Spring Exposure: Team 1 Breakdown
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Jay Otanez CO #WL CG #30 HEIGHT 6'1" POS CG CLASS 2025 View Profile Jay Otanez Instagram Twitter State: Colorado School: Riverdale Ridge Club: VA Hard2Guard Otanez sought out driving lanes, willing to be a physical scorer at the rim.…
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Continue ReadingOtanez sought out driving lanes, willing to be a physical scorer at the rim. He was among the better rebounders on either end of the floor from this event. He was immediately crashing the glass once a shot went up, always a dependable option under those circumstances. His off-ball activity was not just from the glass, but he was one of the best cutters for this team, creating a handful of points solely from backdoor cuts. Should the rim not be an option, Otanez was active getting to mid-range pull-ups, effectively changing speeds while staying on balance.
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Romero showed promise setting up the team’s halfcourt offense. Often setting up post players with well placed passes, directly creating advantages on the offensive end.
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Desmonde Smith
Desmonde Smith
Smith was a strong finisher around the rim, effective bullying opposing defenders on drives. On the opposite end, the guard blocked a few shots around the rim, bringing plenty of energy to Team 1’s effort at this event. Few opponents had success attacking Smith one on one, the Nebraska guard was a pleasant surprise through this event.
Kirkland took what the defense gave him, one of the smarter guards from this event. Possessing a consistent three point shot from distance, the guard was knockdown off the catch. While in transition, he did well to push the pace, often from well placed outlet passes to teammates. Pueblo County features an exciting group of 2026s, certainly capable of making some noise in due time.
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Turlapaty continued to knock down triples from distance, effective along the wings and corners. Not just a shooter, the guard looked to attack driving lanes while help was recovering, contributing on quite a few attempts at the rim. Without the ball, he was consistent crashing the glass, looking to make the defense work for possessions. A handsy defender while at the point of attack, Turlapaty stayed consistent instigating opponent ball handlers.
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Singer was one of the more selfless players at this event, always willing to make the extra pass. Should a teammate not present themselves, the forward was willing to attack a closeout for left hand finishes. His strong frame allowed him to be a physical defender around the rim, altering quite a few opponent shot attempts.
Franceschi ended the day as one of most impactful players, actively facilitating for shotmakers while bringing skill around the rim. At 6’3, they have good size to see above the defense, proactive making plays within the half court. A wiry strong athlete, Franceschi was physical defending opponents around the rim, taking bumps while maintaining position. He will be a name worth following over the course of this summer and throughout his final season at Aspen.
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Sevy got up for a few dramatic dunks, showing continued improvements in vertical athleticism over the past 6 months. He was particularly willing to step into pull-up jumpers and pivot finishes around the rim, showing more willingness while handling the ball. The forward is a tall scoring threat, especially dangerous while slashing along the baseline. As the jumper and handle continue to improve, we will see Sevy’s shotmaking opportunities continue to progress.