2023 Rankings Update: 3-Point Specialists

<p>The game of basketball has evolved to where the 3-point line is one of the needed necessities that each team needs. We just dropped our 2023 rankings update, and with that, we highlight some of the best shooters from beyond the arc in the class.  </p> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="973001" first="Sam" last="Scott"] – Denver East</strong></h3> <p>Scott is a confident young shooter from East high school that played strictly JV this season but should get at least the opportunity to contribute in year 2 with his ability to step beyond the arc and knock it down. Scott can shoot off of the dribble, read what the guard is giving him for a set shot, and also is a pure knockdown if given a good look at the rim. He also can put the ball on the floor a bit and makes smart reads offensively. He is a shooter to watch moving forward that will progress.</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="968823" first="Silas" last="McCurnin"] – Poudre</strong></h3> <p>McCurnin led all freshman in 3-pointers made last season with 59 buried triples. The most bizarre thing about his stats was not only did he lead all freshman in 3’s made but also was amongst the top in 3’s taken and still was able to shoot 40% from beyond the arc, which was one of the highest percentages in the class. The marksman led Poudre in points a game at 12.2 points a game, but those baskets did not lead to wins. This season, hopefully, the baskets come with wins as well, and they will ride the back of their young baller. McCurnin has a chance to turn heads this season.</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="921103" first="Brett" last="Green"] – Edison</strong></h3> <p>Green is one of the top-scoring players in the entire class at 15.3 points a game and is a natural scorer that can light it up from anywhere on the floor. When I say anywhere on the floor, I mean just that as he has unlimited range and lets it fly from deep. In his freshman season, Green made 48 3-pointers on the year. The efficiency wasn’t all the way there, but on what was maybe the youngest team in the state, he led the way and showed to be a volume shooter that could get his own shot off despite double teams. He should up his numbers come sophomore season.</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Nathaniel Owen – Belleview Christian</strong></h3> <p>Owen was the third leading scorer for an exciting Belleview Christian squad as he put up 11.8 points a game. Owen went straight to varsity and contributed alongside his brother, who was one of the best scorers in the entire state and another talented freshman. It was Nathaniel’s outside shooting that separated him from the pack. Nathaniel led the team in 3-pointers made with 33 triples and was the player the team relied on to get them going from deep. The rest of his game will have to continue to evolve, but he showed his potential at various times throughout the season. He will get more comfortable with time, and it appears that he is often in the gym working on his game, so I am sure that when we see him next, he will have added a few more pieces to his game. Owen is the No.30 player in the class.</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="969432" first="Colin" last="Hawkins"] – Sand Creek</strong></h3> <p>Sand Creek will be a team to be on the lookout for as they return their core next season a year wiser. With that, they also have a young group that should have plenty of time together and chemistry by senior year, and combo-guard [player_tooltip player_id="969432" first="Colin" last="Hawkins"] leads that young core. Hawkins is dangerous with the ball in his hands but also lethal off of the ball as well. He is always moving and finding holes in the defense to get off his shot, and last year he let it fly. Hawkins averaged eight points a game as a freshman, and the 6’2 guard also helped out on the boards at 3.8 boards a game as well. He knocked down 32 3-pointers at a 40% rate, and if he starts to shoot them more, it will open up a different part of his game. Hawkins will be delightful to watch moving forward and is the No.15 player in the class.</p>