Five forwards/bigs to watch in the 5A/4A Southwestern League

<p>There has been changes to the world as we know it, and the Colorado high school basketball scene has taken its fair share of changes as well. Typically, we will have already started with some tournaments at this time of the year to get things kicked off, but there has to be a compromise on both ends. Not only will the season start late, but it will be a condensed season, so it is critical that teams and players get off to hot starts. Here we will focus on the 5A/4A Southwestern League.</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="967537" first="Luke" last="Hutto"] – Montrose</strong></h3> <p>Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id="967537" first="Luke" last="Hutto"] will be my favorite for the conference’s player of the year, and with how he performed in his sophomore season, there are big expectations for him. Hutto averaged 14.6 points a game, which was good for 2^nd in the conference, and he also was a beast on the boards and averaged 7.3 rebounds a game. Hutto knows his way around the basket, has a soft touch around the rim, and is an unselfish player who puts the team first. He put teams in spots for easy scoring opportunities and also knows when to take over as well. Hutto used his 6’2 frame to get the best against opposing bigs and scored in double figures in all but two games last season. I think he ups his numbers and continues to see the wins follow and can up his ranking with another big season.</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="917016" first="Blaine" last="Butler"] – Grand Junction</strong></h3> <p>Butler was one of the very best scorers in the conference, and with his team not having much size was forced to play on the block. He held his own and put up battles down low and also made sure to have his way against the smaller defender as well. Butler put 13.0 points a game and had just under five boards a game to back it. He kept plays alive, scored inside, and showed that he could get going in bunches. Butler was not afraid to take shots, and this year he will work on his efficiency and make the points push towards wins. If Grand Junction can come together as a team while going through their best player, I think they can turn their head.</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Tristan Nostrand – Grand Junction Central</strong></h3> <p>Nostrand was the man in the middle for Grand Junction Central and standing at 6’4, he was one of the bigger players in the conference and at times showed it. Nostrand was the team’s best rebounder, and it was not close. He put up 5.7 points and 5.6 rebounds a game as well. He had a game where he had 15 boards and followed it up with 11 rebounds. If he can continue to work as hard as he did on those weeks, the sky is the limit for that team that desperately needs him at his best. He is a mobile big that establishes position, has great footwork, and can go off when locked in. This year they will need him focused.</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Ashden Oberg – Montrose</strong></h3> <p>Oberg is an athlete. He brings the toughness and tenacity from the gridiron and puts it on the hardwood. He is not afraid to put a body on anyone, he is not easily moved, and he is mobile for his size. Oberg put up 3.4 boards a game, which was needed as you know what you are going to get from him. A 6’3 forward that runs the floor, sets hard screens, and fights on every play. He will be a player that Montrose needs to keep that defensive identity.</p>