2021 Rankings Update: Small School Standouts

<p>The class of 2021 rankings has been updated, and there is plenty of movement throughout the entire list. We added the most players that we have ever had and did our most thorough observations to choose what we deem to be our most thought-out rankings yet. This season was a bit different as it was condensed, so we took summer ball and mixed it with what we were able to see throughout the season as well. Here’s who we have as the top guards and floor generals on the year. </p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1050936" first="Trey" last="Summers"] – Union County Preparatory</strong></span></h2> <p>Summers is a bucket in every sense of the word and led the entire state in scoring, in fact. The 6’1 combo-guard had one of the best stretches of basketball over the past two seasons and proved that he could score in every single way Summers put up an incredible 28.6 points a game and scored over 25 points in all, but one game on the year. He is a shoot-first guard with a natural scoring ability, lets it fly from deep, and is not afraid to take the big shot. He had a high of 35 points in a four-point close win over Loveland Classical and displayed the ability to step up in big games, and was a force on the boards, and averaging 9.9 boards a game. Summers had six double-doubles on the year, and although he goes to a small school, made it a point this past summer to prove that he can play at a high level no matter who is in front of him. He scores through double teams, is a lead by example captain, and is a player that can help at the next level. Summers is the No. 57 player in the class and was a delight to follow these past two seasons.</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="965762" first="Blake" last="Essex"] – Mile High Academy</strong></span></h2> <p>Essex put up some monster performances in his high school career and made it so that people watched a school that they never even heard of. Against a Top-5 player in the state, he had a monster game where he put up video game numbers and helped keep his team as a Top-5 team throughout nearly his whole career. It was much of the same for the 6’8 big man in his senior season as he put up 20.8 points, 15.5 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks a game. He was a dominant force on the boards, gave his team extra scoring opportunities, and his size was the biggest difference in games. Essex led his team to a 9-3 record and broke the 1,000 points scored barrier while also grabbing 831 rebounds in only three short varsity years. He was one of the top small school players in the state that came down this summer for small group workouts and proved that he could compete, no matter the competition, and comes in at the No. 7 center in the class.</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1139394" first="Caleb" last="Clark"] – Faith Christian</strong></span></h2> <p>Clark is the latest player in the state that will go on and play basketball at the next level. Clark is heading to the Colorado School of the Mines to be a big part of their program, and with the season that he just had at Faith Christian, he will fit in seamlessly. Clark was Faith Christian’s best player this season as he erupted for 20.8 points and 9.3 rebounds a game that was amongst the best in 3A. The Eagles went 9-5 on the season but were one of the more entertaining teams to watch this year as the 6’5 wing brought it nightly. Clark is a 3-level scorer that plays the right way, uses his size to score inside but is dangerous from deep as well. Clark shot the ball at a 42% clip and is a sniper from deep that mixes it up to keep the defense guessing. Clark went from a relatively unranked player a season ago to now being on the radar and playing at the next level.  </p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1157202" first="Junior" last="Arambula"] – Wray</strong></span></h2> <p>Junior headlines this group as the 5’8 point guard was one of the most entertaining watches and most productive players in all of 2A this past season, as well as the 2A Player of the year. Arambula helped his team be crowned 2A state champions after a monster season where he played above his size and led his team in multiple ways. He put up 18.3 points and 6.6 assists a game and played the best basketball of his career to get his team to the big game as he put up 28 points in back-to-back games. Junior is a two-way standout that is the floor general and leader on the floor and plays with a sense of calmness that sets the tempo for his team. He makes great decisions with the ball, knocks down the open ball, keeps the defense honest, and gets teammates involved. Wray had multiple players score in double figures, and a big part of that was the unselfishness of their point guard.  He will play baseball at Otero JC next season but finishes his career as a decorated standout.</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="965758" first="Mamadou" last="Sow"] – Lutheran</strong></span></h2> <p>Sow is a player with high upside and made sacrifices this past season that helped his team be crowned the 3A state champions. Sow took over the scoring load when they were without their best player, fit in seamlessly when he returned, and his game progressed in different ways. Sow did not force as many shots but played within the flow of the offense. He had a high/low attack, scored with his back to the basket, and hit the mid-range jumper. Sow is a confident big man with size and has a legit 6’8 frame. He averaged 10.9 points and 6.5 rebounds a game and stepped his game up in the playoffs. He finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds in the state championship game and showed his upside. He can affect the game in various ways and had a solid season. </p>