Rankings Update: 2021 Floor Generals

<p>With the 2019-20 high school basketball season officially over, we finally shift over our focus to our latest update. Prep Hoops has released its latest Colorado Class of 2021 rankings based on the 2019-20 season. This is one of our deepest classes in the state, so it took us a while to look at the full season and break it down. We had drastic movement and also added over 25 new players. Here, we focus on some of the classes’ top floor generals that we have ranked.</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="770403" first="Myles" last="Purchase"] – Cherry Creek</h2> <p>Purchase is a guard that we were high on coming into the season, but he seemed to have hit a switch in his junior season. Purchase is one of the state’s best two-way athletes, and plenty of what he does on the gridiron translates to why he excels on the hardwood. This future division I defensive back also is a standout on the court as well as he helped Cherry Creek become Centennial League champs. Purchase is one of the state’s best perimeter defenders that made it difficult on opposing guards each game while also being another scoring option for the Bruins putting up 13.6 points a game. He also averaged three rebounds, three assists, and three steals a game while getting to the rim, getting out and pushing the pace, and even knocking down 3-pointers as well. Purchase has a polished game, and his perfect blend of IQ, athleticism, and tenacity separates him from the pack. Purchase is the No. 13 player in the class but also appears to be the top guard in the class. </p> <h2 style="text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="965745" first="Alonzo" last="Paul"] – Regis </h2> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="965745" first="Alonzo" last="Paul"] is a crafty small guard that has a quick first step, is challenging to stay in front of and finishes well around the rim. He also is an excellent ball-handler that has a high basketball IQ and feel for the game. Paul uses his court awareness to find the open man and is an underrated passer that gets teammates going. Paul had a couple of explosive games scoring the basketball like when he went off for 33 points against Mullen or 27 points against Mountain Vista. Still, he also impacted the game with his vision, like when he had seven assists in the Raiders 65-62 win against Monarch. Once he finds that balance, it is going to be tough to beat that Regis team and even more difficult to slow him down. Expect him to find a zone this year as he works his way from the No.42 spot in the class.</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="916960" first="Tommy" last="Apodaca"] – Lutheran</h2> <p>Apodaca’s offensive game waned a bit as the season progressed, but he made up for it on the other end of the floor. Apodaca is a gritty, hard-nosed defender that pressures defenders full court, and that opens things up for his team. He attacks the basket, does not turn down open shots and is one of the team’s best playmakers, and on a loaded Lutheran team that finished 21-4 and will return the bulk of their team was their starting guard that the team relied on. Teammates ran harder on breaks and found openings in the defense as they knew he would find them, and he showed up as the lead guard each time out. Apodaca averaged 8.4 points, and two steals a game and was also one of the best passers in the conference as well as he had 6.2 dishes a game as well. That Lutheran team is going to be fun yet again, and with Apodaca at the helm, the Lions are in good hands. Apodaca drops a few spots from our last update but still is one of the best true point guards in the state. He is the No. 38 ranked player in the class. </p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="965759" first="Jase" last="Bessire"] –  Highland</strong></h2> <p>Bessire is not a player that many have heard about on a state-wide basis, but teams that had to go against him last year know precisely who he was. Bessire was named to the 2A 1^st Team All-State after helping lead Highland to a 24-1 record. The 6’0 guard was a stat-stuffer as he put up 19.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, and an impressive five steals a game. What stood out was his ability to do all of that and still find ways to get teammates involved as well. Bessire dished out 4.6 assists a game. He got the team in their sets, showed off his court awareness, and is a high IQ guard that came out this season. Bessire is a player that would have benefitted by coming to one of our events and showcasing what he has against some of the top competition as he had one of the best seasons from anyone in the class. Bessire went from unranked to on our list, and if he can prove himself against top talent, he will inevitably rise. He is the No.74 ranked player in the class for now. </p> <h2 style="text-align: center;">[player_tooltip player_id="916967" first="Garrett" last="Arnold"] – ThunderRidge </h2> <p>Arnold did not have the year that he wanted or is capable of, but the thing is, you know what you are going to get with the promising guard, and that is a true point guard with arguably the best vision in the state. Arnold is a battle-tested guard that is going to hold teammates accountable and also is a true facilitator. He is a leader on the court that gets the most from the guys around him and finds the open man which becomes contagious. This year, the Grizzlies struggled with consistency as Arnold had himself a down season. Still, I feel comfortable in saying that he will be one of the bounceback candidates next season as that ThunderRidge bunch will be a fun one to watch with Arnold leading the way. Arnold is no.64 but will jump up the list if he is given the reins and gets the Grizzlies to reach their full potential. </p>