17U New Names to Know from the Mile High Invitational

<p>Prep Hoops Colorado takes a look at some new names to know from the Mile High Invitational in Northglenn, Co this past weekend.  </p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="917029" first="Jimmy" last="Starry"] – Colorado Titans</strong></h2> <p>This was a coming-out weekend for [player_tooltip player_id="917029" first="Jimmy" last="Starry"]. We have seen a bit of him during the high school season, but in a reduced team setting role where he just fits in, for a very talented Titans team, however, he’s featured as one of the lead guards. Starry uses his long and slender body as a guard to get out on the break and penetrate the defense. The Titans know what to expect when Starry gets the ball, and they move around him. He found the open guy, passed and screened away, and made sure that the ball was flowing. He also kept the defense honest all weekend as his outside shot was falling as well. Starry was one of the more intriguing guards that got it done on both ends of the floor. He is always moving and making plays, and that is a player to build around.</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="965739" first="Eddie" last="Kurjak"] — Colorado Titans </strong></h2> <p> That Titans team has some players and play with a ton of chemistry and energy. While guard play is solid, the player down low that shows up each time out is Kurjak, and he turned some heads this weekend. Kurjak is a player that popped last season and continues to get better. Some kids have height; some jump high – Kurjak does both. He has so many intangibles that cannot be taught and gracefully glides to the rim as one of the most athletic players we have in the state. He uses that athleticism in other areas as well, and that’s what makes him unique. He is a rim protector that alters shots at the rim with his quick jumping abilities, he grabs the boards and goes, and he also gives his team extra possessions with his leaping abilities to secure boards. Calls are starting to come in for Kurjak, and schools would be smart to get on him fast as he has a game that surely translates to the next level. He had a great weekend.</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="917010" first="Hunter" last="Hickman"] — Colorado Miners</strong></h2> <p>Hickman was undoubtedly one of the best shooters in the gym as he shot it well all weekend. Hickman plays well off the ball, and he does an excellent job at finding angles and creases in the defense where he is going to make the defense pay. On a team with so many slashers, it is vital to have a player that can space the floor and keep the defense honest, and he does just that. He had a few spurts where he went for a couple of 3-pointers in a row, which shifted the defense, and then he would quickly get it out of his hands when the defense closed out to find an open man. It was my first time seeing Hickman in person, but I liked what I observed, and hopefully, his outside shooting barrages continue.  </p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="966339" first="Jaden" last="Kennis"] — Colorado Titans </strong></h2> <p>The surprise player of the weekend for me was [player_tooltip player_id="966339" first="Jaden" last="Kennis"], who put on an absolute show on the final day of the tournament. Kennis showcased the ability to affect the game in multiple ways, and that allowed the Titans to pick up their wins on the day. He is an excellent ballhandler with size that makes the right decisions, does not force much but remained aggressive throughout the game. He was able to use his strength and size to finish over smaller defenders and his speed to get around the bigger guys and either finished or made plays for others. Kennis moved well without the ball, his shot was falling, and he also was a pest on defense that picked up fullcourt on a few possessions and turned the guard over. Kennis had one of the more polished and balanced games on the day, and I walked away, eager to see more from him. I am making it a point to see more of Kennish moving forward.   </p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Matt Linderman -- Colorado Hoops Academy </strong></h2> <p>Linderman is an excellent fit with Colorado Hoops Academy because, with their pick and roll offense that seems always to be flowing, they make sure to space the floor with shooters. Linderman would set a hard screen and then find a spot beyond the arc. Linderman proved to be a knockdown shooter that hit shots when it mattered for CHA. Whenever the opposing team went on a run, Linderman would respond. Linderman also showed that he could put it on the floor a bit. He would use a shot fake and dribble to the rim, which would shift the defense and find a big for a basket. Linderman is a glue guy to watch with a deadly outside shot.</p>