West Coast Elite Colorado All-Star Camp: 2017 Stock Risers
We’re closing up our coverage of the West Coast Elite Colorado All-Star Camp with a look at the seniors who saw their stock rise with performances in the event, putting them in line for big final seasons. This isn’t necessarily…
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Continue ReadingWe’re closing up our coverage of the West Coast Elite Colorado All-Star Camp with a look at the seniors who saw their stock rise with performances in the event, putting them in line for big final seasons.
This isn’t necessarily 2017 players who played the best in the event, but those who really made impressions that have elevated in them, in our eyes, a good deal from where they were.
Lawrence Miles, 6-3 guard, Manual
The 6-5 2019 standout Jaedon Bowles rightly gets a lot of attention when you start talking about Manual, but Miles is an impressive complementary piece. He’s got good quickness and athleticism, goes hard in transition and is creative at the rim. Strong defender who gets after it in stretches.
Alex Ageno, 6-1 guard, The Pinnacle
Ageno was one of the better shooters from mid-range during the event and had a good feel for how to space himself on the court. That’s part of his strong attention to detail. He makes passes on target. Ageno has decent athleticism and makes up for what he does lack in that arena with smarts.
Oscar Maldonado, 6-3 guard, Northridge
We’ve been impressed with Maldonado’s rise since the end of his junior season, and he was very good with the Colorado Titans this summer. It looked last weekend as if he’d added another consistent element, with that being the 3-point shot. On a day when it was hard to find many players who were consistently knocking it down from long range, Maldonado was an exception. He’s got good length and can really attack and defend. Adding the 3-pointer is an even bigger boost.
Ryan Holt, 6-5 guard/forward, ThunderRidge
Part of the reason ThunderRidge has enjoyed such sustained success under coach Joe Ortiz is that the Grizzlies always have players ready to step in once they lose big contributors to graduation. Holt certainly fits the bill as a player who could help fill in for the loss of big men Clay Verk and Austin Mueller, both of whom landed Division I scholarships. Holt isn’t quite that level of player, but he is certainly athletic enough to play at the D-II level, and we were impressed with the toughness he displayed during the event. Likes to get around the glass and make plays happen. An intriguing player to watch this season.
Andrew Mays, 6-3 guard, Ponderosa
Mays is a player who dealt with some injuries and other things that limited his varsity playing time as a junior. But he had the look last weekend of a player who can certainly make an impact for the Mustangs in their second year under coach Steve Ketchum. Mays was one of the better perimeter shooters at the event, and showed good aggressiveness at times attacking the basket. Consistent attention and effort on the defensive end will be the next step to master for Mays, and when that comes who could be an effective small-college prospect. You can see some of Mays’ highlights from the camp below.
Nick Holmes, 6-2 guard, Overland
As a role player who got some time here and there on Overland’s title-winning team a season ago, Holmes got an up-close look at what elite high school basketball looked like. Now he’s aiming to become an impact player himself. The WCE event was about as confident as we’ve seen Holmes play. The athleticism is there for Holmes. He’s got quick feet can elevate, and he has a good motor that doesn’t tire easily. His work has been in understanding how to fit his skills into the rhythm of the game, and we are starting to see a real improvement in that regard. Watch for a big senior season out of Holmes.
Calvin Fugett Jr., 6-2 guard, George Washington
Fugett and his brother Jon’il (2018) are the best defensive backcourt tandem in the state, and there’s really no debate. Where we saw Fugett really elevate at the event was offensively. He’s not quite the long-range shooter that Jon’il is, but he recognizes that and picks his spot wisely. We were seeing a player that was consistently getting to the rim and finishing above that. Fugett could be an impact low Division I player simply based on his elite defensive skills, and improved offense will help him rise further.