5A/4A Pikes Peak Player of the Year Candidates
We’re almost there as the end of the season is upon us with most schools already having had senior night and others that will experience it this week. There are some tight races with conference winners and some that teams…
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Continue ReadingWe’re almost there as the end of the season is upon us with most schools already having had senior night and others that will experience it this week. There are some tight races with conference winners and some that teams that already have the league won. With that, we focus on who we believe has the chance to be the conference MVP. For the 5A/4A Pikes Peak conference, it is a done deal who will be crowned MVP, but the runners up also make a good point so let’s focus on that.
The Favorite:
Javonte Johnson – Cheyenne Mountain
Cheyenne Mountain is 19-1 overall and 10-1 in the conference. They have dominated mostly everyone that has stood in their way and also has the leading scorer in the entire state leading the way. Johnson has been sensational this season. There is no other way to put it. He has done it all for the Cheyenne Mountain and his 30.6 points a game tops them all. What really stands out to me though is his ability to also affect the game in other ways. He is not only scoring the basketball but he is crashing the boards as well. He is averaging 10.1 rebounds a game and has recorded a double-double in every single league game so far. He will surely be named the conference player of the year, he will be a 1stteam All-State player in 4A and also has a good chance at being named the Gatorade player of the year. This is his conference.
The Second Favorite:
Eddie Speller Jr. – Lewis-Palmer
Lewis-Palmer undoubtedly took a step back this season, but still find themselves in the mix and a big reason for that is their depth. They have four players averaging in double-figures and solid glue guys around them as well but their leader this year has been 6’5 junior forward Eddie Speller Jr. Speller Jr. is putting up 13.7 points a game which is second on the team but he is, however, leading the team in rebounds a game at 6.3. Speller Jr. has an endless motor, he runs the floor well, knows how way down on the block and has a good feel for the game which helps him. He also works hard for rebounds and that creates second chances for his teammates. He will not win the conference player of the year but he will also make the All-Conference first team.
The Third Favorite:
Markus Ramirez – Sand Creek
Sand Creek is having a decent season, sure they wish they could get a few of the games back. Their best player on the year is a player that stepped up for them last season and that is 6’1 junior combo-guard Markus Ramirez. Ramirez is a bucket. He can score in bunches, is a microwave on the offensive end of the floor and also is a volume scorer that can get hot. He is not a knockdown shooter but is capable of getting himself going, he gets inside and is a crafty finisher and also is not afraid to take the shot. He sees double teams and different looks and still makes it happen for his team. Not a bad year for him.
The Longshot:
Colin Westfall – Lewis-Palmer
Lewis-Palmer is the defending state champs and don’t you forget it. Now, they are not having the same kind of season that we have gotten accustomed to but one thing that we do know is they are going to be ready come state tournament time and they will need their leading scorer to have big scoring games if they plan on making some noise. Westfall did not play much last game, but that experience is something he got to be a part of and will hold with him. He has been playing really well in conference play. On the year he is putting up 14.8 points a game and has saved his best basketball for last where he has hit 20+ on multiple occasions. He is also the team’s best passer (3.7 apg), perimeter defender and helps out on the boards as well. It is impossible for anyone else to get a shot at winning the Player of the Year for the conference but he has some momentum for tournament play and will get a chance to go after it again next year in a highly anticipated season.
Won’t win, but still a great season:
Mason Black – Falcon
It is rather unfortunate that Mason Black is having another losing season like this because he truly does play the right way and it goes unnoticed. He put up some pretty good numbers as a freshman last season and now the 6’3 sophomore has upped his game just a bit. He is up to 18.3 points a game which is second in the conference and that is while his team is not offering him much else help in the scoring department. He is the only player averaging in double-figures and he is shooting 53% from the field while being the main focus for Falcon and seeing so many different looks while being relied on to take the shots. He does not have a single chance to win it but even with his team struggling there are positives to take away from and he is a stock booster for sure.