2022 guards that stood out in the 4A state playoffs

<p>With the season over, we want to take a look back at a season that was before we head onto the grassroots scene. Here we focus on some junior guards that stood out in 4A during their state-run.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="918902" first="Elijah" last="Knudsen"] – Mead</strong></h2> <p>I am not sure there was a player in the state that boosted his stock like Knudsen did in these playoffs. Knudsen was already highly regarded as the best shooter in the state, but for him to put the team on his back and have them crowned as state champs put him in elite category. Knudsen was the team's primary ball-handler and, despite being face-guarded and double-teamed, still put up monster numbers. Knudsen is now CHSAA’s record holder for the state playoff regardless of class, as he put up 130 points in his run, which is an average of 26.0 points a game. He hit 24 3-pointers in the run at a 40% clip and displayed the ability to take over a game in his own unique way. Knudsen earned all respect that he is getting this way and will surely be named as the 4A tournament MVP with his magical run.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="918926" first="Trey" last="Reese"] – Montrose</strong></h2> <p>Reese is a player that looked more and more comfortable as the season progressed and by playoffs, was in an unmatchable zone. Reese stuffed the stat sheet in his playoff run and did everything that was asked of him. He has great size at 6’3 and the ability to put the ball on the floor. Reese scored 11 points in the team's two-point win over Green Mountain and followed that up with 11 against Steamboat Springs as well. Against Longmont and Mead, he found other ways to affect the game as he helped out on the boards, took care of the basketball, and got teammates involved as he found them for easy baskets. Reese has a balanced game and a good feel for what is needed of him and, in the playoff run, was one of Montrose’s most consistent players. </p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="965808" first="Mason" last="Black"] – Falcon</strong></h2> <p>Black is a player that I gravitate towards as he possesses a high IQ and has the ability to affect the game in various ways. Black is a big-time scorer who is never sped up and controls the pace and tempo, and when he gets going, it is tough to slow him down. For Falcon to get to the playoffs after such a disappointing season a year ago is a testament to the work they put in in just a year, and Black is a big part of their turnaround season. In the playoffs, while the team did not go on a run, they were competitive and fought until the final whistle. Falcon lost 56-52 to a talented Falcon squad, and it was on Black’s back that kept them in the game. The 6’3 combo-guard put up 22 points and was on fire from deep. He went 4-6 from deep in the game and gave his team good looks to win at the end. I expect Falcon to progress next season and for him to have a solid summer.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="965810" first="Said" last="Mobasher"] – Thomas Jefferson</strong></h2> <p>Mobasher is a player that is talented and full of energy. He can affect the game in various ways and refuses to be outworked. This season he stepped into a situation where he would be relied on as a scorer and answered the call. Mobasher progressed in every statistical category, was one of the team's primary ballhandlers, and was their defensive stopper as well. He moves his feet well on the defensive end and is a downhill runner that finishes well around the rim and is one of the facilitators as well. In the playoff loss, he had 18 points in the game, had his best shooting night from deep, went 4-8 from beyond the arc, and was forced on the boards as he finished with five rebounds. Mobasher continues to add pieces to his game, so I am sure that he will take what he learned in the playoffs and progress during the AAU season.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1139740" first="Richie" last="Pruett"] – Golden</strong></h2> <p>Pruett stepped into the season as part of a young core that continues to get better and walked away a better player as he learned on the fly and put his team in positions to win. Pruett is a combo-guard that is played more off of the ball, and the team needed his outside shooting to keep pressure off of other guards. Pruett stepped up as a scorer in the playoffs who spaced the floor with his shot. He finished with 13 points in both of the Demon’s playoff games as he stuffed the stat sheet against Summit as he had seven boards, four rebounds, five steals, and two steals and assists. In Golden’s loss to Steamboat Springs, he again did all he could as he finished with seven boards, five assists and brought the energy to the team. He’s a player to watch moving forward.</p>