New 2021 names to know from the 5A state tournament

<p>With the season finally 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 new senior names that stood out in 5A during their state-run. These players may not be the stars of their team, but their impacts go beyond the scoreboard.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1138347" first="Damajio" last="Merritt"] – Rangeview</strong></h2> <p>Merritt was an interesting player to watch this season as he jumped onto the scene with club ball and was catapulted into a spot where the rest of the state would soon get to know him. Merritt has good length at 6’7 and is active on the boards. He also is a player that spaces out the floor with his outside shot, and he surely hit timely shots for the Raiders all season long to keep the streak alive. Merritt was the second-leading scorer for Rangeview after seldom playing on last year's undefeated team and stepped into a spot where he would have to do more. In the playoffs, others got to see how disruptive his size was. Merritt is a stingy defender with size, rebounds in bunches, and can score. He put up 10 points in their win against Fountain Fort-Carson, 7 points, 6 boards against Rock Canyon, and 13 points in George's loss. He’s a player that can play at the next level, and small schools should be looking at him as he played well in the playoffs.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1142616" first="Chase" last="Penry"] – Cherry Creek</strong></h2> <p>Penry came back to basketball this season and was easily the top role player in the state. He started the year a bit slow, but when he got into his zone, he was a part of the team that finished off the regular season as the state's top team. Penry is a Division I athlete with upside and plays with joy on the court. He was the team's hardest worker and best rebounder who plays well above his size, and that was on display in the playoffs as he averaged a double-double. In Creek’s first game, Penry finished with 13 points and a game-high 11 boards. He ran the break to perfection, crashes every time, and boxes out taller players for better positioning. He then had a game where he exploded for 21 points and 10 boards against Eaglecrest to secure the win before fizzling out with 10 points and eight boards in the loss to ThunderRidge. Penry will play football at the next level but was a joy to watch on the hardwood during his senior year and stand out for the Bruins.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1138352" first="Josh" last="Wyatt"] – Rangeview</strong></h2> <p>Wyatt has been through a ton in his senior season, so to see him find some success on the court was one of the most heartfelt moments of the season. He went from not playing on varsity in his previous three years to working hard to crack the rotation in the midst of his most difficult time in life to finding more to play for. Wyatt attacked the season with resiliency, and Rangeview rallied behind him. Wyatt was an X-factor piece for that Rangeview team that helped win them games. He provides versatility and a guard that looks extremely comfortable with the ball in his hands. He shoots the 3-ball well and was hitting shots, and he also is a spark of energy when he gets into the game. He was not a player on our radars heading into the season, but he forced his way onto our screen and will be ranked accordingly in our next update in a week or so.  </p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1138285" first="TJ" last="Williams"] – Fairview</strong></h2> <p>Williams is not so much a new name to know for those who have been following us, but he has gone a bit under the radar for the kind of consistency he has put up the last couple of years. Williams went from a glue guy in for situational ball to being the primary ball-handler and a go-to guy. Williams had a solid season where he played well but upped his game in the playoffs. In Fairview's win over Chatfield, it was Williams who led the way. He put up not only a game-high 24-points but career-best on his way out. He knocked down all three 3-pointers taken, got to the rim, converted at the charity stripe, and was active on both ends of the floor. Williams is a player that can play at the next level, and hopefully, this is not the last time we hear from him on the hardwood.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="770411" first="Dylan" last="Carter"] – Chatfield</strong></h2> <p>Carter’s big game came in defeat as his Chargers fell to Chatfield, but what he was able to accomplish his senior year should not go under the wayside. Carter had a solid season in which he led Chatfield to a successful season, and although they were not able to make a run in the playoffs, they were able to showcase that they are a fun bunch with something strong brewing out there. In the loss, Carter finished with a team-high 15 points. He got to his spots and handled pressure for the most part, and that was with Fairview throwing plenty at him and knocked the 3-ball down. Carter provided a spark for an entertaining team and is a player that we noticed on his run.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1148946" first="Tripp" last="Beatty"] – Fountain Fort-Carson</strong></h2> <p>Beatty is a player who is hard to watch and not see the positives that pop off the screen. He makes smart reads, moves well without the ball, has great size, and uses his size to get to where he wants. Beatty showcases the ability to do it all on the floor, which is why he was used as a swiss-army-knife for the Trojans. In Fountain’s first-round win over Silver Creek, he finished with a team-high 19 points in the game. He got inside the teeth of the defense, attacked as a downhill runner, and also grabbed eight boards, and was able to go right off of the rebound. Against Rangeview, he was not as productive, but still made the right plays with the ball and found holes in the defense, and that stands out for me. He is certainly a player that elevated his game and stood out for me in the playoffs as a player to know.</p>