3A Playoffs: Top Bigs/Wings

With the first round of the 3A playoffs getting underway today, we take a deeper look into some of the top big/wing players in a talented class. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top of 3A this year with a lot of talented players and teams. Eaton - Ryan Ure Eaton has itself a solid big man in Ure who is 6’7 and averaging a double-double this season for them at 14.0 PPG, 12.5 RPG including 2.6 BPG. The junior is shooting 65% from inside the three-point arc (103/158) and will keep the defense honest from deep. Last season as a sophomore he played in twenty-three games for Eaton, averaging 8.8 points and 10.1 rebounds, the big man is a difference maker in the paint for the Reds and will be a big part of their playoff run. Eaton has five different players who score in double figures, and Ure leads the way for them this year at his 14 PPG. Riverdale Ridge - Cayden Mazurek Mazurek is another junior who is playing well this year. He is averaging: 12.7 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 3.1 APG, 2.6 SPG, 1.8 BPG, the 6’3 wing can impact the game in a number of different ways. He is shooting 53% from two-point range, going (97/182) so far and has over one hundred attempts at the foul line as well. He had a monster game at the end of February in a win against Fort Lupton, he had 24 points, 24 rebounds, 6 assists and three blocks. Riverdale Ridge is a super young team with no seniors on their roster and only two juniors with Mazurek being one of them. Lutheran - [player_tooltip player_id="921100" first="Baye" last="Fall"] & Mamadou Sow Lutheran has a number of different players who can have an impact on the game. We all know the talent that 6’11 freshman Fall has, he is averaging a double-double this year at 19.9 PPG, 10.6 RPG as well as protecting the paint with 3.6 BPG. Sow is a junior who has good size at 6’7 and his game often goes overlooked due to Fall. Sow is averaging: 12.4 PPG, 6.2 RPG but those numbers could be a lot higher, he has all the skills to be a really good player, can handle the ball, good touch around the rim, and can shoot it for his size. He it shooting 67% from inside the arc (105/157) and has scored double digits in the last four games entering the playoffs. DSST: Green Valley Ranch - Timothy Huston Huston is having a big senior year for DSST: Green Valley Ranch, the 6’5 big is averaging: 18.5 PPG, 10.0 RPG 1.9 SPG, 1.0 BPG and has good handles for his size. He is a veteran player who has seen varsity time ever since his sophomore year. Huston is shooting 64% from two, which is where he does the majority of his work (154/239). To end the season, he posted a 26 point, 20 rebound winning effort over Fort Lupton, including twelve offensive rebounds. Colorado Springs Christian - Josh Erickson Erickson is averaging a double-double this season, with 12.1 PPG and 10.0 RPG. The 6’4 big man for Colorado Springs Christian is having his best season so far as a senior. From two-point range this year he is shooting 51% going (114/225) and has scored double figures in all but seven of the twenty-three games he’s played in so far. He is second on the team in scoring and first in rebounds, and is the veteran force for the team. Bishop Machabeuf - Ryan Schmitt Schmitt enters the playoffs after ending the season strong. He scored double digits in their last three games of the season, including 16 points in a close win over Kent Denver. The junior has good size at 6’5 and on the year is averaging: 9.3 PPG and 8.0 RPG for the Buffaloes. He does all of his scoring from inside the arc and is a smart player who does not force many bad shots and does the little things to help his team win. Faith Christian - [player_tooltip player_id="915314" first="Caleb" last="Ruter"] Ruter the 6’6 senior leader for Faith Christian is averaging: 14.9 PPG and 7.8 RPG on the year. He is a player that has seen varsity time since his sophomore season and has played really well for the Eagles these last two years. They ended the regular season with a tough one point loss to Manual, a game in which he scored 25 points, grabbed 10 rebounds as well as five blocks. He is shooting 55% from two (114/206) and in his career is 57% (291/514). He has scored double figures in their last nine games leading up to the first round tomorrow in which they face Colorado Springs Christian. University - Andre Chacon Chacon a senior, is putting up 13.2 PPG and 7.7 RPG for University this year. He has decent size at 6'3 and is able to get to his spots on the floor. He is shooting 54% on the year (89/165) and can stretch the defense as well knocking down the long range shot. He also shoots 77% from the charity strip and is one of the better foul shooters on the team. His 13.2 points per game ranks him second on the team and he is leading the team in rebounding with his 7.7 rebounds. He is a four year varsity player who has been impactful every year and continues to improve. He has 864 career points and 560 rebounds. Salida - Myles Godina Godina a junior for Salida is averaging: 16.8 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 1.3 BPG on the year, his 16.8 points a game leads the team and he is second in rebounding. He is a player that does all of his damage from inside the arc, shooting 57% (148/260). He has scored double figures in all but two games this season with his high of 27 points coming in a loss against St. Mary's. This is a young team to keep an eye on going forward, all three of their leading scorers are juniors. DSST: Byers - [player_tooltip player_id="770390" first="Elijah" last="Thatch"] Thatch is averaging: 17.1 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 3.8 APG, 3.1 SPG and is shooting 57% from inside the arc (107/187) on the year for DSST: Byers who enters the playoffs as the sixth seed. Thatch is only 6'1 or so but he plays a lot bigger than that, making opposing teams pay in the paint. He shoots it well from the foul-line, going (58/81) for 72% on the season so far. Last two games of the season he has recorded a double-double, including a 20 and 10 effort in a tough loss to The Vanguard School.