Top Underclass in Week 2

<p>The freshman and sophomore have been having stellar seasons and stepping up and leading their teams in various categories. In Week 2, this was especially done as we some players led their team to victory. Here are some underclassmen standouts in Week 2. </p> <p>Dominic Rhoades-Martinez -- Denver South </p> <p>Do not look now, but Denver South is off to a 5-2 start and will be a team to watch moving forward as they have been playing some outstanding basketball to start the season. A player for them that has stood out is their standout freshman, who is putting up an incredible 18.0 points a game. Rhodes-Martinez looks very comfortable on the floor as he scores in various ways, uses his length and athleticism, and also understands the game. When a player can score so easily, they do not necessarily have the other intangibles but not with him as he can dish out the ball, play lockdown defense, and get to wherever it is he wants on the floor. He put up 22 points in a win against Durango and showed that he’s a freshman with high upside. Solid Week 2 performance from him. </p> <p>Tanner Braketa -- Ralston Valley </p> <p>Ralston Valley is always a team that has a solid guard that you watch get better and better each season, and they have seemed to get another that plays the right way, moves comfortably on the floor, and scores with ease. Braketa is putting up 17 points a game in his freshman season and has showed up even in losses. Braketa uses all of his 6’0 frame, has put up a career-high of 29 points already, and in the Mustangs win over Palmer, he had 18 points, including four 3-pointers. Braketa is an inside-out attacker that knocks down the 3-ball at a high rate and is certainly a scorching scoring option in the freshman class. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1137823" first="Maurice" last="Austin"] -- Pueblo South </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1137823" first="Maurice" last="Austin"] was one of the top players as a freshman and went into a highly anticipated sophomore season as a complete stat-stuffer player. He has picked up right where he left off and has been not only one of the top sophomores on the season but has put up the best stats of any player in the state. Maurice is up to 23.4 points, 9.3 assists, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.3 steals on the season for an undefeated team that went into the season as contenders. In the Colts’ latest win over Pine Creek, he put up 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. Maurice is playing well beyond his years and is a player we cannot wait to see come playoff time against top teams in the state. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1137820" first="Jacob" last="Giron"] -- Denver North </p> <p>The North Vikings are starting to turn some heads as they are picking up wins on the season and have a standout sophomore that is lighting up the scoreboards this season. Giron is North’s primary ballhandler that scores in bunches and is a tough cover for opposing guards. He has knocked down the 3-ball at a 40% clip, and consistently shooting it from deep has opened up the rest of his game and allowed him to pick teams apart. He’s a tough shot taker and tough shot maker as a playmaker that has no problem taking the majority of the shots and putting the team on his back and will be in the running as the top scorer in all of the Denver Prep League. In his last game, he put up 19 points, knocked down five 3-pointers, and also had three steals as he turned defense to offense. Keep your eyes open for this sophomore. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1139980" first="Jordan" last="Leslie"] -- Mullen </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1139980" first="Jordan" last="Leslie"] is a two-way scoring option for Mullen that the team is happy running the offense through and only as a sophomore has stood out as a top player in the conference. He is a lockdown defender that stays in front of his man, forces the issue on that end of the floor, and turns defense to offense, and that has been on full display as he put up season-high 21 points in the Mustangs first win of the season over Thomas Jefferson. Leslie is having a stellar season, it just has not turned into wins, and he changed that as he went for a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds. He also got teammates involved as a guard that can control the pace, showcases patience, and his awareness is increasing. He had a solid Week 2, got his team a win, and is looking like a player that is starting to get it. </p>