Five combo-guards to watch in the Continental 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 have plenty of talented teams, and my projected state champion will come out of this league. Let's take a look at the 5A/4A Continental League.</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="965761" first="Sean" last="Evans"] – Legend </strong></span></h2> <p>Evans has proven to be an instant basket that can fill in and, with his size, can play multiple positions. He can bring the ball up, step out on the wing, shoot it from deep, and create for himself off of the dribble. In Evans’ junior season, he was a consistent force for the Titans that they made sure to find on the break and also put him in situations to score on the move. Evans was the in and out scorer that gave Legend balance at 9.8 points and three rebounds a game. This summer, we got to see a closer look at him, and Evans is a player with immense upside. He competes on both ends of the floor, plays best alongside a pass-first up and down guard, and also can score in bunches. This season, I think he breaks out as a player that many get their eyes on and see just how good he is.</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="965744" first="Blakeley" last="Stoughton"] – Regis </strong></span></h2> <p>Stoughton is a smooth operator that lets the game come to him. He controls pace when he has the ball, he gets to his spots, and he powers up. Stoughton has the ability of deception and is a talented offensive weapon. It’s difficult to slow him down at 6’5 as he has a consistent outside jumper, gets inside and finishes with silky left-handed finishes, and will go up and dunk it from time to time. Stoughton has the mid-range game working for him, which also keeps the defense honest. He plays off of the ball but can create for himself off of the dribble. In his junior season, Stoughton put up 10.3 points and 4.4 rebounds a game. He was a reliable scoring option but will have to see those numbers go up if Regis wants to get off to a better start. Stoughton proved this summer in tournaments both in-state and out, private runs and scrimmages that he is a player that can run with the best of them. If Stoughton gets the green light to go out and do what he wants in what should be a deep and talented team, then I think we are in store for a huge season from him.</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="916979" first="Tanner" last="Lamb"] – Legend</strong></span></h2> <p>Lamb is considered one of the best shooters in the entire state, and with reason. Lamb lit teams up in his junior season as he led the team in scoring at 13.8 points a game and was a sniper from deep. Lamb hit 72 3-pointers on a scorching-hot 50% clip from deep. Opposing teams tried everything they could to slow him down, but Lamb is a 3-point specialist that lets the game come to him. He can create for himself as he shoots off of the dribble, is always moving, and navigates through the defense to the open spot.  If Lamb’s feet are set, just get back on defense as he does not miss much. Lamb creates spacing with his shot, makes quick decisions, and can get inside and score. This summer for Colorado Hoops Academy, he continued to light it up from deep, which made his team one of the state's better AAU teams. Legend will go as he goes, and in a conference that needs him to be at his best, he becomes one of the most important players in the conference.</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="759207" first="Ben" last="Bowen"] –Mountain Vista</strong></span></h2> <p>Bowen comes into the season as Prep Hoops Colorado’s top player in CHSAA this season. The University of Wyoming commit has had one of the biggest rises from any player in the state, and with the season that he is coming off of and from what we saw this summer will be the No.1 player in the conference. The Division I commit put up 16.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists a game as a junior, and that was while seeing double teams and so many different looks. Bowen has a polished game with the size and athleticism to match it. Bowen is dunking through traffic, breaking down the defense off of the dribble, finishing at the rim, and also steps out and shoots the deep ball. He took that play into the summer and, although he had already committed, still decided to play at a high level, showing the type of competitor he is. Bowen gunned for the top spot over the years, and now that he has it can just go out and have fun in his senior season. Each night out, the opposing team will have him circled as public enemy No.1, and I still think he puts up a career-high in every category.</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id="965809" first="Kyle" last="Sandler"] – Regis</span></strong></h2> <p>Sandler was an X-factor type of player for the Raiders in his sophomore season, and on a team where underclassmen don’t typically make a big impact, in was a relief blanket that the team fell back on. Sandler has the versatility and, at 6’5, can play and defend multiple positions. Sandler put up 7.6 points a game with five rebounds to go along with it. Sandler is an underrated perimeter defender who is engaged on that end of the floor with a college-ready body. He shoots it off of the dribble with unlimited range, gets inside and finishes, and showcases athleticism as well. In seeing more of Sandler for Pro Skills this summer, it was evident that Sandler is a player who excels in situations where he is the go-to guy. He gets going in bunches, is a natural scorer that lights up scoreboards, and wants to take the big shot. In his junior season, it will be about finding consistency and becoming more of a playmaker. Regis will have one of the most balanced teams in the state, and that should force players to hone in on their skills. Sandler is one of the top two-way players in the conference, and he will have to establish that early on if Regis plans on getting off to a hot start. Big season for Sandler.</p>