The Bigs Who Had Top Notch Performances at Colorado Live

The big men came to play—and they made sure everyone took notice. These forwards and centers put their full skill sets on display, dominating the paint, protecting the rim, and proving why they're among the top talent in the region. From high energy hustle plays to polished offensive moves, this group made a major statement. Here's who stood out.    Dessalegn made his presence felt in every game he played, impacting both ends of the floor with his high level instincts and strong feel for the game. With the ball in his hands, he was relentless—attacking the rim, absorbing contact, and finishing with authority. A natural scorer, Dessalegn showed his ability to score from all three levels, but truly thrived around the basket where he consistently found ways to convert. His aggressive mindset and scoring versatility made him one of the standout performers of the event     Shetler put together a strong weekend with consistent, high effort performances on both ends of the floor. He was a force in the paint, bringing physicality and grit on defense while staying active on the glass. His nonstop motor stood out—constantly hustling, staying involved in every possession, and making his presence felt even when he wasn't directly in the play. Offensively, Shetler capitalized on opportunities around the rim, finishing through contact and making smart, aggressive plays when the ball came his way.     Hodges was a dominant force in the paint all weekend and proved to be nearly unstoppable down low. Every time he touched the ball, he made it count—scoring with power and efficiency around the rim. His size created constant mismatches, and he used it to full advantage, controlling the paint on both ends. Hodges was a key presence on the boards, generating second chance opportunities and finishing plays with authority. He excelled in the close to mi -range game, converting at a high clip and establishing himself as a go to option in the post     Hopkins was a standout all weekend, using his size and length to his advantage on every possession. He created space with his frame, kept plays alive with his impressive wingspan, and made a consistent impact on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he thrived coming off set screens, quickly attacking the rim with purpose and power. Once downhill, he was nearly impossible to stop—scoring at will inside the paint. His footwork and technique allowed him to finish through contact and keep defenders off balance, making him a constant problem for opposing defenses     Edwards put together an impressive weekend, standing out with his size, strength, and relentless motor. He was dominant on the glass, cleaning up missed shots and eliminating second chance opportunities for the opposition. Around the rim, he was automatic—converting easy putbacks and making the most of every possession. Edwards also showed the ability to score from all three levels, adding versatility to his offensive game. What truly separated him was the way he ran the floor—smooth, purposeful, and always under control. He knew exactly where he wanted to be and got there with efficiency, making him a constant impact player on both ends     Grable is the kind of player who makes an immediate impact the moment he steps on the floor. With his excellent size, length, and athleticism, he was a matchup problem all weekend. His wingspan allowed him to dominate the glass, rising up over defenders to secure rebounds with ease. Defensively, Grable was a disruptive force—altering shots, protecting the rim, and coming up with key blocks. On the offensive end, he showed great poise and physicality around the rim, carving out space and backing down defenders to finish strong. His presence on both ends made him a clear difference maker throughout the event

The big men came to play—and they made sure everyone took notice. These forwards and centers put their full skill sets on display, dominating the paint, protecting the rim, and proving why they're among the top talent in the region. From high energy hustle plays to polished offensive moves, this group made a major statement. Here's who stood out.