Rocky Mountain Mayhem Team Prospect Interviews

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#PHRockyMountainMayhem</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team [program_tooltip program_id='2100026' first='7070' last='Athletics'] 17U Elite-[player_tooltip player_id='2350107' first='Mitchell' last=''] has a very interesting frontcourt duo of prospects that need to be shouted out. First, there is the long lean prospect of 6'8" [player_tooltip player_id='2816838' first='Lukas' last='Pears'], a rising senior at Palmer Ridge, CO. I would consider this prospect a stretch four type of prospect. Then we have his frontcourt partner of [player_tooltip player_id='2817085' first='Josh' last='Alade'], a 6'5" 2026 athlete, from The Vanguard School, also here in Colorado. I would consider this prospect to be more of an inside-the-arc type of player, but he will be projected as a wing player if and when he moves up through the recruiting process. These players, along with additional size pieces on the roster, can be played in the same line-up, where they certainly help to create the overall size and intimidation factor for this imposing AAU team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are the short interviews that I conducted with each player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2843956,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Lukas-Pears-rotated.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Lukas-Pears-rotated.jpeg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-2843956" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2816838"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68058536ae088"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2816838' first='Lukas' last='Pears'] | 2026 | 6'8 | Stretch Four | Palmer Ridge | [program_tooltip program_id='2100026' first='7070' last='Athletics'] </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>High School:</strong> Palmer Ridge </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AAU</strong>: [program_tooltip program_id='2100026' first='7070' last='Athletics'] </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What He Likes About High School</strong>: His coaches and the winning of the program</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dream School: </strong>University of Colorado-Greeley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Offers</strong>: None </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Things He Thinks He Does Well</strong>: Shooting &amp; Shooting the 3 Ball </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Things He Wants to Improve On The Most This Summer</strong>: Being More Aggressive </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Favorite Player</strong>: Kevin Durant </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MJ vs Lebron</strong>: Lebron James </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Scouts Take</strong>: I have watched this prospect for roughly 2 1/2 games on this young spring /summer AAU season. I believe that this kid has a very large upside on the court. He moves well and runs the floor solidly enough. He does typically shoot with a softer touch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>On what I would like to see from him</strong>: he hits the nail on the head when he stated that he wants to increase his level of aggressiveness while playing. While I would agree with this, I think aggressiveness can come from physicality, and a major way to gain that physical nature is to gain strength. The prospect, I would say, is behind where a rising senior should be in this department, and I would stress hitting the weights with a specific goal of gaining maybe ten pounds or more. This would help his overall athleticism to pop more and then build the needed confidence along with it. Next, to help with that goal is to break the habit of running to the bottom of the rim and using his height to rebound. Concentrate on correct form and box out away from the hoop. Soon the bumping that that takes will be a weapon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Upside</strong>: As mentioned, this one has a very large upside and does a lot correctly on the court, even when not scoring. If he works, he will be a very recruitable player. At 6'8" and a player who can shoot a bit, he will be a desirable commodity. Especially if he can add a confident handle to his game where he can either stay out of trouble or have a strong dribble drive. Definitely a plus prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2843972,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Josh-Alade-rotated.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/Josh-Alade-rotated.jpeg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-2843972" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2817085"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68059cd2915e6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2817085' first='Josh' last='Alade'] | 2026 | 6'5" | PF | The Vanguard School | [program_tooltip program_id='2100026' first='7070' last='Athletics']</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>High School</strong>: The Vanguard School </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What He Likes About HS</strong>: He believes that his team went 17-7 this past year</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AAU</strong>: [program_tooltip program_id='2100026' first='7070' last='Athletics'] </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What He Thinks He Does Well</strong>: Defending &amp; Mid-Range Shots </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What He Thinks He Would Like to Work on The Most</strong>: Ball Handling </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dream School</strong>: Any of the UNC system schools </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Offers</strong>: None </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Favorite Player</strong>: Kevin Durant </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MJ vs Lebron</strong>: Lebron James </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Scouts Take</strong>: Another high plus side player from this team's roster. He moves well on the court and can easily display solid athleticism. He is a plus prospect because of this. He can impact a game even when scoring is not happening. Currently, plays within the arch and can be a disruptor on both ends of the court. Can run the floor well. Can use a 2-3 dribble drive to get a shot</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Where I Would Like to See Improvement</strong>: If the prospect stays at the 6'5" height, it is ok for now to stay within the arch, if that is what he does best. But as a player looking for recruitment, he would project out as a wing player. He needs to dominate inside the arc, then. Find and drill on advanced post moves until they are honed. Become such a physical intimidation when rebounding that others hate to play against him. If he starts imposing his given talents on others, he could start to expload onto the scene. Needs Strength &amp; Size.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->