Prep Hoops 10 Best: Denver East vs. Palmer
BOULDER — Two of Denver East’s presumptive best players are still sitting on the bench in jeans and team-issued jackets.
The Angels won’t get guards Daylen Kountz and Jamison Washington back until after winter break, and that’s a scary thought.
That’s because East already has plenty of talent to go around. In fact, we’re very curious to see how coach Rudy Carey will handle such a deep rotation when Kountz and Washington do get back.
For now, it’s great time for East to evaluate its other talent, which was more than enough to roll to a 70-41 victory over Palmer on Monday at the Fairview Festival in Boulder.
Monday night for East was all about big man Assane Diouf, who is blossoming before our eyes, and a senior guard who has shown impressive growth.
MVP: Assane Diouf, Denver East
The 7-1 sophomore has come a long way since he arrived in Denver from Senegal last year. His footwork Monday was notably for its efficiency. When he got the ball in the post, Diouf would pump fake passes to get the crowd away, then methodically go about backing down his defender. He’s quick to the basket when he makes his decision, and he has soft, old-school baby hook that he hits very consistently. Diouf is absolutely a high-major D-I prospect with plenty of growth in his game left.
Play of the game
Palmer 6-5 senior Own Lorentz thought he had a layup. Then came Diouf. With the force of a sledgehammer, Diouf slammed the ball against the backboard, literally shaking the whole structure. The bench for East erupted and Palmer thought twice about going at the rim the rest of the way. The lob sophomore Kwane Marble threw for Diouf in the fourth quarter placed a close second.
Best offensive performance: Diouf
Again, his mature footwork in the post made us wonder if this was the same player we’d seen play months ago. He was confident and very sure of himself. And it was maximum efficiency. He scored nearly every time he made an offensive move.
Best defensive performance: Joe Abiakam, Denver East
This was the second time in as many East games we’ve covered that Abiakam has earned this spot in the 10 Best. He’s relentless as a perimeter defender and forces a lot of mistakes. The best part of his defense Monday was that it produced a lot of offense, much of it his own finishes. Abiakam is a legit Division I guard prospect.
Best intangibles: Alex May, Denver East
At 6-9, May would be the biggest player on most teams. While not the physically imposing threat Diouf is, May has a nice motor and was all over the glass in the victory. He’s developed a nice midrange jumps shot and is a nice passer.
Best under-the-radar performance: Dom Jackson, Palmer
The 6-3 senior had some nice moments attacking the basket. He has nice athleticism and get to the rim with a nice first step. He has the look of a small-college player. He defended the perimeter well Monday, often getting his hands in passing lanes.
Best underclassmen for Denver East: Kwane Marble
Though Diouf would be a fair choice for this award, too, we’ll spread the love. Marble seems to be playing with a lot more confidence he did a season ago as a freshman, which is really no surprise. What was good to see Monday was his willingness to really get on the glass and battle there. At 6-3 from the guard spot, that’s a big asset.
Best underclassmen for Palmer: Darien Meyers
The 6-3 sophomore has good natural instincts for the game. Had a couple really nice pull-up midrange jumpers off the dribble that showed his awareness and feel. Nice ball-handling ability, too.
Story to watch going forward for Denver East: Rotation.
Talent is not going to be an issue for the Angels. They have a lot of it. Again, how they use all these different pieces — and the chemistry those pieces form — will go a long way toward determining whether East will once again return to the Final Four.
Story to watch going forward for Palmer: How will underclassmen grow?
Palmer teams always play with a lot of toughness and heart under longtime coach Jimmy Grantz. It’s what kept them in shouting distance from powerful East for much of the game. This particular team has a lot of sophomores and juniors, and so Palmer’s success in the 5A Colorado Springs Metro League will likely depend on how quickly the group grows into its own.