Rocky Mountain Mayhem: High Energy 17U Forwards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1933644' first='Zack' last='Anderson'] - Bulldogs - Palisade - 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anderson brought impactful defensive rebounding and interior defense for the Bulldogs, standing right around 6'6. The forward's presence alone kept opposing drivers from attempting shots at the basket, thanks to his fundamental defensive stances while contesting shots. Continuing to develop his perimeter game will be important for the forward, who still gets the vast majority of shot attempts within the paint.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1048510' first='Levi' last='O'Brien'] - Nobody Cares Work Harder - Columbine - 2023</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>O'Brien was a steady presence scoring the ball on spot-up jumpers or straight line drives towards the rim. The guard proved capable of readjusting mid-air for layups around the rim, possessing notably soft touch on these shot attempts. The 6'4 guard showcased consistency shooting off the catch, knocking down multiple triples throughout this event with high efficiency.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1578210' first='Realiti' last='Smith'] - [program_tooltip program_id='2075414' first='Colorado' last='Miners'] CS - Coronado - 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith is a bouncy 6'4 wing who is most effective slashing off the ball for scoring attempts around the rim. At roughly 6'4, Smith possesses notable length, allowing him to be competitive defensively 1 through 3. Another key reason for his defensive upside has been his high vertical leap off either leg. Smith has been adept at contesting shots around the rim or switching onto backcourt threats; few wings are as versatile defenders in the Colorado Springs region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1647832' first='Isiah' last='Ayala'] - Real Phenom - Edison - 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You can count on Ayala to give it his all on the glass, hustling all over the place for 50/50 balls. The 6'5 forward was highly impactful cleaning the glass, turning the corner around box outs and utilizing his long reach to grab rebounds over nearby defenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1284088' first='Avery' last='Wells'] - Real Phenom - Roosevelt (MN) - 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wells was a streamlined athlete at roughly 6'4, already boasting a sturdy frame that matches up against 2s and 3s. The forward provided impactful point of attack defense, more than capable of taking hits in traffic while retaining a straight up defensive position. On offense, Wells was a steady downhill scoring threat, typically moving his defender around due to his raw strength. When Wells drew fouls, he was knocking down 70%+ from the free throw line, a likely indicator of his shooting upside off the catch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1764310' first='Luke' last='Fay'] - Bulldogs - Palisade - 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fay is worth a watch given his shooting touch at roughly 6'5. Already possessing a sturdy frame, the small forward is adept at getting downhill and initiating contact for short jumpers. Fay has excellent footwork while in the mid-range, capable of turning into shots against equally physical opponents.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1578233' first='Walker' last='Asp'] - [program_tooltip program_id='2075414' first='Colorado' last='Miners'] CS - 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Asp is going to be a name popping off throughout the summer, due to his progression of guard skills at 6'5. The junior small forward has continued to create value from his defensive skill set, having great timing going for blocks or rebounds. The major area of intrigue resides in his scoring ability off of movement jumpers, already getting more comfortable stepping into three's in transition. Asp has refined his ball handling capabilities, utilizing one or two dribble moves to free up space on drives.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->