Colorado Early Season Stock Risers: 2017 Forwards
As we wait for the action to resume on high school hardwoods in Colorado next week, we are using the break to further examine some the standout performances from the first half of the season.
We are continuing that effort today with a look at some of the 2017 forwards who have elevated their stock with the first handful of games. As we went through this group, there were certainly a number of impressive performances that caught our eye.
Here’s a closer look:
Jacob Storey, 6-7, Lakewood
Storey has been one of the biggest stock risers in the state this season. He’s averaging 20.6 points — a five-point improvement from his junior season — and 6.7 rebounds. And Storey has played his best against big-time competition. In back-to-back games against top-10 programs Cherokee Trail and ThunderRidge earlier this month, Storey posted these combined numbers: 57 points on 21-of-32 shooting and 17 rebounds. He’s learning how to use his size effectively and can really move his frame. A strong summer with B&B Academy on the grassroots trail has clearly translated. We see Storey as a productive Division II player with a nice ceiling.
Kayle Knuckles, 6-6, Valor Christian
Valor Christian coach Troy Pachner has raved out of what he’s seen from Knuckles, whose still only in about his fourth season of playing organized basketball. He’s a highly efficient player who keeps adding to his repertoire offensively. He’s great at finding cracks in the defense and then finishing. He’s averaging 18.8 points per game and has produced that kind of success without needing to touch the basketball all the time. Knuckles could be a low Division I player, and he’d certainly be a difference maker for a program at the D-II level.
Peter Chopra, 6-7, Boulder
We first saw Chopra at a preseason scrimmage ahead of his junior season, when he ran the floor and finished two impressive lob plays. Yes, Chopra was a little raw, but you could see the potential. The Boulder big man is now starting to put it all together. He’s 17.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game for the Panthers, making a big impact with his size and athleticism. He’s coming off his best performance of the season in a 58-56 victory over Arvada West, when he had 23 points on 10-of-12 shooting.
Darren DeLaCroix, 6-3, Greeley West
DeLaCroix is an undersized forward who gets the job done with his toughness and smarts. He’s averaging a double this season with 13.6 points and 10.4 rebounds per game for the 4-4 Spartans. DLC has also averaged 4.4 assists per game. He has the ability to affect the game in multiple ways.
Roy Grigsby, 6-9, Monarch
We saw Grigbsy at the DU team camp last June and was impressed with his energy. He’s put up some nice numbers under first-year coach Josh Brenning, averaging 12.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. He’s long and moves his feet well.