Prospect Spotlight: Cole Sienknecht (2018)
Cole Sienknecht drove to Lakewood last month with something to prove. The 6-0 junior guard for 3A Manitou Springs was seeking the opportunity to test himself against top-flight competition, which he found at the Prep Hoops Top 250 Expo at…
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Continue ReadingCole Sienknecht drove to Lakewood last month with something to prove.
The 6-0 junior guard for 3A Manitou Springs was seeking the opportunity to test himself against top-flight competition, which he found at the Prep Hoops Top 250 Expo at Gold Crown.
Sienknecht didn’t just fit in. He stood out. His performance earned him the No. 202 slot among all class of 2018 players who participated in Top 250 Expos nationwide.
“It was a lot of fun to be able to participate against some of the top talent in the state,” Sienknecht said. “There were some of my teammates there and some guys I played against in the summer. It was a great experience to rank up against all the top players in the state.”
Sienknecht said the event was a big boost for his confidence after performing well against so many big-school players.
“Playing at a small school definitely hinders me sometimes, but playing against players who to bigger schools really gives the confidence knowing I can compete with the best of 4A, 5A and everything without being scared or timid. It just helps me with my game.”
Sienknecht averaged 11 points per game as a sophomore for a Manitou Springs team that went 23-4 and marched all the way to the 3A quarterfinals before narrowly losing to eventual state champ Colorado Springs Christian.
Sienknecht went to work improving his game in the spring and summer, joining a talented Force 16U squad that included players like Cheyenne Mountain’s Luke Martin and Palmer Ridge’s Cory McLellan.
Sienknecht credited coaches Chris Lambrecht and Bryse Velasquez for helping him hone his skills over the past year, helping to transform him from a catch-and-shoot guard into a player who has found confidence attacking the basket and breaking down defenses.
“I owe it all to them to be able to be put in the spot that I’m in now,” he said.
Sienknecht said playing college basketball has been a goal ever since he could dribble a ball. Though he has yet to receive any significant college attention as he begins his junior season, his upward trajectory would suggest that could change soon. His feel for the game and shotmaking ability projects well somewhere in the Division II to NAIA range.
For now, he’s focused on a big junior year at Manitou Springs and using the experiences of the past spring, summer and fall to fuel him.