sanders, who we believe will be a very productive player at the Division I level. But he’s got plenty to accomplish in his senior high-school season first. Could a player of the year award be in the mix?
You can check out Jalen’s junior-season highlights HERE.