2022 Rankings Update: Top Forwards/Bigs

<p>Prep Hoops Colorado recently updated its class of 2022 rankings, and this is one of our favorite classes as it is full of gym rats who want to get better, and there will continue to be shifts made to this class.  </p> <p>This is a class that we have seen the most of with tournaments, private workouts, underground runs, and plenty of BallerTV.</p> <p>Let’s take a look at the classes’ top forward/bigs.</p> <h2><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="918899" first="James" last="Shiers"] – Mead</strong></span></h2> <p>Shiers is a 7-footer that continues to get better and is playing his best basketball right now. Shiers is not a traditional back to the basket big man, and that throws people off and often creates a dilemma because of the assumption that a kid that size should play a certain way. He knows who he is and plays his own way. Shiers has a versatile skill set and can do a lot with the ball that others his size can’t do, like put the ball on the floor, and he also reads the floor well and makes the extra pass. For a talented Mead team, he was a role player that went out and got boards, set screens and rolled and gave the Mavericks size as a reliable rim protector. He has now gotten better in every aspect and seems to be adding muscle and strength, which has seemed to elevate his game. The 7-foot big man is now throwing his body around and being more aggressive on the block and shows raw versatility. He is protecting the paint, rebounding better, and an offensive option. Again, he is raw, but he is a gym rat that wants to get better, and he will be a solid player down the road. His potential is through the room, and he comes in at No.11 in the class.</p> <h2><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Anthony Harris – Smoky Hill</strong></span></h2> <p>Harris is a breathtaking athletic player that is still coming into his own as a player. He is a bit undersized as a forward but has a great wingspan and extended reach that makes up for it and the defensive pedigree to defend bigger players. Harris is one of the best defensive players in the state, and that is where he will separate himself. He uses that athleticism to erase shots at the rim; he is a versatile defender that moves his feet well and can guard multiple positions. For Smoky Hill last season, Harris was the team’s best big man option and was used in the aerial attack. There were lobs thrown to him in the halfcourt set, and he was extremely dangerous in the open court. He had game-impacting plays that brought energy to the Buffaloes. Harris played well as a sophomore but worked on his game this summer. For Knights Elite, Harris showcased himself as a multifaceted player that exceeds just the highflying trait. Harris was putting the ball on the floor, breaking defenders down, hitting mid-range jumpers, and stepping out to the 3-point line. Harris is the most athletic player in the state, and that differentiates him from other college prospects. When he showcases himself as a well-rounded athlete, making it challenging for opposing teams to slow him down, Harris will be forced to step into the spotlight and be more of a go-to option for the Buffaloes this season. This will have to be his best year yet, and the No.12 player in the class seems to be ready for the challenge.</p> <h2><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id="618872" first="Micah" last="Leslie"] – Mullen</span></strong></h2> <p>Leslie is a player that stood out as only a freshman for Valor Christian but had to sit last season due to the transfer rule. He dominated on JV when he played, and heading into junior season, will make up one of the best frontcourts in the state for Mullen. Leslie played well for Billups Elite this summer. He is a skilled, versatile big man with a back to the basket game, has excellent footwork, and consistently hits the mid-range jump shot. He faces up and attacks and has an intense court-demeanor that brings energy to his teammates. Leslie rebounds well, is active on the boards, and also showcases great athleticism as a player that goes for quick dunks and even powers through defenders. He is an interchangeable forward that has the strength to defend bigger players and will be another offensive option for the Mustangs this season. He drops in the rankings simply because we have not got to see him too much, but should rise with a big year. He comes in at No.25.</p> <h2><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="967542" first="Kaleb" last="Mitchell"] – Fountain Fort-Carson</strong></span></h2> <p>Mitchell is a player who has an extremely high ceiling, and the potential is through the roof. He is 6’9 and mobile, protects the rim, and also is coordinated. For Fountain Fort-Carson last season, he got his feet wet on varsity, got in games, and gave good minutes. He is active on the boards, creates extra scoring opportunities, and also was a reliable backup for one of the more skilled bigs in the entire state. This summer, we got to see Mitchell a bit more with The Force. Mitchell proved to be a solid screener that has good coordination. Teammates found the big, and he caught it and went right up with the ball. He is still developing on the post but has potential. He was swatting shots and starting the break, cleaning up the board, and had a few dunks in the halfcourt set. This will be a year that he will be used more as the Trojans will have a strong frontcourt, so having a rim-protecting big that limits second chance opportunities and helps pack the paint will be beneficial.  </p> <h2><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="618884" first="Lamarius" last="Royston"] – Overland</strong></span></h2> <p>Royston makes the switch over to Overland and proves to be a bruising big that gets the best of opposing bigs with brute force. Royston had to play JV for the season on the best JV team in the state and fit right in because he adds intangibles that cannot be taught. He plays with heart and energy, and that is contagious play. Royston is dominant on the offensive glass, which creates scoring opportunities in putback situations. He also is a great screen man that puts his body on the line, rolls, and goes up to finish at or above the rim. For the Colorado Hawks this summer, Royston got a quarter of his points off of post-ups that demands the ball but a large portion came from his effort off of the ball. Crashing the boards, setting a hard screen and rolling, getting out on the break and finishing and finding holes in the defense seemed to work for the big. Royston has a quickness advantage against most of his defenders and has the strength to create space with a bump. Royston is going to have to progress with his touch around the rim, as well as scoring on taller defenders that do not allow him to gain position, but one thing you will not see is him being outworked. He will provide solid minutes for Overland this season, most likely off the bench. He will have to take those minutes and play with extreme confidence as a spark that the Trailblazers can bring to the game.</p>