Predicting All-Star Teams for the 3A Metro League
We are closing in on the final few leagues to preview before the upcoming season. We’ve been on the search for figuring out which area in the state has the best talent and have observed a few conferences. We…
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Continue ReadingWe are closing in on the final few leagues to preview before the upcoming season. We’ve been on the search for figuring out which area in the state has the best talent and have observed a few conferences.
We did not want to do it the traditional way so wanted to have a bit of fun with it with predicting who we would have on our “All-Area All-Star Teams” and have taken a look at a couple of leagues already, but one we have not looked at is one that will be wide open and also the home of the 3A Champions from last season, the Manual Thunderbolts. There are plenty of big names that graduates last year so let’s see who remains and is ready to make the big jump. Let’s take a look at the 3A Metro League.
First Team:
PG: Tommy Apodaca – Denver Lutheran – Sr.
Apodaca is my pick for the best perimeter defender in all of 3A, not just the conference. While he did not have an extraordinary year last season, this is the year that I feel he breaks out as he will surely become more of a known name, especially with the new group he has coming in. He is a true point guard that is full of energy and a high IQ player that capitalizes on both sides of the court. I feel his activity on defense will allow him to get going offensively and with his new freshman weapon ready to be used, expect him to rack up on assists and easy baskets as well. Big year upcoming, he just has to be ready to prove that he is fit for it.
SG: Jaden Stoffell – Manual – Sr.
Stoffel was on the All-State team as a junior and is looking for more. Manual is the defending champs and he was a HUGE part of the reason that they get to defend. He put up 16.9 points a game next to one of the most prolific scorers in state history and now with Bowles gone, Stoffel has the green light. He is a marksman from deep who shows that he has different elements to his game that makes it easy for him to score in bunches. He can shoot, put the ball on the floor with great ball handling and has great vision. He is a guard that plays under control and can get himself going. I am excited to see him step into being the best player on the team and the conference and want to see if he can take over with the target on his back.
SF: Isaiah Kroll – Faith Christian – Sr.
The most important player on Faith Christian’s gridiron happens to be the best player on the hardwood as well; what an athlete. He is a player that is going to push the opposing team to the limits every single night and gets what he wants. He gets to the rim as any as anybody in the conference and is able to finish over smaller defenders with power and the bigger defenders with speed. He is an aggressive downhill runner who slashes when needed and when you need a big play, he is the guy to call on. He put up 14 points and just under seven rebounds a game last season and will pick that up this season on a team that looks poised for a big season. Be on the lookout for Kroll.
SF/PF: Caleb Ruter – Faith Christian – Sr.
Ruter is my pick for the darkhorse player in the league this upcoming season as he has it all from the forward spot. He has soft touch around the rim with a mid-range game, he rebounds as well as anyone in the conference and has his way down low with smaller defenders as he uses his 6’6 frame to dominate. He is a smooth lefty with good footwork and a long wingspan that helps him block shots as well as finish at the rim. His back to the basket game is only getting better and the 16.4 points and seven rebounds a game he put up last year will surely be topped this upcoming season, he is one of my favorite players in 3A this year.
C: Baye Fall – Denver Lutheran – Fr.
Lutheran automatically jumps to one of the favorites this season as they will have one of the best freshmen in the entire country on their team this season. He is dominant on both sides of the floor. He has size at 6’9, skill to be one of the best big men in the state no matter the class and after a huge summer where he made waves on the national scene, it is safe to say that this will be his conference. He does not allow the opposing team to feel comfortable in the paint as he blocks every shot, he battles on every possession and as long as he is still on their team they will have a chance to win every game. This is his league and he hasn’t even stepped foot on a high school court just yet. Expect Lutheran to unleash the big man.
Bench
Guard: Lonzel Smith – Manual – Sr.
Smith is my pick for the player that surprises teams the most as he is lightning quick and can shoot it. He creates havoc for the defense as his speed opens up so many avenues for him to go and get teammates open. He also can play off the ball and shoot it which will have the defense looking for him. He has to be a bit more aggressive offensively as he can get to the rim as easy as anybody else in the state and will have to make a big jump this season but I feel as if he is up for the challenge.
Guard: Elian Soto – Jefferson Academy – Sr.
One of the best scorers in this conference from a year ago was guard Soto. He showed that he is a creative finisher that can create for himself and others but he is going to get his shot off no matter who is defending him. He excels in pick and roll situations as he can either shoot it where he is a pretty good shooter or get all the way to the rim where he finishes well. He was the team’s leading scorer last season at 18.3 points a game and that is no simple feat. Expect much of the same this season.
Post: Mamadou Sow – Denver Lutheran – Jr.
Sow is a player that did not play a ton last season but from what we saw this summer he will step into a more prominent role as another big option to go to. He has the size to dominate down low and will have to play alongside another great big which will put him out on the perimeter as well. He has shown that he can penetrate the defense and put the ball on the floor as well as a mid-range game that will open things up. I think this is a year that it starts clicking for him as a surprise player to watch out of the conference.