Predicting the 3A/4A Patriot League All-Star Team

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 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 that I am excited to have taken a look at which was honestly one of the most difficult leagues to choose from is the 3A/4A Patriot league which had five teams that finished with a winning record. There are so many talented guards in this league and teams that will go after it night in and night out. Let’s take a look at my top standouts. First Team: PG: Tyler Uyemura – Platte Valley – Jr. Uyemura was only a sophomore last season but made some major contributions to the team. Now with a year under his belt and hard work in the offseason including a couple of showcase appearances we feel as if he is ready to step up and prove to be one of the better two-way guards in the entire class on a relatively young team that graduated the bulk of their team last year. He is a tenacious defender that creates easy baskets, he has active hands and is a quick guard that makes the right decision. He can shoot it or set up the offense as a guard that teams will have fits with as he has shown to do it all. He is my pick for the player the surprise player of the conference. SG: Ethan Hill – Estes Park – Jr. Estes Park did not have a ton of bright spots last season but what they did have is one of the most talented scorers in the entire conference in their point guard, Ethan Hill. Hill is a player that is going to remain aggressive and despite everyone knowing that he is going to take the shots he is still going to get his shots up remain aggressive and every single team in the league besides Strasburg got to see the No. 1 option on their scouting report still score in double-digits. He scores in every way and one thing that stands out is although he is a volume shooter he was still efficient considering he was on a losing team. I would like to see him on a better team to just how good he is but at 17.8 points a game with 7.4 rebounds as well it is safe to say that he is one of the conference best scorers. The scary thing is he still has two more years. SF: Reece Johnson – Resurrection Christian – Sr. Reece is a 6’0 guard that brings the best out of his teammates and also has shown the ability to be the star player that can score at ease or also play off-ball and fill in spaces. He put up 18.7 points, 3.2 assists, and 5.8 rebounds a game as the most impressive player in the league this year and I do not see that changing as he should be the league-best player yet again as a player that should average 20+. He can shoot, gets to the lane and finishes and also gets to the free-throw line. He has a game that translates to the next level as a talented player that would stand out no matter the class he is in. Big year ahead for him. SF/PF: Tayt Chacon – University High School – So. Chacon had one of the most impressive Freshman campaigns of any in the state last year and now with momentum jumped onto our newest rankings list that is coming out and will look to build on that for a University team that will be looking to win the league. He put up double-digit scoring in 16 of 22 games played as he averaged 16 points a game and also showed to be a slasher that could score in various ways. He has to improve as a shooter but with his ability to get inside and penetrate defenses with scoring with ease as his inside presence was a bit too much for opposing teams last year and he also showed that he is also a player that goes after every single rebound as well. This should be a year where he really steps up and shows that he belongs no matter the class. C: Ryan Ure – Eaton – Jr. This Eaton team is a year away from being REALLY, REALLY good – but who is to say that they don’t have now. They have one of the better big men in the conference that is heading into a big junior season where he can truly dominate in the league. He is coming off of a year where he put up 8.8 points and 10.1 rebounds a game. He keeps plays alive, he is a glass cleaner and shows off his athleticism for not only baskets and tip-ins but also for rebounds as well. He has a high motor and is only getting better and this has to be the year that he steps onto the scene and shows that he is a two-way leader that could put up a double-double every single night. Bench Guard: Jackson Romero – Ressurection Christian – Sr. Romero is the true definition of a true point guard that brings is on both ends of the floor. Heis a high IQ guard that has a willingness to make the open pass and set teammates up and his guys tend to cut hard when he has the ball in his hands as they know they will be rewarded. Not only can he pass well but he is a guard with a solid handle on the ball and can score as well. He put up 13.8 points and four assists a game and that will only get better with a year more of experience under his belt. Expect him to lead the league in assists this year and for Ressurection Christian to be one of the best teams in the league. Guard: Scott Grable – Eaton – Jr. Although Grable was only a sophomore last year, he was impactful. He was one of the most consistent scorers as he put up 15.4 points a night and showed himself as a marksman from deep that had to be defended the second that he crossed half-court. He can score as well as get others involved but his ability to take over games as a shooter really separates him from the bunch. This year he should take over as an improved ball handler that remains aggressive as a player that needs to be taken seriously as a scorer. Wing: Mitchell Davis – Stratsburg – Sr. With JC Spence graduated it is up to Davis to carry the load. He is coming off of a year where he will be forced to be the leading scorer and rebounder on a relatively young and inexperienced team. I do think there will be a bit of regression for the team but he should be the only constant that can lead the pack as I expect him to put up close to 16 points a game as a combo-guard with untapped potential. Sub: Jackson Keil – Sterling – Jr. / Jaden Humphrey – University High School – Sr. I got the chance to see Keil this summer with the Colorado Hawks and this is a player that is poised for a very big year. He is a confident scorer that will shoot it no matter how close the defender is, can create for himself with a nice mid-range pullup and also uses his jump-shot to open up other areas of his game as he had a few finishes at the rim as well. He has a mature game that things come to him in a smooth manner, he moves without the ball and is always in a shooter's spot. I am excited to see what translates this next season from a big summer with the Hawks. As for Humphrey, I would not feel right not having him there. He is coming off of a year where he put up 11.7 points but also proved to be a playmaker that made things happen. He rebounds and also sets his teammates up and he is a player that can guard multiple positions. Sub: Axel Henry – Sterling – Sr. Henry is another player that epitomizes consistency. You know what you are getting from him each time out and he was one of the players that stood out on the league championship team as a guard that can run the offense, does not make many mistakes and will score the ball when needed. He put up 9.4 points and two rebounds and assists a game to keep things going for the team and will look to up that this year.