2021 combo-guards that stood out in the 5A playoffs

<p>With the season finally over, we want to take a look back at a season that was before we head onto the grassroots scene. Here we focus on some senior combo-guards that stood out in 5A during their state-run. </p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="608058" first="Julian" last="Hammond"] – Cherry Creek</strong></h2> <p>Hammond is one of those special scorers that the state has to offer, and it was done since Day 1. Hammond went back and forth with football and transitioned into another basketball season where he proved that he was the top player in the state. Hammond showed no rust during the year as he looked to take this year to work on the small parts of his game and got better each time out. Hammond is a natural scorer, and even when it looks as if he is having an “off game,” you look at the scoreboard, and he has sleepwalked into a 20-point game. In the playoffs, Hammond picked up right where he left off, and that is without having to have the ball on every single possession to take over. Hammond scored 17 points, 21 points, and 27 points in the loss. He struggled a bit with efficiency but still was a threat every time he touched the ball. He is not afraid to take the big shot, improved as a facilitator, and will be in the running for the Gatorade Player of the year. He had an excellent showing in the playoffs and will take that momentum up the road to Boulder for the next chapter.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="770413" first="Jarmell" last="Johnson"] – George Washington</strong></h2> <p>Jarmell was just named to the Denver Prep League 1^st team after a solid year, and that play was on full display in the playoffs. Jarmell got off to a bit of a slow start to begin the playoffs as he put up 10 points but followed that up with a perfect outing, 16 points, and then 13 points in the state championship. Johnson is a player that plays well off of the ball and uses his size for rebounds and finishes. He works hard on both ends of the floor and can still be productive even when the shots are not falling. Johnson improved this season as a rebounder, giving the Patriots more scoring opportunities, and he got out on the break and finishes. Johnson is an elite finisher around the rim and is athletically gifted, which allows the game to come easier for him. He was a force in the playoffs and a big reason that the Patriots were able to get to the big game.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="965744" first="Blakeley" last="Stoughton"] – Regis</strong></h2> <p>Stoughton was one of the season's biggest surprises as he was one of the smoothest scorers in the state. Stoughton gets to his spots, knocked down his shots consistently, and finished well at the rim. He is shifty and creative with the ball in his hands and uses his size as an advantage. Stoughton rebounds, defends, and can break defenders down off of the dribble, which has opened up the rest of his offense. Stoughton scores when he wants and has size that lets him shoot over smaller defenders. He opened with 23 points, 16 points in a blowout, and concluded the season with 19 points in a close loss. Stoughton showed that he could be a reliable scorer and will make the jump as one of the top unsigned seniors with options on where he will end up next season. Solid run for him in the playoffs.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="916959" first="Jordan" last="Whitaker"] – Smoky Hill</strong></h2> <p>Whitaker has been a four-year varsity player for the Buffaloes, and his game elevated to a dominant level his senior year. He is one of the versatile guards who can adjust as the game progresses, and he does a great job of controlling the pace. He can consistently knock down the 3-ball and become a full threat by scoring from all 3-levels. Whitaker is an excellent ballhandler, marksman from deep, and perimeter defender that is crafty around the basket. He moves without the ball and gets open, and also does not take many difficult shots. Whitaker averaged 19 points a game as a senior and continued on that stellar play in the playoffs. In a win over Horizon, he only had 10 points but did all of the small things to help lead his team. In the near-upset over the No.1 seed in the playoffs, he finished off his last time being in a Smoky Hill jersey with a career-best 27 points.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="916966" first="Jason" last="Simental"] – ThunderRidge</strong></h2> <p>Simental came off of a year where he had to sit out and play JV to become a focal point of the offense for eventual champs. He fit right in as he has remained one of the aggressive players that the Grizzlies had, and he was the team's most versatile player. Simental played point guard for multiple games, excelled off the ball, and pushed out to the wing. He is a downhill runner that is always a scoring threat, and his ability to score both inside and out makes him a unique prospect moving forward. Simental was a player that ThunderRidge relied on heavily this year, and in the playoffs, he did not let them down. Simental put up 16 points in the opening round, 15 points in a win against Chaparral, 18 points, including the game-winner in a win over the No.1 seeded Cherry Creek team, and had 16 points in the state championship. He is a microwave scorer that only has to see one shot fall, and he is in a rhythm, and his team made sure to ride that rhythm as he helped lead them to be crowned the champs.</p> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="759248" first="AJ" last="Kula"] – Valor Christian</strong></h2> <p>Kula is one of the smoothest scorers that the state has to offer with a deep layup package and a solid set of moves to let him get to his spots. Kula uses his long strides and length to navigate the lane and finishes at the rim with either hand. Kula utilizes his 6’5 frame to finish over smaller defenders, and he is quick enough to blow-by the big guys as well. He can shoot it from deep, is an excellent facilitator that does not force up bad shots, and can step out and knock down the deep ball as well. Kula does most of his damage in transition, and although the Eagles did not go on the run that they wanted to, he was not to blame. Kula finished with 23 points in the close loss. He also had three steals and turned one into a transition basket. Kula plays the passing lanes well and is a force on both ends of the floor, and was a standout in the playoffs.</p>