2021 Rankings Update: Top combo guards outside of the Top-50

<p>PHC released the 2021 rankings update and, with that, broke down some of the top players in the class. With that, some players fall under the wayside. Here are the top combo guards sitting outside of the Top-50.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="965753" first="Jaylen" last="Carrizales"] – Vista Peak</strong></h2> <p>Carrizales is a hard-nosed two-way combo guard for Vista Peak that was an important piece to last year’s team that racked up 20 wins on the year and gave a good push in the playoffs. He was a primary ball-handler on a balanced team and put up 11.4 points a game, which was second on the team. He also helped rebound and occasionally set teammates up. Carrizales found a rhythm late in the season where he was scoring the ball with ease and being an aggressive scorer. Carrizales feeds on mismatches as he takes the defender off of the dribble, plays off-ball and finds holes in the defense, and also is a creative scorer that can shoot with a defender near him. This summer, we saw him in private workouts as well as a couple of tourneys with the Colorado Miners, and he proved to be an improved playmaker that slashed and scored in transition. He has a good feel around the rim and goes on mini-runs where he is scoring at the rim and behind the arc. I am anxious to see how much he progress he’s made as a distributor and player that takes the game seriously and works on his flaws. I am expecting plenty to run through him this season, and if so, he will jump up on our rankings.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="916970" first="Wes" last="Ryan"] – DeBeque</strong></h2> <p>Ryan has accomplished a ton as a high school prospect. He already has a state championship, he has been a Player of the Year and has been named a 1A First-Team All-State Member twice. He was named to the All-State team again as he averaged an impressive 23.1 points and 10.1 boards a game as a junior. One thing about Ryan is, he is a winner. He led his team to a 20-3 record this year, where he put up double-digits in every single game and finished up the season with three straight 30-point games and ready to do more damage before it all shut down. He obviously can score, but the way that he gets it done is what separates him. Ryan is a three-level scorer that has his way with smaller defenders and blows by bigger ones. He shoots the 3-ball relatively well, is efficient inside, grabs boards, and starts coast-to-coast baskets and gets after it on the defensive end as well. Opposing teams circle him as the player to slow down, and he still manages to do whatever he wants on the court. He is one of the best players in 1A, and the only thing holding him back is him proving that he can do it against ANYBODY that he is up against. If we saw more of Ryan, I am sure he would be a highly coveted player that competes no matter the competition. I am sure that he will continue to have command and end his high school season with another stellar season. Hopefully, we will get the opportunity to see him a bit more. He comes in at No. 62.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="917015" first="Cole" last="Bowen"] – Rampart</strong></h2> <p>Bowen is one of the more complete players you will find in this section of the rankings, and after the summer that he had for Colorado Mayhem can make the case to raise a bit more. For Rampart, he was easily their best player after being the lone double-digit scorer on the season. Bowen put up 12.1 points a game and took that scoring burst into the summer where he was turning heads. Bowen played with poise as a high IQ guard that makes plays for teammates is capable of scoring in bunches, and gets up for the competition. Bowen was the team’s most versatile player as he was the primary ballhandler and against some of the top AAU teams in the state proved that he is a competitor that should get a bit more attention. He had a solid summer and is a player to watch.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="917027" first="Garrett" last="Rogers"]  -- Columbine</strong></h2> <p>Columbine was a surprise standout from last season as they had one of the best players in the state and a solid supporting cast. One of their starters who will be relied on this upcoming season was Rogers. Rogers was the team’s best shooter and floor-spacer. Rogers hit 42 3-pointers on the season at a 42% clip to show just how efficient he was. Having a guard that could put the ball on the floor a bit and also continue to move and find holes in the defense keeps opposing teams honest. Rogers put up 8.5 points a game and took some scoring pressure off of their top player last season. He scored in double figures nine times as a junior, heading into an important senior season with a new coach and look; he will have to be more aggressive. Rogers moves without the ball, keeps the ball popping as a playmaker that finds open teammates, and also was very active defensively. It will be on him to continue being a 3-point specialist and look to score. Columbine will look different but has some pieces like Rogers to build around.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="916993" first="Izayah" last="Elize"] – Frederick</strong></h2> <p>Elize is a player that is difficult to gauge. He dominates in showcases as a go-to scorer that attacks mismatches, showcases his athleticism with dunks, and is a down-hill runner that goes on mini-runs that can change the outcome of the game. He played extremely well this summer with Colorado Anarchy as their leading scorer and is a 6’2 combo-guard that is dangerous in the open court. He is a two-way player that stays in front of his man, plays the passing lanes, and turns guys over. For Frederick, however, he is a bit passive. He had his moments where he resembled what we saw this summer, but he tends not to put himself in the same scoring positions. Elize averaged 8.4 points and 3.3 boards a game and will have to see that rise in senior season if he wants the Warriors to build on their season. Elize will have to take his play from this summer of being a reliable scorer but also add the element of getting others involved as well. Once he finds that balance, he will be a player to watch as he has so many pieces to his game that other players do not have. Balance.</p>