Metro State Team Camp: Saturday Afternoon Standouts
The June team season is in full swing, and dozens of programs got the month started Friday at the Metro State Team Camp, which runs through Sunday.
Here were some standouts from the second day of action we saw, which ran from about noon to 4 p.m.:
Kobe Sanders, 6-0 2020 point guard, Chaparral
With Chaparral missing starters Ronnie DeGray, Bryce Matthews and Joseph Dalton for various reasons Saturday, Sanders led the show and nearly guided the Wolverines to a second-half comeback over Smoky Hill. Throughout the day, Sanders’ handle stood out. He’s developed a low, whip-quick crossover dribble that had him getting to the rim consistently.
Jonah Gardner, 6-3 2018 shooting guard, Faith Christian
The three-sport star, who led the Eagles to within a bucket of the 3A state championship last season, has been active on both ends of the floor all weekend. His most impressive offensive skill is his mid-range jumper. He’s quick with the shot off the dribble and has the athleticism to rise above his defender. Gardner averaged 15 points per game as a junior and is proving to be one of the state’s better under-the-radar shooting guard prospects.
Brendan Temple, 6-3 2019 shooting guard, Douglas County
Temple has demonstrated impressive range during the first two days of the camp. The lefty has a smooth stroke and helped the Huskies turn in a strong second half against George Washington. Temple has good awareness and decent length on the perimeter. He averaged eight points, 2.1 rebounds and one assist per game as a sophomore and appears ready to take on a bigger role.
Jalen Weaver, 6-2 2021 shooting guard, Smoky Hill
There have been a number of strong performances for the Buffs during their 4-0 start to the tournament. Weaver, a freshman-to-be participating with Smoky for the first time, has been on fire from the 3-point line. He made five 3-pointers in Friday’s opening game against Evergreen and has continued to hit with consistency since. Few players at the tournament have been shooting it so well from deep. It’s been a strong first impression.
Josh Kavalec, 6-2 2018 combo guard, Rampart
After averaging 11 points per game as a sophomore, Kavalec is clearly preparing for a larger role on a team that loses two of its top three scorers from a season ago. Kavalec is aggressive in going to the basket, and he’s a capable ball-handler with a nice pull-up off a quick behind-the-legs dribble that helps him get quickly into his mid-range jumper.