2021 Rankings Update: Tip of the Hat

<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 a list of players from small schools that had monster numbers and the success to go along with it. We tip our hat to these five players. </p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="916970" first="Wes" last="Ryan"] – De Beque</strong></span></h2> <p>25 years from now, when you go and look at some of the most incredible stats of All-Time in CHSAA history, Ryan will still be on the leaderboards. What he has accomplished in a 4-year span, and the type of winning that he did over the years is no small task. Ryan averaged 20.6 points and 8.0 rebounds a game –FOR HIS CAREER. His game elevated each year as he averaged 14.4 as a freshman, 19.7 as a sophomore, 23.4 as a junior, and went out with his career-best 26.1 points as a senior. Ryan made the All-State team in 3-of-4 years, has a state championship, and led the Dragons to another state championship run in his senior year. While others were excited to reach 1,000 points scored for their career, he put up 1794 points total and 696 rebounds for his career. Ryan is a three-level scorer that gets to where he wants on the floor, plays the game the right way, and is a leader of men. He will be a decorated standout and had an insane career. He's the No. 63 player in the class. </p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="917030" first="Camden" last="Smithburg"] – Limon</strong></span></h2> <p>Smithburg is a player that you certainly have to tip your hat to with the career that he had. Smithburg is a multi-sport standout that knows how to put the ball in the basket. He’s a natural scorer that picks his spots and capitalizes, and there are no wasted moments when he is on the floor. Smithburg is another 1000 points scored member that went way over that already monumental threshold. Smithburg finished his career with 1449 points and plenty of wins along the way to come with it. Smithburg is a small guard in stature at 5’10, but he plays well above his size. What he lacks in size, he makes up for in heart, and that determination is why he was able to lead his team every night. In his senior year, he led his team with 16.5 points a game and a trip to the state championship. He's already a decorated athlete with a state football championship and tried to bring one home in basketball as well. Fell short but was a 1st-Team All-State member. Iron-man athlete that knows the game. Helluva career and a top-10 10 pg in the class. </p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1050943" first="Val" last="Leone"] – Fowler</strong></span></h2> <p>Leone is a player that, had he been at a bigger school, would’ve been a player that we talked about often. Leone can play and proved that over his four years.  Fowler cleared the 1,000 points scored accomplishment in his senior season while attempting to lead his team to victories. The 6’3 do-it-all guard leaves Fowler as arguably the best players in school history and, in his senior season, put up 17.5 points and 6.4 points a game as he was named a 1^st-Team All-State member. Leone brought it in every game despite being the focal point for opposing teams. Everyone knew to beat Fowler, it had to go through Leone, and he still managed to find a way. Leone displayed his competitiveness when he came down and stood out in showcases this summer against other top players in the state and is not a player that others can say only dominated because of the class. He’s a player that can help a small school at the next level as he adds a bit of everything and is a player that plays the right way.</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="916985" first="Logan" last="Owen"] – Belleview Christian</strong></span></h2> <p>Owen is a player that I have to tip my hat to because when you take a look at a player that was on an upward trajectory and named the conference player of the year to have to play Robin to a uniquely talented player that we don’t get in Colorado too often, there might not be a player that accepted that role and still managed to impact the game the way that Owen was able to. Owen is a player that averaged 17.5 points and 6.4 rebounds as a sophomore, 25.5 points, and 7.9 rebounds a game as a junior but did not have the team success to buying in and averaging 18.1 and 7.5 rebounds a game with an emphasis on defense and filling in. That only led to Belleview being in the records. Finishing the year with an unblemished 16-0 record and the largest deficit did in the state championship. Owen finishes off his high school career with 1280 points and 444 rebounds, 1st-Team All-State and a championship. Owen will be going to North Central University, who has had some success with our in-state players, and continuing his playing career there. Best days are ahead for him.</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="965759" first="Jase" last="Bessire"] – Highland</strong></span></h2> <p>Bessire is a player that somehow went under the radar despite putting up video game numbers throughout his career. Bessire is a 4-year varsity player that went from a really talented role player with upside that showed flashes to being the focal part of the offense and the reason for the success. Bessire had a remarkable stretch these past two seasons putting up 19.0 points and 6.1 rebounds a game to 21.0 points and 5.6 rebounds as a senior. Bessire is a guard that is capable of knocking down the 3-ball, but his bread and butter is getting to the rim and finishing. He has a great set of motives, a calmness to his game, and the green light to make it happen. He put up monster numbers but could’ve easily averaged more if he didn’t want to get others involved and make the right play. Bessire is a player that can compete at the next level and ends his career with 1245 points.</p>