2019 Rising Stars   

The top players in the state get plenty of coverage between the summer with AAU ball and when season starts as it is anticipated that they will have another great season. But there have been a few players that have gone under the radars for far too long and are off to a sensational start despite not being one of the top players that garner all of the attention. Here is our list in the 2019 class of players who have stood out and will surely see their stock rise soon.

Bryson Becker – Platte Valley

You want to talk about a player coming into the year and dominating, there has not been a player in the state that is off to a start as Becker has been on. He is on a tear and does not look to be slowing down anytime soon. We thought he would have a good year, but not this. He is leading the state in scoring at an incredible 28.0 points per game and also is a state leader in blocks (2.8 bpg) and rebounds (12.3 rebs) a game which shows that he is getting it done in every aspect of the game. Becker has great size and skill and it has been on display as he is having a Mr. Basketball like start of the season and is a huge reason for the teams 4-0 start.

Jack Fisher – Poudre

Don’t look now but Poudre is off to a 6-0 start including a big upset over Denver East to start out the year. With the undefeated start a player that has been one of the most consistent players and a pleasant surprise has been Jack Fisher. Jack has done it in a plethora of ways and has been one of the best players of the year. What really stands out is his ability to go inside and finish but also can knock it down from beyond the arc which keeps the defense guessing. He is off to a whopping 24.8 points per game including a 32-point explosion over Fossil Ridge and is trying to prove to the state that he and the Poudre Impalas are for real.

Isaiah Robinson/Darien Meyers – Palmer

The Palmer Terrors have been off to an up and down year and have had very strong play from two players on their team, Darien Meyers who is off to a solid 21.3 points and 12.0 rebounds a game which are both among the top in the state and is not getting enough attention as he is affecting the game in multiple ways and also Senior leader Isaiah Robinson who is up to 21.7 points per game. For two players to average over 40 points a game makes it one of the state’s top duos and if they are able to keep that up I see this Palmer team surprising a few squads this year. This Palmer unit shares the ball and plays together and it is just a matter of time until they get it together. As long as they keep leaning on Robinson and Meyers I feel as if things will truly turn around. Both have been rocking it and have been standouts to start the year that deserve some credit.

Sufyan Elkannan –Legend

Legend is off to a 4-1 start and is a team that is interesting because they truly are a deep unit that plays for each other. They believe in the next man standing next to them and you can see it in every game. They share the basketball, they rotate on defense and trust one another and they are a disciplined bunch that does the right things. One of their standouts for the year is a player that is relatively known but has stepped his game up in different ways this year. For Senior season he has become more of an offensive standout that picks up momentum and can’t be stopped once he’s penetrating the lane. He has great athleticism and challenges defenders at the rim with his length and size as he is a good defender. He is capable of opening up the defense with his ability to shoot although he is not a knockdown shooter but is also a good slasher that can finish above or around the rim. He is at 24 points per game after having a season that he averaged 15.7 points a game. He is one of the best back to the basket wings in the state and once he gets on the right block, it’s for sure a basket. Solid start for a unique player.

Quincey Jewett – Rangeview

You want to talk about a candidate for a most improved player of the year, here is Quincey who has turned it around completely. In 14 games last season Quincey was a player that averaged only 3.3 points and 2.7 rebounds a game and was viewed as an rotational player that came in in small spurts, this season however is his best. Through the first four games he is leading the team in two categories. He is at 17.3 points and 11.8 rebounds a game which shows the massive improvement and immense work that has gone into perfecting his craft. He has come into the season as one of the top players on the team and is surely the go to option on a very loaded team that I feel will get into the top three teams in the state and remain for the rest of the year.