#PHLive 17U Standouts from Colorado

<p>The #PHLive event was a success in Kansas City, MO. There were hundreds of teams from across the nation all going at it with some big-name athletes in attendance. With all eyes on the star athletes, here are a few Colorado players that stood out on the weekend.</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="618866" first="Esmond" last="Griffin"] – Colorado Titans</strong></span></h2> <p>Titans came out to Kansas City and put on a show. They went 2-2 in the #PHLive event and showed that they could compete with whoever is in front of them. Their most interesting player and catalyst for their offense is point guard Esmond Grifin. Griffin is a crafty guard that can create for himself and his teammates. He has a quick change of speed, and his bursts free him up for finishes at the rim or space to operate. In the games that we were able to see him, he put points up for his team in various ways. He made the right reads, handled pressure, and used his quickness to get the defense moving. His shot was on for a bit, and he allows that Titans team to play freely—solid weekend for him.</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="618886" first="Dylan" last="Sanders"] – RoughRidersGive 2022</strong></span></h2> <p>This was the best that we have seen from Sanders in the limited number of games that we saw from him as he fit the physical and aggressive style of play. He matched opposing teams’ intensity and got more comfortable in each game. One game in particular that stands out was in RoughRidersGive’s win over Iowa Barnstormers. Sanders played more as a facilitator and had the ball in his hands. He created scoring opportunities for others, his 3-ball was falling, and he also attacked the rim. By getting to the rim, he was either scoring at will or getting fouled. He got to the FT line multiple times and made the opposing teams have to guess how to guard him. What makes him so exciting is his willingness to lock down on both ends of the floor. His defense turned to offense; he used his strength and size, and when he is playing like this, that RRG squad is a tough team to match.</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1139528" first="Mostapha" last="Elmoutaouakkil"] -- The Force D1 2022</strong></span></h2> <p>Mostapha is a player that we have been extremely high on in-state after he had a solid season for Eaglecrest, but for him to take it on the road and stand out as well is assuring. Mostapha had 28-big points in one of The Force’s games, and he had it going from the opening tip. The 6’4 wing is confident with the ball in his hands, gets to wherever he wants to be on the floor, and plays with a bit of a chip on his shoulder. Elmoutaouakkil was being aggressive offensively and attacked the rim. He does not shy away from contact despite being a lanky player, is always looking to score. He gets the ball from off of the boards and goes, uses his length, and is a creative scorer. He’s a player that will certainly play at the next level, and this was a stock-boosting event for him, and was out of state. </p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="759281" first="Brock" last="Mishak"] – Colorado Chaos</strong></span></h2> <p>Mishak is an elite scorer. He is a confident shooter with a smooth shooting stroke, and he was the player that got Chaos going when things got stagnant. He can score in multiple ways, but there are not many things that opposing teams can do when the jumper is going. Mishak is not just reliant on jump shots but makes plays happen when he has the ball in his hands. He rotates the ball quickly, moves without the ball, and is a gifted scorer. His willingness to attack offensively forces the defense to have to adjust, and that is when he is at his best. He puts the ball on the floor and gets through screens, stops for midrange pull-ups, and showcased his ability to do it all—solid weekend for him.</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="918928" first="Andrew" last="Scott"] – Colorado Titans</strong></span></h2> <p>Scott shot the ball well and opened up the floor for his guards to operate. When the offense got stagnant, they looked at their small forward to get the offense going, and it was his jump shot that made it happen. Scott plays within the flow of the offense, does not just stay in one spot, and is always moving. He passes and screens away and, when he gets it, is an offensive threat that puts pressure on the defense. Scott went on mini-streaks as he knocked down multiple 3-pointers in the game. He played at his own pace, and when teams got physical, he used his finesse game to make smart cuts to get free baskets at the rim. Not a bad showing from him for the Titans against some talented teams.</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="759260" first="Deangelo" last="Horn"] – RoughRidersGive 2022</strong></span></h2> <p>Horn is a player that has moments where he looks unstoppable. He is a physically gifted athlete that gets out in the open floor for dunks; he drives the lane with a purpose and is an aggressive downhill runner. In RRG’s win over a talented Iowa Barnstormer squad, he got his hands in the passing lanes for dunks, slashed for easy baskets at the rim, and was a force on the boards. Horn plays within the flow of the offense, continues to move but has those moments where he prepares for liftoff. Horn hit a couple of mid-range jump shots, stepped out, hit the 3-ball in a couple of games, and was not attacked defensively. Horn was locked in on both ends of the floor but caught his rhythm early in the event and did not look back.</p>