New Names That Emerged at Mile High Madness

Every event brings fresh faces into the spotlight, and Mile High Madness did just that. One of my favorite parts of events is trying to find new names that I have not seen or am unfamiliar with. These were some of the newcomers who made their presence felt. They showed skill, toughness, and flashes that say “keep watching.” Some made their first impression, others solidified their place on our radar. Either way, these were the surprise standouts who earned my attention.    Rylend plays fast and smart. He was getting downhill and living at the FT line. When he was not doing that, he was finding open teammates when the help came. He moved off-ball with purpose, handled pressure, and made things happen as the team's lead guard. He made the extra pass, didn't force shots, and kept defenders honest with his handle. This was a strong showing for a name that we did not know heading into the event, but we'll now keep tabs on.     Pruitt is a tough-nosed guard who finishes through contact and thrives in the paint. He has a solid feel for the game as he was cutting into gaps, playing off-ball smartly, and knowing where to be on the floor for easy baskets. Defensively, he's active and tries to make plays happen. He's that gritty floor general who competes every possession and leads by example, and that is how you make an impact on a team. We want to see more of him.      Valeski is a lefty guard with a crafty game. He's quick off the bounce, has a nice floater package, and uses hesitation well. He had a few steals in the open court and showed he can break down defenders one-on-one. He made quick reads, stayed aggressive, and played fearlessly. He's an under-the-radar point guard we'll be keeping a close eye on, but liked what we saw from him in multiple games at the event.     Mock is a true big man with soft hands and physical presence. He screens hard, seals deep, and scores on both blocks. We got to see him change it up a bit down low as he showcased left-hand hooks, dunks, and bully ball were all part of the scoring package. He alters shots on defense and runs the floor better than expected. If he finds consistency with his motor and learns to demand the rock, the sky's the limit for him. Dylan's stock is soaring from this weekend with Prep Hoops Colorado.      Morgan Daws is a team that you find yourself watching every single time that they take the floor. They demand it. While watching various players, one player kept standing out, No. 4. Vigil is a high-motor glue guy who makes winning plays. He crashes the glass hard, cuts at the right time, and makes the extra pass. On defense, he gets into passing lanes and forces turnovers but its those plays that nobody sees that really separate him for me. Not only with scoring.  He's a slasher who doesn't need the ball to be effective and competes hard on every possession. He opens up the floor with screens, he moves without the ball to create for someone else and does the boxing out and diving for balls. He's a classic “every coach wants him” player and I can see him on a NAIA radar.     Roberts is a bulldog. He plays bigger than his size, gets downhill and finishes through contact, and works tirelessly without the ball. He's physical, aggressive, and even if there are mistakes made, atleast he makes them by playing hard. All weekend long, he found ways to contribute, whether it was scoring, defending, or simply outworking opponents. He's one of those under-the-radar guards who makes you pay attention every time he's on the court.     Anderson looked like a man amongst boys, and I mean that physically. At 6'7, he was a rebounding force and physical presence inside. He demanded double teams, kept the ball high, and finished through contact. I do think he's a project as he showed post moves, soft touch on hooks, and altered shots at the rim. His size and strength were overwhelming  for opposing teams at times. If he brings this level consistently in the high school season, Liberty's ceiling gets a whole lot higher. Excited to see if he continues to grow.

Every event brings fresh faces into the spotlight, and Mile High Madness did just that. One of my favorite parts of events is trying to find new names that I have not seen or am unfamiliar with. These were some of the newcomers who made their presence felt. They showed skill, toughness, and flashes that say “keep watching.” Some made their first impression, others solidified their place on our radar. Either way, these were the surprise standouts who earned my attention.