14U Prospects who popped at Rocky Mountain Mayhem

The 14U division at the Rocky Mountain Mayhem was full of players who I had never seen before, so it was based on first impressions. They made their marks. I wanted to get a glimpse of what the future looks like, and this has the makings to be one of the best classes in the state. Here are a few players who caught my attention throughout the weekend.    Mauter stood out in the games that we watched him play, and is a player that I feel is going to be a very good player. He has a complete game, but offensively, he has a deep bag and plays with extreme control that is rare for his age. He creates off the bounce, he has a variety of moves, and he understands change of pace. He was setting defenders up with solid moves, got out in transition, and made it difficult to slow him down. He also battled defensively, which has him as a two-way option moving forward. I feel like he's a player who benefits from being aggressive, which gives him real upside as a lead guard. I liked what I saw from Mauter.     Garey brought a different level of explosiveness to the floor, combining speed and athleticism with a surprisingly mature approach to his game. He was one of the quickest players on the day, and he really stood out defensively. Garret showed the ability to defend without fouling. He stayed active defensively and made instinctual plays. He can defend multiple positions, and they used him as the stopper. Offensively, he shows a growing game, but he was an unselfish passer who passed teammates open. He hit timely baskets and got his team momentum. He's going to be a menace in Wyoming for the foreseeable future and a player to watch.      Torres is a player who I did not know about heading into the event, who played with a strong understanding of the game, making consistent winning plays without forcing too many negative plays. He was full of highlights in the games that I watched him in, and he has a ton of skills that lead to wins. He's a tall guard who defends with purpose, moves his feet, and competes on the ball. Offensively, he reads the floor well and positions himself to impact possessions with just reading what the defense is giving him. He can shoot it from deep. Torres' awareness, defensive fundamentals, and ability to adapt to what's needed make him a valuable, high-IQ piece who should be on more radars.     Fajardo is a player who kept standing out while watching [program_tooltip program_id='3564524' first='Team' last='Excellence'] games. He kept hitting shots. Fajardo moves well without the ball, sits in the corner, and backdoored when it was there for easy baskets as well. He is a player who can get going in a half-court set, and we saw that when the opposing team went into a zone, where he shot them out of it. He constantly makes plays and pops offensively while holding his own on the other end of the floor. Fajardo is a young player worth knowing and watching more.     Sanchez was a player who stood out simply because he brought energy and balance to the team at times when they needed it most. He was doing the work that doesn't always show up immediately in the box score but does keep the team afloat. He is a connector who defends and finds scoring opportunities by attacking at times. He keeps momentum going, he embraces physical play, and he impacts the game in multiple areas. He's going to be a valuable piece to a winning team when it all comes together, and he was a player who helped [program_tooltip program_id='2075463' first='Elevation' last='Flyers'] get some wins.     Ruggles was a player who had my attention this weekend as a solid young guard for Blaze Basketball, who was very aggressive and assertive throughout the event. He had some bump finishes where he converted through contact and was the initiator of physical play, and that is rare from a young guard. He's confident, he understands counter moves, and he was a creative finisher at the basket. He had a few spin move finishes, drew contact, and has great instincts. He continued to apply pressure to defenses, and that unlocks a ton in his game. Ruggles is a player to keep an eye on as he has an excellent feel for the game.     Rogers is a 14U prospect who's at his best around the rim, where his size, strength, and athleticism create consistent scoring opportunities. That was the move all weekend as we need more of that. Rogers finishes effectively inside and competes defensively, even shutting down his matchup in stretches. A matchup that got the best of everyone else. When he stays focused on attacking and playing to his strengths, he's impactful. As his decision-making expands away from the basket, his game will continue to open up, but he seems to understand his role.

The 14U division at the Rocky Mountain Mayhem was full of players who I had never seen before, so it was based on first impressions. They made their marks. I wanted to get a glimpse of what the future looks like, and this has the makings to be one of the best classes in the state. Here are a few players who caught my attention throughout the weekend.