5A Playoffs: Stars Certain to Decide the Larry Farmer Region

<p>The 5A playoffs got started on Wednesday evening with some exciting matchups. But now we set up for the second round of the playoffs with some very intriguing matchups in a tournament that multiple teams genuinely have a chance at being crowned champion. Here, we take a look at the Larry Farmer region in a balanced quadrant.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 24pt; font-family: ’trebuchet ms’, geneva, sans-serif;"><u>The Matchups</u></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: impact, sans-serif;">#3 Ralston Valley v. # 30 Arapahoe</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: impact, sans-serif;">#14 Horizon v. # 17 George Washington</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: impact, sans-serif;">#6 Valor Christian v. #36 Rocky Mountain</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: impact, sans-serif;">#11 Eaglecrest v. #11 Overland</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Top Player: </strong></p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/ty-robinson/">[player_tooltip player_id="916953" first="Ty" last="Robinson"]</a> – Eaglecrest </strong></p> <p>Choosing the top player in the region was extremely difficult as there are plenty of highly productive players in this region that are capable of impacting the game but what it came down to is potential. If <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/ty-robinson/">[player_tooltip player_id="916953" first="Ty" last="Robinson"]</a> can reach his full potential, I am unsure that many players in the region right now have the impact that he does. An aggressive and assertive Robinson can change the outcome of the game on both ends of the floor and will have a balanced Eaglecrest team that truly has the chance to win it all. Robinson is an athletic wing with size that can get out on the break and dunk, can be physical down low with defenders and has seemed to have found his shot as well. He is averaging 13.3 points and 3.9 rebounds a game and he seems to be a veteran despite only being a junior that has been there before. I expect him to prove why he is one of the state’s best. Overland has already seen Robinson twice this season but now it is for all of the marbles so I expect Robinson to step up in a huge game<strong>. </strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Top floor general:</strong></p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/zion-ruckard/">[player_tooltip player_id="526684" first="Zion" last="Ruckard"]</a> – Eaglecrest </strong></p> <p>Ruckard has been the player that everyone has asked about this season as the senior guard put together quite the season. He is undoubtedly the top floor general in this region with other promising guards in the quadrant but none that can match Ruckard’s speed, aggression and IQ. He is a team-first guard that adapts to what the defense is giving him and probes the defense on every play. His approach to every game is what separates him and this season a switch flipped for him. He is averaging a career-high 17.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 5.6 assists a game and this quick lefty will be a player to watch in the playoffs as the Raptors will need him to be special if they plan on getting by an Overland team that will surely be ready for him.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Top combo-guard:</strong></p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kendale-johnson/">[player_tooltip player_id="916954" first="Kendale" last="Johnson"]</a> – George Washington</strong></p> <p>Johnson is a player that again, once he reaches his full potential is going to be a problem. We have seen glimpses of the <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kendale-johnson/">[player_tooltip player_id="916954" first="Kendale" last="Johnson"]</a> that played extremely well as a sophomore and in his junior year while he has been a bit reserved, has still stood out. He will be the combo-guard to watch in this region as he is putting up 12.9 points a game but with his size he is able to take advantage of specific mismatches and that has been on display. Johnson is coming off of two games where he was more aggressive than he has been all season long and with that, his team has been able to get leads on good teams. Johnson scored 23-points against Denver East and followed that up with 21 points in the Patriots first-round matchup against Pomona. He is back to dunking the ball, blocking the ball and playing with high confidence and with that, his offense has suddenly turned on as well.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Top Big:</strong></p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brock-wisne/">[player_tooltip player_id="759290" first="Brock" last="Wisne"]</a> – Horizon</strong></p> <p>Wisne is a player that should already be on your radars in only his sophomore season and will be a player worth following over the next couple of seasons. He is who I am going with as the top big man in the region as he has one of the highest ceilings in the entire 2022 class. This season he helped lead an exciting Horizon team as he put up 16.3 points and 10.0 rebounds a game and what makes him different than every other big man in the conference is he is also able to step out as a wing and shoot the ball as well as get out on the break as the ball-handler. Wisne is able to put the ball on the floor and he also knows how to feel the double team and get it to the open spot. Horizon has one of the best and most even matchups in their first game against George Washington and his presence on both ends of the floor will be the difference in a win and a loss. Wisne might just be the most important player in the game and that is a lot of pressure on the young promising big.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>X-Factor:</strong></p> <p>There are plenty of players that should be on the radar as there are so many interesting teams in the region. Eaglecrest has <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/skylar-wilson/">[player_tooltip player_id="759247" first="Skylar" last="Wilson"]</a> that can shoot the ball and his length and athleticism create scoring opportunities. Overland has <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/trevon-deden/">[player_tooltip player_id="915321" first="Trevon" last="Deden"]</a> who has put up 11.9 points a game and opened up the floor with his shooting, there’s the backcourt duo of <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/bryson-stevens/">[player_tooltip player_id="915301" first="Bryson" last="Stephens"]</a> (21.1 ppg) and Korey Hess (14.8 ppg) at Arapahoe and also <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/amondo-miller/">[player_tooltip player_id="770409" first="Amondo" last="Miller"]</a> (11.9 ppg) over at Valor Christian but the player that I want to spotlight as the X-factor of the region is senior guard <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/caden-gigstad/">[player_tooltip player_id="770342" first="Caden" last="Gigstad"]</a>. Gigstad is putting up 15.3 points a game while also dishing out 3.7 assists a game for Ralston Valley to go along with it. He reads defenses and controls the pace and he will be tested against a solid backcourt in Arapahoe. Gigstad is the X-factor of the region as his play determines how far the top team in the region goes.</p>