2023 & 2024 standouts from the 4A state playoffs
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Finding your role in only your freshman and sophomore season is difficult as is, but these young hoopers from the 2023 & 2024 class figured out a way to not only make it happen, but on teams that made the…
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Continue ReadingFinding your role in only your freshman and sophomore season is difficult as is, but these young hoopers from the 2023 & 2024 class figured out a way to not only make it happen, but on teams that made the playoffs and had a chance. Here we take a look at the future with underclass standouts from the 4A playoffs.
Armon Baker Armon Baker 6'4" | CG Thomas Jefferson | 2023 State CO – Thomas Jefferson
Baker had an up and down season as he went through the growing pains of being a young player making quick adjustments to playing varsity and getting big minutes but looked to find a zone heading into the playoffs. The Spartans took a loss in the opening game against an outstanding Pueblo South team, and in the game, Baker showed that he could show up in big games and put his team in a position to win. Baker had 8 points and 4 assists in the game and learned what to do in a playoff atmosphere. He took some chances that I am sure that he will learn on and knocked down a 3-pointer, stepped up defensively, and had his team competing and there until the end—solid season for the sophomore to build on.
Ty Adam Ty Adam 6'8" | C Severance | 2023 State CO – Severance
Adam is a player that I feel that we will hear a ton about for the next couple of seasons as he has one thing that you cannot teach; size. Adam is a gifted 6’8 standout for Severance, who had a monster season for the Silver Knights. In only his sophomore season, he was the player that the team rallied behind, and his team put him in positions to dominate. He averaged a team-high 17.1 points with 8.2 rebounds to go along with it, and in the playoffs, although his team did not have the games they expected, he was able to show up still. Adam had 18 points in the game and showcased range as he knocked down 3 3-pointers in the game. He also came up with seven boards and a pair of blocks and showed that he would not back down against one of the state’s top young centers. Adam has high upside and will only continue to get better, and hopefully, he ventures out and gets on a team that can showcase him this summer as he is a player that will certainly help a school at the next level.
Ray Aragon Ray Aragon 5'9" | CG Pueblo South | 2023 State CO – Pueblo South
Aragon was the Colt’s second-leading scorer in only his sophomore season and with their young core, have to expect they will be one of the favorites heading into next season. Pueblo South has great scorers, defenders, and a swarming defense that attacks opposing teams’ guards, and in Aragon, you get a mixture of both. The 2023 standout was a reliable scoring option that the team felt comfortable giving the ball to, and he makes the right play with the ball as it is either a basket or he sets up a teammate for an open finish at the rim. Aragon is an excellent playmaker that sees plays before they happen and attacks. He put up 14.5 points and 5.5 assists a game and has a natural feel for the game. He moves well without the ball, makes plays happen when he has it, and will only get better with time. I am high on that Pueblo South core, and Aragon is a major reason why.
Aliou Diallo Aliou Diallo 5'11" | PG Colorado Prep | 2023 State CO – Golden
It took Diallo a bit to get acclimated with the speed of varsity, but once it caught up to him, the sophomore guard’s instincts kicked in, and he became the leading scorer for a young Golden squad that has a bright future. Diallo was the teams leading scorer, and that did not slow down in the playoffs. In the Demon’s two games, Diallo led the way as he put up 21 points in an opening-round win over Summit and followed that up with 17 points in a loss to Steamboat Springs. Diallo used his quickness to attack defenders off of the dribble and finished at the rim once he got there. His work on defense as an excellent on-ball defender paid off as he came up with some steals in the open court that turned into fastbreak baskets helped give the team identity and fight in games. He is getting more comfortable as a scoring guard, and when it all comes together, he will be a player to watch.
David Hageman David Hageman 6'3" | PG Windsor | 2023 State CO – Windsor
The younger Hageman brother gave the team size at 6’3 and, despite being a sophomore, was forced to step up in games. He answered the call as he was a part of the team’s core and had his moments. He began the playoffs with 16 points and saw his shots fall early on, which opened up the offense. In a win against Aurora Central, he was asked to fill in the gap, and he got out on the fastbreak for easy scoring opportunities and played well off the ball. Against Pueblo South, his work on the boards kept the team in the game as he had five boards and 10 points, but the team could not hit shots. He will step into a position where he will be asked to do more, so it will be on him to work on his game and get ready for a year that he has to do-it-all. He will surely be tested but has the building blocks to have a great upcoming season with what we saw from him in the playoffs.