2021 All-Grassroots 2nd Team
This summer, I made it a point to see as many players as possible. I went to as many tournaments as I could. Saw and went to as many underground runs and workouts as possible and added hundreds and hundreds…
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Continue ReadingThis summer, I made it a point to see as many players as possible. I went to as many tournaments as I could. Saw and went to as many underground runs and workouts as possible and added hundreds and hundreds of miles to my car. After watching and evaluating scores of new talents over the past few months, we have updated our rankings updates and also included new players, particularly to the class of 21’ to prepare for their upcoming senior season. Here are the players who really stood out for me that I had the opportunity to watch in person this summer.
All-Grassroots 2nd Team
Jameel Wright Jameel Wright 5'10" | PG Overland | 2021 State CO – Colorado Hawks
Michael Wolf Michael Wolf 6'0" | PG Regis Jesuit | 2021 State CO – Pro Skills
Cade Palmer Cade Palmer 5'11" | CG Rangeview | 2021 State CO – Colorado Miners
AJ Kula AJ Kula 6'5" | CG Valor Christian | 2021 State CO – Colorado Miners
Isaiah Thompson Isaiah Thompson 6'6" | PF Fountain Ft. Carson | 2021 State CO –Pluto Prospects
Wright was unarguably the come out player of the summer. From a relatively unknown player that spent the majority of the season on JV as a junior to now being one of the best point guards in the entire state. Wright sees the floor, controls the pace and tempo, and is one of the best finishers at the position. He is craft and creative with the ball in his hands and makes the right plays, and will be a player that turns heads this summer. This two-way guard makes others around him better and played well in various tournaments, and is a gym rat that loves the game—solid summer for him.
Wolf might have put up the most points of anybody this summer. He seems to play his best against quality competition and hung up 25+ on every big team this summer with a few 30 points and above performances. Wolf is one of the state’s best shooters, and when he is in a rhythm, there might not be a guard with the kind of upside that he has. He gets to his spots, does not settle for only the 3-ball, and also took on the initiative at becoming a better defender this summer. If he can take on what he did in the past few months as a gym rat that wants to get better and apply it to Regis high school, that will be a team to watch this year.
Palmer has a smooth game that adapts to whatever is needed. He is one of the very best knockdown shooters in the state but what separates him from other guards is his ability to not only consistently shoot it but also put the ball on the floor and create for others. He has a unique blend of an inside, and outside game, as he will stop for a mid-range pull-up, creative finisher at the rim, and also this high IQ guard can create baskets for others as well. This summer, we saw Palmer as a big-time scorer, knockdown shooter, and true point guard, and that versatility is why schools are checking for him. I expect Palmer to have a big season. He easily makes the 2nd team.
Kula is a shifty guard with size that only seems to get better every time that we see him. He is a slashing guard that plays well alongside his guard, and with the Colorado Miners team splitting up, he was put in a position to score more. He accepted the role and made it difficult for opposing guards as he is a great finisher with both hands and has great court awareness. He also is an interchangeable defender that can defend multiple positions and has added a consistent jump shot to his game. He played well in every setting we saw this summer and will be a valuable piece to Valor this season.
Thompson had an under the radar season where he was one of the few players in 5A to average a double-double for the season and carried that play into a summer where he dominated. He started out the summer where he showed up arguably the best big in the state, went out of state, and held his own, and also showcased differences in private workouts. Thompson is a player that can defend on the wing as well as down low on the block and is as versatile as they come. He is consistently knocking down the 3-ball, has a back to the basket game, and also can put the ball on the floor and get to his spots. Thompson is a forward that rebounds extremely well, is mobile, and has a great motor, and plenty got to see it on display this summer. He made a huge jump this summer and will look to prove all doubters wrong.