Five combo-guards to watch in the 5A East 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 been a few games in and determining who we deem as the top teams in the state. Well, good news, we are a couple of weeks removed from the start of the season. With a late start and condensed season, getting off to a quick start is important. Other changes include new teams in leagues across the state. Here, we take a look at the 5A East Metro League.</p> <h2><strong>Erick Covington – Gateway</strong></h2> <p>Covington is a player that was a bit overlooked last season, but taking a deeper look at his stats, it is safe to say that he was one of the most versatile players in the conference. Covington put up an impressive eight points and 10 rebounds a game, and his ability to affect the game as a forward was jarring. Covington was one of the best rebounders in the conference that boxed out, created extra scoring opportunities for teammates, and slashed to the open spots. Covington runs and plays the passing lanes, is an elite on-ball defender that plays above his size, and also found the open man. Covington is a player that we will keep an eye on this upcoming season as this multi-sport athlete brought it a season ago. I will be curious to see if he maintains and excited to watch him this year.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="759282" first="Taveon" last="Long"] – Hinkley</strong></h2> <p>Long is a player that spent the beginning of his sophomore season out due to injury, but once he returned was a player that that team relied on. Long provides size, athleticism, and a versatile player. He plays well off of the ball, gets to his spots on defense, and also is a force on the boards. Long averaged five rebounds a game and provided his team with extra scoring opportunities. Long was at his best this summer with Knights Elite as he got back into playing shape and took over. Long was named amongst the top players in various out of state tournaments and saw his scoring boost. Giving Long the ball and allowing him to operate seems to be best, as well as getting him in a free-flowing offense where he can be free. This upcoming season, Long will have to take that momentum of scoring from the summer and combine it with the rebounding and defense, and he should be a combo-guard/wing that stands out.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="916968" first="Curtis" last="Stovall"] – Vista Peak</strong></h2> <p>Stovall is an up and down player that is working on the consistency standpoint. He is a bit passive at times and takes the back seat, but when he is on, he is on, and there are not many players in the state that can slow him down when he gets into a zone. Stovall has a great physique, and the smooth lefty finishes well at the rim. He has an explosive first-step, showcases athleticism, and also is a capable knockdown shooter. Stovall is one of the best two-way players in the state, and this upcoming season, in particular, his work on the defensive end will make him the biggest X-factor in the conference. If he can dominate in ways that he does with the Colorado Miners, and take that into a strong senior season, then Vista Peak will be a darkhorse favorite to win the conference. Stovall can put up huge scoring numbers, and I think he will certainly improve from his nine points and 3.3 rebounds a game from a year ago. Stovall will be one of the most important players in the conference; he just has to understand his full potential.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="965742" first="Jeremiah" last="Warren"] – Hinkley</strong></h2> <p>Warren was Hinkley’s best and most consistent player in his junior season as he put up a team-high 14.8 points a game. The 6’2 combo-guard can play on and off the ball and is one of the better prospects that I have seen in the pick and roll as he makes the right decision with the ball, gets others involved, and scores with ease. Warren has a good feel for the game, is a natural scorer, and controls the game’s pace. Warren plays to his own beat, and when he finds his rhythm, he can explode for big games. Warren uses his length to overwhelm players defensively, is a force on the boards, and with what we saw from him with Knights Elite this summer, he is able to be the facilitator. Hinkley will need him to be at his best offensively and put up some big scoring games, and he has looked to have put in the work in the offseason, so he should be ready come the first game of the year. Warren is a top player to watch in the conference.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="965753" first="Jaylen" last="Carrizales"] – Vista Peak</strong></h2> <p>Carrizales is one of the more explosive guards that excel in iso situations and is not easily contained. Carrizales played more off of the ball in his junior year but was a microwave scoring option that created scoring bunches for his team. He put up 11.1 points a game, which was good for second on the team in scoring, and with the graduates gone, he will be the player that the Bison lean on most to carry the scoring load. Carrizales has improved as a shooter, attacks the defense downhill, and pushes the pace. He is a natural scorer that gets others involved, and if he can consistently put up all-around performances can be a top guard in the conference that will have to be taken seriously. I expect Carrizales to be a top scorer in the conference and for teams to have issues slowing him down.</p>