Juniors: 2019-2020 Most Outstanding Player

<p>With the 2019-2020 season officially over, we want to highlight some of the top players in each class and who is the most outstanding player as well.  This piece will focus on the top juniors this year.  Keep an eye on these players as they’re all poise to have a big spring and summer in club ball.  </p> <p><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Finalists:</strong></span></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="916985" first="Logan" last="Owen"] | Belleview Christian </p> <p>Owen is a player that can score from all three levels, although he does most of his damage from two-point range were he shot 53% on the season (177/332).  He averaged 25.5 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.2 APG, 2.5 SPG and his 25.5 points per game ranked him third in the state this season.  </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="916970" first="Wes" last="Ryan"] | De Beque</p> <p>Ryan is a three year varsity player who has been a major contributor for De Beque ever since his freshman season.  This year he averaged an impressive double-double at 23.4 PPG and 10.1 RPG while shooting 63% from two-point range (139/222).  He ended the season on fire, scoring 30 or more in three games including a season high of 35 in their one point win over Primero.  </p> <p>Blake Essex | Mile High Academy </p> <p>Essex averaged a monster double-double this season for Mile High Academy with 21.2 PPG and 14.1 RPG as well as 3.0 APG, 2.6 SPG, 4.3 BPG.  The 6'8 big man shot 55% from inside the arc this season (192/347) and grabbed over three hundred rebounds.  He posted a 37 point, 16 rebound game in the District 8 Semifinal win against Flatirons Academy.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="770414" first="Boston" last="Stanton"] | Denver East </p> <p>Stanton was one of my favorite players to watch this season, he averaged 21.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.7 SPG shooting 37% from distance (57/153) and 58% from inside the arc going (109/188) for Denver East.  He is 6'4 and can score from all three levels on the court, he has strong handles and has a great mid-range game.  </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="770437" first="Colton" last="Gillingham"] | Greeley West </p> <p>Gillingham averaged 19.3 PPG and 5.7 RPG while shooting 43% from three-point range this season (50/117) for Greeley West.  he is a strong rebounder for a guard and finished the season with 21 points and 11 rebounds against a strong Boulder team.  </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="759261" first="Isaiah" last="Thompson"] | Fountain-Fort Carson </p> <p>Thompson the 6'6 athletic big really jumped onto the scene this season and had a monster year, he put up 15.1 PPG and 12.2 RPG, 1.4 BPG while shooting 62% from two-point range (155/249).  He had an impressive last game of the year against Fairview in a tough one point loss, he finished with 23 points,14 rebounds and two blocks.  </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="759196" first="Taeshaud" last="Jackson"] | Dakota Ridge</p> <p>Jackson is an athletic wing that can handle the rock like a guard.  He has good size and is a freak athlete that often lives above the rim.  He averaged a double-double this season with 15.7 PPG and 11.6 RPG to go along with 4.2 APG, 1.7 SPG.  Keep an eye on him this summer. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="608059" first="Jalen" last="Weaver"] | Smoky Hill</p> <p>Weaver is a talented, athletic, downhill attacking guard that lives around the rim.  This year he averaged 18.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.3 SPG and can impact the game in different ways.  He will be the guy next year with Rock moving on, the next step to his game will be developing a more consistent jumper.  </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="770427" first="Brayden" last="Carter"] | Mullen</p> <p>Carter is a skilled 6’7 big man that makes the defense pay in the post.  He has a verity of different go to post moves and is able to put it on the deck for a big his size.  He averaged a double-double this season for Mullen with 18.7 PPG and 10.4 RPG. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="916955" first="Donta" last="Dawson"] | Harrison </p> <p>Dawson is an athletic, 6’4 guard that averaged 18.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 2.6 APG, 2.0 SPG, 1.0 BPG helping Harrison to a 19-5 record.  He shot 53% from two-point range (137/257) and 71% from the foul-line (77/108).  He posted five double-doubles on the year and had a season high of 33.  He is a three year varsity player that should be in for a big senior season ahead.  </p> <p><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Most Outstanding Player</strong></span></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="608058" first="Julian" last="Hammond"] | Cherry Creek </p> <p>Hammond had a very impressive junior season, putting up 21.9 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 3.6 APG, 2.0 SPG, 1.0 BPG while shooting 41% from three-point range on the season (46/111), 55% from inside the arc going (123/224) and 84% from the charity strip.  His 21.9 points per game ranked him fourth in 5A and nineteenth overall in the state.  He was voted Centennial League Player of the Year for a good reason, he performed at a high level each night in the most competitive league in the state, even when teams focused their defensive game plans around him.  He is a smooth guard that can play with or without the ball in his hands, scoring seems effortless for him at times and he his able to adjust as the game is going.  He is a high IQ player that sees the floor extremely well and rebounds the ball well for a guard his size.  He is crafty in the paint and around the rim and has great touch on the ball as well as strong footwork.  It will be exciting to see what this young man does for his senior year, he will have the option to play either football or basketball at the next level.  UNC Greeley has offered him in both, and the University of Denver has offered him in basketball.  He is a player that continues to get better and is poise to have a monster senior season.   </p>