Exciting games to watch this upcoming week

Teams are building an identity and finding some footing. Here are some exciting games to watch this upcoming week <h2 style="text-align: center;">Tuesday</h2> Fountain Fort-Carson v. Rampart Fountain Fort-Carson is off to a scorching start as they have begun the season 4-0, and now they are up to one of their big challenges yet in one of the quickest paced teams in the state in Rampart. For Fountain, it has been the stifling towers that have led the way. Senior big [player_tooltip player_id="759261" first="Isaiah" last="Thompson"] has shown off his versatility with a large frontcourt as he is averaging a team-high 18.3 points and 10.3 rebounds to go along with it. Having a 6’9 junior big man alongside him in [player_tooltip player_id="967542" first="Kaleb" last="Mitchell"] who is putting up 11.5 points with 10.3 rebounds as well to control the boards with him has gone a long way and limited second-chance points. Guards have open lanes, and the freedom to launch from anywhere as both of them are swallowing up rebounds on every miss. Rampart has been fast – extremely fast. They’re averaging 94.7 points a game, and with track meet type games, stats come along. The Rams have four players: [player_tooltip player_id="917002" first="Tyler" last="Edwards"] (23.0 ppg), Dante Wadra (15.8 ppg) [player_tooltip player_id="917015" first="Cole" last="Bowen"] (15.3 ppg) and Colby Shepard (10.8 ppg) all averaging double figures so far. Their guard, Bowen, has done an excellent job in getting others involved as he is at 6.5 assists a game, and they seem to have an inside-out attack with him and Edwards. Everyone else is perfectly filling the running lanes and shooting open shots. This is an entertaining team to watch. <h2 style="text-align: center;">Wednesday</h2> Overland v. Cherry Creek Both teams are 4-0 to begin the year, and in a year where it looks like the Centennial League is down, there are still top teams in the conference that will be around when all things are said and done. For the Trailblazers, it all starts with one of the most talented and creative guards in the state in [player_tooltip player_id="1029174" first="Jameel" last="Wright"]. Wright is averaging a jaw-dropping 22.7 points and 4.3 assists a game, both of which are team-highs. He is attacking guards at the rim, shooting the outside shot, mixing it up, and getting teammates involved. Wright remains one of the best players in the state available and continues to rack up big games. This will be his most important matchup of the season thus far. Alongside him is Marzouq Abdur Razaaq, who I carving out a niche for himself in only his sophomore season. The first-year varsity player knows where to be on the floor and gets it done in various ways. He’s at 15 points and a team-high 6.7 rebounds a game. With Remy Wedgeworth being the X-factor that can get the team going, then I think this is a game that the Trailblazers have a chance in. All three players will have to elevate their game against the No.1 team in the state. Cherry Creek has finally found their footing, and that is scary because even though they got out of the gates a bit slow, they still find themselves undefeated. The usual suspects lead the Bruins. University of Colorado commit [player_tooltip player_id="608058" first="Julian" last="Hammond"] is averaging about his career-average; 20.8 points a game while also snagging five boards a game. He is improving as a passer and has made sure to feed everyone else despite being able to score with relative ease. Division I football commit, [player_tooltip player_id="770403" first="Myles" last="Purchase"] is averaging 14.4 points and five assists a game while being a pest on defense at 4.3 steals a game. With those two being the offensive/defensive weapons that they are and having another player capable of erupting for 20 points at any time in [player_tooltip player_id="921104" first="Christian" last="Hammond"] in the mix and this is a loaded team that will have to be dealt with. This is my pick of the games of the week and is one I will be interested in. <h2 style="text-align: center;">Thursday </h2> Mile High Academy v. Belleview Christian This is a battle of small schools, but it is two of the top teams in 1A battling it out. I am stuck on this game because it is a dual of the top two big men in 1A. [player_tooltip player_id="965778" first="Assane" last="Diop"] is a phenom and one of the most coveted players in the state with a few DI offers in only his sophomore season. Diop is 6’9 and is at the Top-5 in many categories. He is dominating the small class as he is putting up a monster stat line of 16.0 points, 19.3 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 6.5 blocks a game and put himself in elite company as one of the only players in CHSAA history to record a quadruple-double in a game. He has 1,000 career scorer in [player_tooltip player_id="916985" first="Logan" last="Owen"] alongside him who is putting up a hefty 20.5 points and 9.0 rebounds a game. With those two playing solid ball, there should not be many teams in the state that can hang with the Bruins, and they have a chance to prove themselves in this one. Mile High Academy has not been able to play yet, so this will be quite the game to get their feet wet in. They’ll play one tune-up game first and then jump right into the fire with a Top-10 matchup. Mile High Academy will go as far as their 6’8 big man [player_tooltip player_id="965762" first="Blake" last="Essex"] allows them. In this matchup a season ago, it was the first time it looked as if Diop was challenged as Essex won the matchup and got a meaningful win. Essex put up 33 points, 19 rebounds, three blocks, and three steals in the game. Now I do not expect him to duplicate such a game, but if he can corral Diop while getting help from teammates, then it is a game that Mile High Academy can win.