Stars Ready to Rise: 2A Prospects Entering the Great 8

Smaller classifications don't always get the same attention, but that doesn't mean the talent isn't there. Every year, players from these levels step up and prove they belong on the big stage. The 2A Great 8 is another opportunity for some of the classification's top prospects to show their value and continue making a name for themselves. Here are 5 players we have our eyes on in the Great 8.    Heritage Christian has a 19-6 record on the season, but went undefeated and won the conference behind the play of freshman big man Guede Wade. The moment Heritage Christian got him, everyone knew they'd have a chance to win it all. He's 6'7 and full of upside. This season, it started to slow down for him as well, as he put up 12.5 points and 8.8 boards a game. He runs the floor, he finishes over the defense, and they're working him in the post instead of him settling for 3's. He'll certainly have the advantage in size, and there will be plenty of eyes on him. This is an opportunity to prove himself as one of the best freshmen in the state.     Ralston is leading the way and is the captain on the floor. He's the teams do it all option, and he fills it up. He's averaging an impressive 21.3 points a game, which shows the type of scorer he is and has really come on in the last month of the season, as he has a 40-point outbreak and is averaging about 26 points a game in that duration. He's also lighting it up from deep as a floor spacer who can create for himself off the dribble and the team's best defensive option as well at 4.4 steals a game. This will be a game where he'll see multiple looks and defenders, and his team will look for him to keep up his stellar play. Big opportunity to prove himself as an under-the-radar player who was one of the 2A's best.     Jacob Walker just got to 1,000 points scored in Golden View Classical Academy's last game, a playoff game, and will look to add to that as his team faces off against a talented Plateau Valley squad. He'll be the top player on the court in the game and will look to continue being aggressive on the offensive end. He does it all for the squad, and you can see that with the kind of Senior season that he had. He put up 16.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists a game. He excels with the ball in his hands, he takes tough shots, and when things get tough for his team, he's who settles them down with big shots. I am expecting him to shoot the ball a ton to keep them in the game and a big scoring performance. He's who I have my eye on in the game as he looks to push his squad to a Final 4 appearance.     When it comes to this Simla team it's no question about it about why they're operating so well. They're the defending 2A champs, and the defending player of the year is still cruising. And he's only a junior. Tatum has been relentless in his pursuit of leading his team back to the championship as he's putting up 23.5 points and 11.6 rebounds a game to go along with it. He's coming off two straight 30-point performances, he's likely going to be the player of the year again, and I feel as if another win can be the icing on the cake. I expect him to do what he does best - dominate. He's the player to watch in this one and is the best player remaining in the field. Simla has a chip on its shoulder and he gives them the confidence to keep on pushing. Excited to see how he performs in this one as Simla looks to go back-to-back.     Neumann is a player who has not been written about before, but with how he's been playing and how he's put his team in this position, he's demanding some attention. The junior forward put up 15.9 points a game and showed he could consistently put the ball in the basket. When he's good and scoring, his team has a chance, and they'll need him to be his best if they want a chance of coming up with the big upset. He battles on the boards, he finishes around the basket, and he can extend the defense with his shot. I expect him to show up in this game, but he'll have to be even better than his typical self to secure the win. He's a player to watch for this squad.

Smaller classifications don't always get the same attention, but that doesn't mean the talent isn't there. Every year, players from these levels step up and prove they belong on the big stage. The 2A Great 8 is another opportunity for some of the classification's top prospects to show their value and continue making a name for themselves. Here are 5 players we have our eyes on in the Great 8.