Five guards to watch in the Colorado Springs Metro 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 a league that, like every other team, has had a shake-up. In this league, all classifications are combined but still a very middle of the pack group where one group will have to separate themselves in the 5A/4A/3A Colorado Springs Metro League.</p> <h2><strong>Nate Richardson – Mesa Ridge </strong></h2> <p>Mesa Ridge will want to turn the page on a very tough season, but it was a season of lessons. Richardson learned a lot in the losing season, and it should prepare him for the upcoming season. As a junior, however, the small and speedy guard was a scorer for the Grizzlies. Richardson looked to get his and scored in isolation situations. Richardson averaged 7.5 points a game and played hard-nosed defense. In his senior season, however, it will be about finding others and running his unit. Richardson is a primary ball-handler that is comfortable with the ball in his hands, so he has to see it come together as the player that brings it up will have to get others involved. Once he combines it with the scoring, it should put Mesa Ridge in better positions.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="918927" first="Jaelyn" last="Robinson"] – Palmer </strong></h2> <p>Robinson was a consistent force for Palmer last season that seemed to find his rhythm late in the season. When Robinson is attacking and playing with a purpose, the Terrors was better off. The guard got to his spots, played on and off of the ball, and did plenty of things that went beyond the scoreboard. Robinson scored 7.8 points a game and was a glass cleaner as a small guard as he put up 35 rebounds a game. Robinson slashed and found holes in the defense, pushed the pace offensively, and got the team in their sets. In his junior season, he will have to run the offense and be a contagious defender as well. Robinson will certainly be relied on more this next season and, with the weapons around him, should naturally step into a floor general role.</p> <h2><strong>Anthony Roberts – Widefield</strong></h2> <p>Widefield lost some very valuable seniors from last season and will have a younger bunch this year that will have to step up and carry the load. The player that I am choosing to make the biggest jump is their point guard, Anthony Roberts. Roberts got in where he fit in last season. He was able to score in spots, he played off of the ball and found holes in the defense for baskets, and he also was the energy force that the team relied on. Roberts averaged a balanced stat line of 5.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists a game. He proved that he could be counted on despite being a younger player on the team, and the team fed off of him. With him being part of the core that returns, he will be asked to do even more, and he seems to be ready for the challenge. He should be a name to watch out for.</p> <h2><strong>Jalen Austin – Coronado </strong></h2> <p>Coronado will have a senior ridden team this year, and it will be on the older guys to show the ropes to the new guys while also trying to turn the tide over there. A player that will have to be one of the leaders and best players this year was a player that was a role player a season ago in Austin. Austin was a glue guy that was the workhorse for the Cougars and, with his size and athleticism, was able to play multiple positions. Austin played and defended positions 1-4 and was a valuable piece for the team. He heads into the year fresh off of averaging 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and two assists a game. If he can build on that year while also continuing to do all of the small things, Coronado will turn some of that production into wins.</p>