4A-Longs Peak Conference: 2023 Rebounders Week 7

<p>Big time junior rebounders are taking the spotlight for the Longs Peak Conference. While there are mainly athletes 6’4 or taller leading the list, there are a couple guards who demonstrate a unique level of athleticism and willingness to fight on the glass. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1284530" first="Ty" last="Adam"]- Severance</p> <p>Displaying the greatest size at 6’8 along with a versatile offensive skillset, Adam leads the conference in rebounds and points per game. This season, Adam is dominating the conference with 23.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. To my surprise, Adam was lurking on the perimeter the majority of possessions where he demonstrated the ability to hit jumpers, attack closeouts, and even make high level reads when the defense collapsed. Through his three games this January, Adam is posting incredible numbers of 27.7 points, 12 rebounds while shooting 4-8 from three. For the 2023 class, Adam currently ranks as the second best center in the state and 12th on the overall rankings.</p> <p>Jackson Jenkins - Northridge</p> <p>Standing at roughly 6’4, Jenkins plays a physical brand of basketball that is difficult to contain around the rim. Throughout this season, Jenkins is averaging 10.6 points and 8.5 rebounds per game on top of four double-doubles. Jenkins almost solely plays around the rim as a play finisher, where he is capable of finishing through contact primarily using the right hand. Jenkins makes use of his size on defense, mainly due to being in the right place early on to contest shots around the rim. Continuing to improve his free throw consistency will be the next step for Jenkins to solidify himself as 15+ point per game scorer.</p> <p>Antonio Melendez - Thompson Valley</p> <p>Unlike the other names on this list, Melendez is only about 5’11, however he maintains position inside due to his low center of gravity and acute 185 pound frame. Playing at the guard, Melendez has been averaging a well-rounded dose of 9.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.2 steals a game. Melendez is often trusted with setting up half-court sets, often times he gets a head start by securing a defensive rebound. What caught my eye with Melendez is his vision and urgency in fast-break settings, where he loses no time getting the ball up the court.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1284497" first="Zach" last="Van Soest"] - Northridge<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Weston-Vansoest.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-1186380 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Weston-Vansoest-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="238" height="134" /></a></p> <p>The guard out of Northridge plays bigger than his size at 6’3, fighting especially hard on the defensive glass. Van Soest has proven to be most dependable scoring inside the arc by drawing free throws, ranking third in the conference in free throw attempts at 58. The guard plays a simple brand of ball, scoring off of closeouts through aggressively creating contact. Through this season, Van Soest is currently averaging 15.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/ryanleopold-2-crop-4737x3111-1625794021.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-1233351 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/ryanleopold-2-crop-4737x3111-1625794021-300x197.jpg" alt="[player_tooltip player_id="1325691" first="Ryan" last="Leopold"] 2023" width="224" height="147" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="1325691" first="Ryan" last="Leopold"] - Riverdale Ridge</p> <p>The combo guard has been a consistent performer on Riverdale’s varsity squad since his freshman year, only adding to his resume this season as one of the top guards in the conference. This season, Leopold is averaging 15.4 points, 5.8 boards, 2.9 assists, and 2.1 steals per game along with two double-doubles throughout the year. Leopold has a versatile playstyle, however he focuses on his impact around the rim more than anything else. With Riverdale, he is second in free throw attempts following only [player_tooltip player_id="1284530" first="Ty" last="Adam"] of Severance. </p>