Five combo-guards to watch in the 5A/4A Northern League

<p>There have 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 teams and players must get off to hot starts. Here we will focus on the new leagues across the state. One conference that had a shake-up this offseason and will be a new-look is the 5A/4A Northern League. It will be an interesting league and, hopefully, more competitive.</p> <h2><strong>Cole Rademacher – Erie</strong></h2> <p>Rademacher is a hard-working guard that bests defenders with deception, high IQ decision making, and understanding of spacing. He is a downhill runner that knows where to be on the floor and gives his team a spark whenever he is in the game. For a small guard, Rademacher makes up for it with effort as he can score when needed, moves well without the ball, and also contributes in ways that don’t always go on the scoreboard. As a junior, the combo-guard put up six points, three rebounds, and two assists a game while being a solid contributor for Erie. In his senior year, he will have to take on more ball-handling duties while still being the balance for the team. I am expecting a solid season for him.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="921097" first="Nick" last="Basson"] – Mead</strong></h2> <p>Mead had one of the best teams in recent memory, especially for a team in 4A. They were loaded at every single position with some of the top seniors in the state and only lost once and looked like the favorites to win it all.  With so much talent, it made it difficult for a freshman to get minutes, so Basson took his valuable time to learn the ropes and put it together in the summer. We have got to see Basson with Mead in the fall league, and he will be the X-factor for the team. Basson is an athletic sharpshooter who spaces the floor and is the team’s second-best ballhandler as well. He moves without the ball, creates for himself and teammates off of the dribble, and can fill it up in bunches. Basson is dangerous in the open court and fills gaps in the defense. In his sophomore year, he will be in a situation where he will be a starter and solidify his spot as a top player in the class. Big year ahead.  </p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="770437" first="Colton" last="Gillingham"] – Greeley West</strong></h2> <p>Gillingham was a top-three scorer in his conference last season and comes into the season and into a new league where I think he averages even more points a game. Gillingham is one of the more natural scorers in the class as a small and gritty guard that attacks defenders on every single play. He is a downhill runner that gets inside the lane and makes teams pay, and can step out and shoot the 3-ball. Gillingham is a gym-rat that is always working on his game, beats players off of the dribble, and will be the best two-way athlete in the conference. He put up an impressive stat line of 19.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.7 steals a game. Opposing guards need to know that every single time out against Gillingham is going to be a battle. Hopefully, Colton gets some help this year where it translates to wins.  </p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="917026" first="Dashiel" last="Walker"] – Centaurus</strong></h2> <p>Walker is a player that does all of the small things that you need from a player to keep him on the floor. He fills gaps, runs the baseline, and knocks down open shots when needed. He also uses his length and size to score over smaller guards at 6’3 and gets out in the lanes and finishes. Walker was a role player last season that knew what was needed from him. He boxes out, dives for loose balls, and gives good minutes when he is in the game. He did the same with the Colorado Miners this summer and will have to up his game this season as he is stepping into a gauntlet of a league with underclassmen that have not had to be THE GUY. Maybe he steps into the position and leads the way.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="966339" first="Jaden" last="Kennis"] – Windsor</strong></h2> <p>Kennis is a defensive back on the court that uses his football tenaciousness to alter basketball games. He is aggressive on the ball, moves his feet well, and is not afraid to use his body to turn guys over. Kennis has quick hands, plays the passing lanes well, and that turns into instant offense. Kennis is locked in defensively but has great body control at the rim. He is a creative finisher, knows his way around the court, and finishes inside over bigger defenders. Last season for Windsor, Kennis was the catalyst. He made things happen by putting up 10.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists a game. We saw Kennis this summer with some of the state’s best players, and he held his own. He made one of the biggest jumps in our rankings, and this season, I feel he will prove it. Kennis is a player.</p>