Season Preview: Class of 2018 Breakout Candidates (Part II)
We have previewed the bulk of the major divisions in Colorado (still a few coming) and written profiles of a handful of player of the year candidates (more of those, too) as we get you ready for a 2016-17 high…
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Continue ReadingWe have previewed the bulk of the major divisions in Colorado (still a few coming) and written profiles of a handful of player of the year candidates (more of those, too) as we get you ready for a 2016-17 high school basketball season that is now just nine days away.
We’ve got plenty more to come over the final week. And we continue today with five more breakout candidates for the 2018 class. These are players who, after watching a lot of basketball the past spring, summer and fall, we believe are poised to take big jumps.
Maybe these are players who weren’t on the radar at all and are now going to make a little noise. Maybe they were players who we knew about but are now going to take major leaps forward. There are plenty of good candidates for this list.
Here are the next five:
Jahwan Phillips, 6-2 guard, Smoky Hill
Phillips will bring a tough, physical presence to a young Buffs team with high aspirations. He’s quick enough to defend guards and strong enough to defend bigger players. Second-year coach Anthony Hardin will have the luxury of a deep bench should all his talented players stay healthy, and Phillips will be a guy he can plug into many roles and expect him to make a big impact.
Garrett Ripsam, 6-4 guard, Fossil Ridge
Ripsam was the best player on the second Colorado Chaos 16U squad this past grassroots season, and he probably would have been a strong contributor on the first team. Ripsam doesn’t blow you away athletically, but he’s a player who does all the little things well. Crisp passer, runs the floor, engages defensively and hits jump shots with consistency. Would expect he’ll have a nice season for Fossil Ridge as he begins to prove himself as a potential small-college prospect.
Deven Nelson, 6-2 guard, Mesa Ridge
Nelson played well enough with the juggernaut Colorado Hawks 16U team this summer to earn his first Division I scholarship offer from Air Force. That was after he averaged 13.5 points per game as a sophomore and nearly led Mesa Ridge to an upset of eventual 4A champion Pueblo West. Brimming with confidence after a monster summer, expect Nelson to be one of the most productive players in his class.
Blake Williams, 6-4 wing, Rock Canyon
The Jaguars will miss Isaac Hirsch, a do-it-all player who provided a long list of intangibles last season as coach Kent Gram’s squad threatened for the Continental League title. Williams has the ability to step in and provide a lot of those same qualities. Williams has nice athleticism, can finish above the rim and really runs the floor well. He can stretch the floor with his outside shooting ability and should be able to defend multiple positions.
Matthew Lawrence, 6-5 guard, Heritage
Lawrence wasn’t much more than a spot-up shooter during his sophomore season at Heritage, but through a relentless offseason of working on his game, Lawrence has really blossomed as a good-sized wing who can affect the games in multiple ways. He’s increasing his situational understanding of the game and how to fit into the flow. He’s active in transition and can defend well at the rim. He’s also begun to find ways to score off the dribble. With the departure of Jack Peck, one of the state’s leading scorers a season ago, Lawrence could be primed for a big season with the Eagles.