2020 Rising Stars
The top players in the state get plenty of coverage between the summer with AAU ball and when season start 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. Earlier in the week we went through the senior class that had some hidden gems, here is my list in the 2020 class of players who have stood out and will surely see their stock rise soon.
Elijah Jones – Sheridan
There is having a good year and there is having a great year and with that being said, Elijah Jones is having a phenomenal year. Elijah is off to a year where he is amongst the top of the state in two separate categories. He is at 27.0 points a game and also leading 5A in steals at 5.3 a game. Elijah is relied on as the player to do everything and most nights sees double teams and different schemes and still performs at a high ability. Elijah’s downfall has been team success as Sheridan has not been known to be a powerhouse basketball school but with a player that is putting up the kind of numbers and impacting the game in so many ways as he has it is worth taking a deeper look at him. Anybody averaging 27 points a game is must-see tv.
Trevor Baskin – Pomona
Trevor Baskin is a player that came out to the 250 expos and really stood out and was a force then and has definitely carried that momentum into the season. It has only been three games for Pomona but he is the state leader in blocks at an eye-dropping 5.3 blocks a game which shows that he is staying aggressive down low and patrolling the paint with reckless abandon. He is a smooth 6’6 big man that has a great feel for the game as the game seems to slow down for him. He is a playmaker with one of the best back to the basket games in the state due to his great footwork and soft touch and he has also carried the scoring load with 18.0 points a game with also 10.0 rebounds to go along with it. He is a walking double-double and if he continues this play will be one of the state’s biggest standouts. Right now, he is on the right path.
Darnell Kindred – Pueblo East
Pueblo does not get the publicity that they deserve because they are so far out, but there are some ballers out there that are having a great year and have not been getting enough coverage. The Pueblo East squad is a strong unit that has four players that average double digits and one really close but the leader has been junior wing Darnell Kindred. Kindred is averaging 13.5 points a game and has 5.2 rebounds to go along with it which is much improved from his sophomore season. Last year Kindred was just a hustle player, but he put the work in to get better and is now a player that is relied on and has answered that call. He is a player with good size and strength that gets to his spots and attacks the rim relentlessly which causes easy baskets. He has soft touch around the rim and is a slasher that knows how to find open creases in the defense. Look for Kindred to continue his solid play and it lead to team success.
Lucas Moerman – Doherty
I’m calling it now, by the end of senior year Lucas Moerman will be one of the most sought-after players in the state because of the great things he can do on the basketball court and that’s while just now getting a feel for the game. Raw is what I will call him but he has the best ceiling in the state and is one of the best hidden gems in this class. Although the Spartans are struggling through four games Lucas has been the bright spot. He is leading the team in points at 8.8 a game which I feel will surely go up, but it is his work on the glass as well as the defensive end that makes him such a standout player. Moerman is one of the top rebounders in the state at 12.5 rebounds a game and uses all of his 6’10 frame on each defensive possession. He alters so many shots and is averaging an impressive 3.3 blocks a game but once he fills into his size he will be one of the most dominant forces in the state and we're here for it.
Landon Wallace – Conifer
Landon is the definition of a true point guard and floor general. He sees the floor, he gets others involved, he takes chances but he makes the right plays as well. Conifer is a team that is very balanced and has many operating parts, but Landon is the engine as he does so many things well to keep the team going. He is having a season where he is doing it all and affecting the game in so many different ways. He is averaging 9.3 points and 6.4 rebounds a game but what is really standing out about Landon is his unselfishness. He is one of the top assist-men in the state and takes pride in getting others involved. He has a high basketball IQ and see’s the plays through and is a player that has really stepped up to the plate that we now have eyes on.
