Spring Kick Off (2017): Saturday’s Colorado Stock Risers — Evening Session
With a heavy slate of games Saturday came some intriguing standouts. There were a number of Colorado players who raised their stock on the second night of the Prep Hoops Spring Kick Off with big performances.
Let’s take a look:
Jovan Dodig, 5-11 2018 guard, Colorado Regulators 17U
The Regulators put together a nice early evening win over Colorado Premier with the help of strong two-way play from Dodig, a Bear Creek product. Dodig is a player who really likes to get after it on defense. He’s engaged, low and in your face on nearly every defensive possession, making life difficult for opposing guards. Offensively, Dodig is still a little bit raw, but he has the athleticism to make a difference on that end is well, and he’s a deft finisher once he gets to the basket.
Luke Johnson, 5-10 2018 guard, Colorado Titans 17U
At the core of Johnson’s strong game is his ability to take care of the basketball. It sounds like a small thing, but frankly a player who is calm and poised with the ball and doesn’t make mistakes with it during the oft-frenetic pace of a grassroots tournament stands out. Johnson let’s his 5-foot-10 frame work to his advantage, consistently staying low with his dribble so that he is able to turn on a dime to avoid trouble. He adds to that handle a pure jump shot and good understanding of defensive principles. Johnson should certainly have a chance to play at some college level.
Levi Dombro, 6-1 2019 guard, Colorado Chaos 16U
The sharpshooting guard from Grandview changed games Saturday with his ability to knock down outside shots with great consistency. He poured in 27 points during a narrow overtime loss to SSA Elite out of Kansas, and he kept firing with success throughout the day. Dombro is not just a catch-and-shoot player. He was creating a lot of the looks for himself off dribble pull-ups, and he was also getting to the rim throughout the day.
Branden Bunn, 6-1 2018 guard, Colorado Hawks 17U Prospects
Bunn, who recently moved into the state from New York, has jumped onto the Colorado basketball scene in a big way. He was instrumental in helping the Hawks’ second squad knock off top teams from Billups Elite and Colorado Chaos. He’s a strong guard who can play with or without the ball in his hands. He displayed good toughness Saturday and he came up with some clutch plays in both victories Saturday night. He’s got good athleticism and really runs the floor in transition. His best strength may be his defense. When he’s locked in, Bunn makes it difficult for the man he’s guarding to catch the ball or make headway once he has it.
Morgan Brown, 6-4 2018 forward, Rocky Mountain Vipers 17U
Brown turned a few heads while playing a reserve role for state champion Eaglecrest. If Saturday’s performances were any indication, Brown will turn even more of them this spring and summer. He showed Saturday that while, like in high school, his biggest impact is as a player who runs the floor and attacks the glass, creating productivity with his energy, he’s also got an expanding skill set that allows him to handle the ball and make plays for others and himself. Brown is fairly early in his basketball maturation, but the strides he’s made in a short time illustrate a high ceiling.
Pierre Taylor, 6-0 2018 guard, South Central Elite 17U
Taylor scored or assisted on five straight buckets in one stretch during one of the best games of the day: a late-night clash against the Colorado Titans 17U squad. Taylor showed some real breakaway speed when he caught the ball in transition, able to create easy separation on the way to the basket. He plays with good toughness, but he also doesn’t force the action. Taylor simply makes the winning plays you’d expect for a player who has won a state championship in his career, which he earned with Pueblo West in 2016.
Filip Rebraca, 6-7 2017 forward, Colorado Titans 17U
Rebraca is an unsigned senior from Serbia who joined Ralston Valley’s team with only seven games left in the season. Playing with the Titans will give this unknown but talented player a good chance to gain some exposure. What coaches will see is a player with a really strong frame — he already looks college ready as it relates to his physical stature. He has the ability to be a good rim protector at the next level. He’s good pretty good athleticism, but he also just seems to have a knack for hunting shots. Rebraca displayed good toughness Saturday, playing through contact and making some big plays when the Titans needed them. Rebraca is definitely one of the tournament’s more intriguing players.