Small school standouts heading into the holiday beak

<p>These players are at small schools but have stood out and turned some heading into the holiday break. See who stood out here:</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="618887" first="Connor" last="Showalter"] | 6’4 Forward | Mancos High School</strong></p> <p>If any of you have followed [player_tooltip player_id="618887" first="Connor" last="Showalter"] in the past then you already know what I’m about to say. [player_tooltip player_id="618887" first="Connor" last="Showalter"] has developed a good understanding of how to play the game of basketball. It is difficult to find just one thing he excels at because he excels at everything. Whether it is scoring, playmaking, or rebounding needed, Connor is able to flip a switch that allows him to help in one or all of those categories depending on where his team is struggling that game. Almost snagging a triple-double in week 2 with 28-8-8, Connor has elevated his game to the next level and should be scouted by numerous local schools.</p> <p><strong>Ryder Whitehorn | Creede High School</strong></p> <p>As of right now, we do not have much information on Ryder Whitehorn other than he is a junior that knows how to play basketball. What we do know is that he is a rebounding machine who has grabbed double-digit rebounds in all but one of the seven games he has played. His season-high in rebounds thus far is 21, however, his ability to block shots is another skill he has mastered, and even posted 7 in one game against Center High School. As the season moves forward, it will be interesting to see if he can keep up his high-level performances and be named to an all-state team at the end of the season. </p> <p><strong>Dominic Coleman | 6’1 Wing | Granada High School</strong></p> <p>Heading into the break undefeated warrants no complaining and you definitely won’t hear any complaints about Dominic Coleman. Coleman is a wing player that can take over games in an instant and prove so by scoring nearly half of his team’s points in the first two games this week. An advantage Coleman has over others is his high IQ for the game and willingness to play both ends of the floor. Scoring is not the only thing he does exceptional, but if his teammates are knocking down shots he acknowledges it’s best to become a playmaker and find them more opportunities to score. Finishing his first week with 18-6-6, Coleman shows signs of being able to transition into a combo guard player at the next level thanks to the knowledge of the game. Coleman may not be the flashiest player in the world but who needs flashy when your best player has led you to a 6-0 start?</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1139768" first="Bryant" last="Schoenthal"] | 6’5 C | Wray High School</strong></p> <p>A true big man that displayed why traditional bigs are still viable in today’s game. Schoenthal is one of the more talked about small school players and rightfully so due to his size and ability to carry his team on any given night. Averaging a double-double in both weeks 2 and 3, the senior is looking the most comfortable he has ever looked before on the court. Last year he hustled every single play and was a high motor player, this year he is looking more composed and aware of everything happening on the court. Footwork was something we wanted to see improvement from Schoenthal coming into this year and so far it has looked better. Last year Wray went undefeated and unfortunately lost their first and third-leading scorer. Now is the time to prove how valuable he can be for any college team it's this year considering he is their go-to player. </p> <p><strong>Isiah Chairez | 6’1 Wing | Sierra Grande High School </strong></p> <p>One thing Chairez does not lack is leadership and his leadership qualities are what led Sierra Grande to a 3-0 week 2 and a 2-0 record in week 3. Sierra Grande has gathered a balanced team with more than five players averaging 7+ ppg. What impresses me about Chairez is his tendency to lead by example. His defensive prowess and determination are what allow him to get four steals a game and have spread through his team like wildfire. Being the best player on a losing team may not draw the attention of college scouts, however, being the best player on arguably the best team in his league will soon enough gain him his deserved recognition. Going into the break, he finished his last game in week 3 with a stunning 21 point 15 rebound performance. </p>