2021 Rankings Update: New Additions to the Rankings

<p>After the strangest offseason ever, the 2021 rankings have been updated. Given the conditions, PHC made it a point to see as many players as possible rather it be a tournament, small group workout, or showcase –we made it a point to check in with almost every player.</p> <p>For the Class of 2021, having a travel season nearly ripped away, players came out hungry and eager to seize the moment and take full advantage of the stage.</p> <p>Here is our latest rankings update, and here we focus on what it is all about. Players that went from unranked to on the board.</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1043307" first="Isaiah" last="Thomas"] – Manitou Springs</strong></span></h3> <p>Thomas is a 6’4 small forward that had a solid season for the Mustangs. He put up 12.3 points a game and helped lead Manitou Springs to a 19-5 record but was overlooked until breaking out this summer with Pluto Prospects and the Underground Invitational runs. From there, we have seen one of the most balanced players in the state that offers a bit of everything. Thomas plays the right way, and his style of play translates to wins. He runs and plays hard, perfectly fills passing lanes, uses his size to bang inside, and also is a consistent 3-point shooter with range. Thomas is a coach’s dream type of player. He is as engaged on the defensive end as he is on offense, crashes the boards, and can defend multiple positions. You have to love that. He went from unranked to the No.25 spot and can continue to rise.</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id="1029174" first="Jameel" last="Wright"] – Overland</span></strong></h3> <p>Wright has been a standout of the summer and will be running for a breakout candidate this upcoming season. Things are starting to click for the true point guard, and he is in a groove. Wright is a guard this summer whose game came easy, and it looked as if he was not giving much effort, until you look up at the scoreboard and see that he is taking over the game. He is a relentless attacker who finishes nicely around the rim with either hand and also is a creative shot creator that can put points on the board in bunches. As great of a scorer, as he is, he is even better as a facilitator and on the defensive end. Wright times steals and uses his hands to come up with strip pokes. He also disrupts defenses as he is an assertive guard with court vision and makes the right play. He has went from a relatively unknown player to the No.26 player in the class and is one of the best floor generals that the state has.</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="965760" first="Sam" last="Carlson"] – Monarch</strong></span></h3> <p>The 6’3 combo-guard was Monarch’s best player last season and was the only player to average in double figures at 12.3 points a game. Carlson was one of the most efficient shooters from beyond the arc last season as he averaged 46% from deep. Carlson took that play into the summer and fit in seamlessly with a talented Colorado Titans squad as a perimeter weapon with size. Carlson has a quick trigger and provides spacing on the floor. Defenders gravitate towards him, which opens up teammates. Even when his shot is not falling, he produces as he plays excellent defense and is a tremendous positional rebounder that keeps plays alive. He was not ranked heading into the summer, but after a solid season/summer, he has jumped onto our radars.</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="917017" first="Nate" last="Jacobson"] – Chatfield</strong></span></h3> <p>Chatfield is a team that makes a jump this upcoming season after a disappointing season, and a reason for that is built chemistry. Another reason, [player_tooltip player_id="917017" first="Nate" last="Jacobson"], their senior shooting guard, seems to be progressing well over the summer. In his junior season, Jacobson put up 11.3 points and 3.4 rebounds to go along with it. The 6’3 player is a do it all guard that shots the ball well from deep but is not afraid to mix it up. He can get inside and finish and keeps the defense guessing with his creativity inside. He is a natural scorer that excels in iso situations but also can generate offense in a halfcourt set. Jacobson also rebounds the ball well and has a great motor. He made the Jeffco All-Second team as a junior, but with the work that he has put in this summer, he should make improvements to every part of his game and is a player to watch. He makes the list, and we are expecting big things from him.</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1050956" first="Sander" last="Squibb"] – Denver East</strong></span></h3> <p>There is not another player in the state that I would rather go to war with than [player_tooltip player_id="1050956" first="Sander" last="Squibb"] from Denver East. Squibb is undoubtedly one of the hardest working prospects in the state, and every single moment he is on the floor is done with 100% effort. Squibb takes every possession as if it is his last one, and his play is contagious. For East, he is a role player that is diving for loose balls, setting hard screens, and is attacking the boards. For Pro Skills in the summer, he is an offensive star in his own right. He is taking confident shots, going at bigger defenders, and is a relentless attacker. He makes up for mistakes and is selfless, and that is a player to build around. Squibb is in tip-top shape, and his motor is incomparable, and I am excited to see how his game translates. He comes in at No. 65 for his first time being ranked despite being a starter at a basketball powerhouse. Mistakes were made on our end.</p>