2021 Rankings Update: Top wings 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 wings sitting outside of the Top-50.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="770444" first="Tom" last="Connelly"] – Denver East</strong></h2> <p>Connelly is a floor spacer with unlimited range. His ability to hit shots from so deep forces opposing teams to make adjustments, and when he is on, he can change the outcome of a game. For the Angels as a junior, Connelly was the 3-point specialist that made teams pay for leaving him open. He is a great set shooter with size that only needs one shot to get going, and once he does, it is contagious. Connelly put up 9.5 points a game and occasionally helped on the boards. This summer for Pro Skills, however, he seemed to add a few pieces to his game. In the tourneys and scrimmages that I saw him in, he was able to use his size. Connelly put in more time to the weight room and got in better shape, and with that came newfound confidence. He started to put the ball on the floor a bit; he also backed down smaller defenders for easy lay-ins and finishes inside the paint, which is an added piece to his game. He moves without the ball, finishes well in transition, and continues to work on his game. If he can start the season the way that he began the summer, opposing teams will have a difficult time trying to slow down that East team. He will be tasked with doing more this upcoming season with so many changes to the team, so having some familiarity will go a long way. Expect him to continue torching 3-point lines this season while making improvements on other pieces to his game.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="965761" first="Sean" last="Evans"] – Legend</strong></h2> <p>In Evans’ first year as a varsity player, he was an important piece to Legend, whose impact did not always show up on the scoreboard. He seems to fill in the missing pieces and do what is needed at the time. The 6’2 shooting guard had moments where he exploded in points like his 19 points against Broomfield and others where he rebounded and got others involved like his six board, four-assist performance against Columbine. He appears to be finding the middle ground and working on flaws that he had as he was one of the standout players in a recent private run where he was lighting it up from deep, making it difficult for guards to get comfortable as he was turning guys over and also played well alongside other top scorers. Evans is an X-factor type of player that is comfortable with the ball in his hands. He is a versatile player and will be one of the most improved players in state, in my opinion, and will be a player to watch this year. He is one of the better glue guys post-50. Big year is coming.  </p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="916982" first="Brad" last="Kerr"] – Denver East</strong></h2> <p>Kerr is a 6’5 wing that had an issue with consistency and getting his footing for the Angels as a junior, but with what we have seen from him this summer will be a player that they will heavily lean on at times. Kerr can do a bit of everything and, with his size, creates mismatches at moments. For Knights Elite, he seemed to be playing harder, hit big shots, and also got out in the open court for athletic finishes as well. He is a versatile X-factor type of player that does what is asked of him, and when he gets the green light, he can get to going in bunches. Kerr defended multiple positions this summer, created for others, and also opened up the floor with his outside touch. He also is not afraid to mix it up inside as well. Kerr is a high academic player who shows off that IQ on the court, and plenty of what he does goes beyond the scoreboard. He will be a much-improved player that turns heads this upcoming season and will be interesting to follow as I truly feel all of the intangibles are there; he just needs an opportunity.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1050939" first="Cooper" last="McBride"] – Douglas County</strong></h2> <p>McBride is a unicorn. He is a big man that spaces the floor and lets it fly with the best of them. His ability to step out and hit the outside shot as a big man forces Centers away from the rim, and if they do not, just count it as a 3-pointer and get back on defense. For Douglas County as a junior, McBride found balance. He put up 10.4 points and just under five boards a game. He is active on the glass, keeps plays alive, and goes right up. He also puts himself in situations where he can get a shot off and is best used in pick and pops with a great point guard that finds him. McBride had moments where he exploded like when he went off for 22 in a three point win over Castle View and also moments where he could not get his shot to fall. In those games, he will have to continue to do all of the things that translate to wins. Boxing out, setting hard screens, and protecting the paint. McBride played well this summer and put in the work to keep elevating. I am excited to see how he heads into this upcoming season.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1051098" first="Ty" last="Strawbridge"] – Mountain Vista</strong></h2> <p>Strawbridge is a player that is clearly working on his game and enjoying the evolution as he was a JV player for Mountain Vista last season that stood out for us the few times that we saw him this summer. Strawbridge is passionate about the game and does everything on the court with full effort. He is a dedicated defender that uses his body at 6’3. He’s a hard worker that is diving for loose balls and keeping plays alive with his energy. He also does not turn down open shots. In the games that we saw from him, he was keeping the defense honest with his jumper. He was filling the passing lanes, making plays for others, and doing what his team needed him to do. Next season he will have to capitalize on all opportunities the same way. He will make varsity and be an excellent role player that stars in whatever situation he gets. He is a player to watch moving forward that is making a jump.</p>