Preseason 5A Championship Favorites

<p>The season is coming up soon and many people have picked out an early favorite for the 5A championship. That team is the <strong>Overland Trailblazers</strong>. This team is really someone to be reckoned with, they have one of the most talented teams in the state and a good core who knows how to play together.</p> <p><strong>The Trailblazer's Roster</strong></p> <p>The big reason that they are early favorites is because the big man down low. Arguably the best player in the state, <strong>Graham Ike (2020) </strong>has the size and skill that no one in the state can match. This D1 product can bang down low and has a good mid range shot to help stretch the floor. Then at point guard they have one of the best point guards in his class with <strong>Hezekiah Swanson (2020)</strong>, sadly he was injured over the summer but I still expect him to be a top 5 point guard in the state. I think if Hez was not injured this summer he would be in the talks for top the point guard with Sanders, Foster, and Rock. They also have another good point guard in <strong>Kaleb Chaney</strong>, who over the summer got to start for the talented Colorado Hawks 17U team. Kaleb really surprised me when I saw him over the summer with how much he improved, he is super quick, can attack the rim, and has a nice shot from the outside. </p> <p>They also have two transfers which make things really interesting. <strong>Vincas Veikalas (2021),</strong> who I got to see play over the summer against Billups Elite; he is a big guard who can take advantage of smaller match-ups and has a nice stroke mid range extended, really like his game. And <strong>Valentinas Ulinas (2020)</strong> who can really score the ball, he has a tall frame and better handles then most guys at the same height, which allows him to get the rim with ease. Another piece that will help out is <strong>Trevon Deden (2020) </strong>who is a good shooter who you cannot leave open. The last player to look out for is <strong>Abel Maes (2021)</strong>, this kid is a sleeper. He can play with or without the ball watch out for him to get some solid role player action this year. It is definitely too early to say who is going to win the championship this year, but Overland is who is looking to come out as the best team in Colorado this year.</p>