Top 5 Prospects in the Utah Elite 8
American Fork, UT- Some of the best teams in the state have gathered for the Utah Elite 8, the most competitive in-state tournament. This tournament is unique because it has been a measuring barometer for players and coaches to see where there team is at and what adjustments they need to make to compete at a high level. Defending state champions Bingham and Olympus return to the Elite 8 as they put it on the line against the likes of Copper Hills and Davis.
In Day 1, here are the top 5 players that stood out:
1.Branden Carlson (Bingham) The 6’10 Senior has shown maturity and toughness but most importantly his hands seem to be softer as he has improved around the rim. The #1 rated player in the Class of 2017 has played like it as he is definitely a difference maker when he is on the court.
2. Stockton Shorts (Copper Hills) The top returning player for the Grizzles is sure playing like it. Stockton went off for 41 points against 4A Olympus who is the favorite to repeat as State Champion. Stockton can simply do it all inside and out. He is surely a complete player who has a lot of potential. Stockton could be a low D1 or a high D2 type of player in the right system.
3. Ben Rigby (Davis) Ben is averaging 12 ppg. and 7 rpg. Ben leads the Darts against the defending 5A State Champions. This is a great stage for him to shine. Ben has signed to play baseball for BYU. Ben also had an baseball offer from Hawaii and a basketball offer from Weber State. The 6’6 Senior obviously excels at both sports. The Darts will need him if they want to beat the Miners.
4. Jeremy DowDell (Olympus) With some of his teammates struggling to make shots Jeremy stepped up proving to his coach that this young 6’2 So. can be counted on when needed. Olympus will rebound after there loss to Copper Hills. Jeremy has a high ceiling and he is on a team that will help him grow and develop. Jeremy’s stock will continue to rise.
5. Michael Scheffner (Corner Canyon) When Sheffner scored 24 in the opening game against Bountiful it didn’t seem like sucha big deal because Bountiful is down this year, but Michael has consistently put up great numbers against quality teams including a 29 point night against Bingham.