2020 Rankings Update: Predicting Stock Boosting Bigs

<p>This was a rankings update that took us quite some time as we made sure to see as many prospects as we could in person as well as look at how they fared throughout the summer and began the season. With that being said, we added over 30 players to the class rankings and also seen the most movement in 3+ years. We will do one more update right after the season to get prepared for the grassroots season. Here are five bigs that we are predicting will make a jump in our next rankings.</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong> <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/cj-thomas-2/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/cj-thomas-2/">CJ Thomas</a></a> – Grandview</strong></h3> <p>Thomas has been a tough player to rank over the years as he is a talented big man but his impact goes against stats. With playing at Grandview there is a culture you have to buy in and with that culture comes certain sacrifices, Thomas has had to make those sacrifices and the reason that he is going to be playing basketball at the next level is because he is willing to make them with a smile on his face. He is not a player that is going to wow you with big scoring games, he is not going to be the player that Grandview goes to late in games or counts on to take all of the shots but what he is going to give you are heart, toughness, and effort. Thomas is working hard on both ends of the floor, rather that is setting a hard screen and rolling hard to the basket to take his man away, maybe that is boxing out multiple players so that his guy can get the rebound or pushing it out to a teammate for a board or giving his team an extra scoring opportunity, he has bought in. Thomas is currently the No. 46 player in the class right now but this 6’6 hard worker deserves to be higher and with his team winning more and more games people are starting to see what he brings to the table. A school took a chance on a player that is going to give them his all, can’t ask for much else.</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/caleb-ruter/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/caleb-ruter/">Caleb Ruter</a></a> – Faith Christian</strong></h3> <p>When you look at one of the most unspoken about teams in the state but are currently in the Top-5 Faith Christian has to come to mind. They are putting together another solid season as they sit on 12-3 on the season and their best player has been Senior forward, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/caleb-ruter/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/caleb-ruter/">Caleb Ruter</a></a>. Ruter is a two-year starter that has been one of the most consistent forces in all of 3A. As a junior, Ruter made the honorable mention for All-State as he averaged 16.4 points and 7.4 rebounds a game on a decent Faith Christian team that went 17-7 overall, this year, they seem to be on the right track and will surpass that mark. Ruter again has gotten off to a great year. He is averaging 13.1 points and 7.5 rebounds a game and is also the emotional leader for the bunch. He is securing the paint, is able to defend multiple positions and brings toughness to this bunch. I think his numbers will only get better and even if they don’t, as long as the wins keep coming along he has put together such a season, he will rise in our rankings.</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dominic-puchino/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dominic-puchino/">Dominic Puchino</a></a> – Roosevelt</strong></h3> <p>Roosevelt has struggled mightily this season. They are not winning, the team is playing less than what they are capable of and there has not been a rhythm over there. But one player that has played well is <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dominic-puchino/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dominic-puchino/">Dominic Puchino</a></a>. Puchino is a 6’6 forward that knows his way around the basket and despite being who opposing teams focus on is still able to score the basketball and affect the game on the boards. He is averaging 12.4 points and 7.3 rebounds a game and showcasing that despite the losses piling up he is still going to play hard, still going to produce and give his all to the final whistle. He is the No. 67 player in the class but could potentially move up a few spots.</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/chandler-williams/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/chandler-williams/">Chandler Williams</a></a> – Regis Groff</strong></h3> <p>Regis Groff is going through the process of being a new school and having to adapt to playing some very tough teams in their league. They are not having much luck winning games but they do have a 6’7 big man that knows how to score the basketball. Williams is a big man averaging 16.7 points for Regis Groff. He can run the floor, he uses his length and athleticism mixed with having a long wingspan to secure boards and also protect the paint. We got to get a look at Williams the last couple of summers as he has been to various showcases and Prep Hoops events. Williams is a big man that can hold his own and he moves well for a taller player. He can put it on the floor a bit and moves his feet on the defensive end which helps with switching onto guards for a few seconds but he is a big man that patrols the paint. Williams would be on more radars if he were at a different school and that allows me to know that he does have some stock boosting potential. This summer I expect him to get out to as many showcases as he could and there is where the No. 81 player in the class can make his move to get higher.</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/chance-gulliford/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/chance-gulliford/">Chance Gulliford</a></a> – Cotopaxi</strong></h3> <p>Cotopaxi has a 6’7 240-pound big man that is worth seeing play. The only reason that he is not on more people's radars is that he is at a school so far out and we have not gotten enough opportunities to see him play but the numbers speak for themselves. Gulliford is averaging a double-double of 19.3 points and 11.8 rebounds a game and has been on a tear as of late. He is coming off of a game where he put up 27 of the team’s 36 points and also had 14 rebounds to go along with it. He is going to play hard on every single possession, win or loss and he gives great energy. He uses his brute force to finish over helpless defenders, attacks mismatches and understands how to overpower players on the block. He takes pride in securing rebounds and also protects the paint well as he is averaging 2.7 blocks a game which is 5^thin all of 1A. Gulliford has to make sure that he gets in front of more people and out to showcases and tournaments with the more known players so we can assess him against some of the tops in the state. But, with numbers like that, he has put his name in as a player that could go up a few numbers in the ranking as he currently sits at the No. 97 player in the class.</p>