Five guards to watch in the 5A/4A Northern League
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…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThere 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.
Elijah Knudsen Elijah Knudsen 5'10" | CG Mead | 2022 State CO – Mead
Knudsen is one of the most gifted players in the conference and is my pick for the league’s MVP. As only a sophomore, he was a valuable piece to the team as he is a knockdown shooter and one of the state’s best marksman that has seemed to get better over the summer. Knudsen put up 11.6 points a game and will be one of the few players that I think doubles up those numbers in only a season’s time. He has moved on from being regarded as only a shooter to now being a complete guard that puts the ball on the floor, breaks down the defense, and gets to the rim. Knudsen will put up big numbers this season, but will he trust his teammates? Once he can put it together as a guard who gets others involved while also getting his own and taking over when needed is when I think Knudsen will be at his best. Regardless – good luck trying to keep up with him as he is one of the quickest guards in the state and WANTS to go at you. Size does not matter. Know the name.
Mario Everett—Centaurus
Everett is a player that jumped on our radars, and with another top player leaving to play D1, it will be up to him to carry the load. He will step up to the plate. As a junior, Everett was already productive as the team captain, put up a balanced statline, and led by example. Everett had 8.7 points, 3.7 assists, and 2.6 rebounds a game while being the primary ballhandler. He got the team in their sets, ran the offense, and helped lead the team to some victories. Everett has a nice release on his jump shot, got to the rim, and made plays for others. This season will be on him to carry the load as he steps into the spot as the team’s best player.
Adrian Compian – Skyline
Compian is a player that is not talked about too often, but with the year that he had, he deserves some recognition. The 6’0 guard plays on and off of the ball and shoots lights out from deep where he had some games that he was able to shift the defense with his outside shot. Compian found a rhythm early in the season, went through a bit of a tough patch, and found it again as he led his team to a 19-6 record. Compian was the third-leading scorer for the Falcons as he put up 11.4 points a game while shooting 34% from beyond the arc. Compian had an inside-out game while also being a reliable rebounder at 4.3 boards a game—good for second on the team. As good as Compian was on offense, his defense is what separated him from the pack. He passed the passing lanes and got his hands on loose balls. He turned offense to defense and will have to be all that and more in his senior season.
Jordan Nguyen – Erie
Nguyen is a player that has had a roller coaster of a high school career with plenty of changes but has been steady throughout his entire time. Nguyen has played varsity since entering high school and has been an important piece every year. He provides leadership, a primary ballhandler that is a creative scorer, and has great court awareness. In the final two games of the season, Nguyen finished with his two best games of the year, and it appeared that he was finally in a zone that we had seen before, finishing with 17 and 16 points, respectfully. On the year, Nguyen averaged 6.5 points, 2.7 assists, and also two rebounds a game. He is a player that understands where to be on the floor, is never sped up, and can put the ball in the basket. I am expecting his best year yet.
Kevin Loy – Erie
Loy was the swiss-army-knife for Erie this past season as he was able to play and defend multiple positions, which helped the Tigers compete night in and night out. Loy was the team’s slasher and also had ball-handling duties at times. At 9.9 points, 2.6 assists, and 4.0 rebounds a game, he was a reliable contributor that helped give the team different looks. Loy had some big scoring nights where he was the hot man, and his teammates made sure to feed him. Loy is an unselfish leader on the team and plays the right way, and once he adds the shooting into his game while also breaking defenders down off of the dribble, his game will take another step but not a bad season for him.