PH Tuneup: Out-of-State Names Worth Knowing

I always enjoy seeing teams from outside the state because it gives you a different measuring stick. You get fresh matchups, different styles of play, and a chance to evaluate players you don't normally have access to. A handful of those prospects stood out throughout the PH Tuneup, either because of their production or the way they impacted winning. They may not be names Colorado fans see often, but they definitely earned a place in my notebook this weekend.   Right now is the perfect time to lock in an annual pass and not just a month. We have a 50% off sale live through the weekend!     The code is Fourth50 (not case-sensitive) is good for 50% off the first billing cycle of all annual plans. It makes sense to get an annual pass with all that we have in store this season!     Chris was a player for the Magic who caught my attention on Day 1 with how he was able to control the tempo of the game. He plays under control and continuously makes the right plays while he is out there. Solid sequences from him throughout the event. He also had an inside-out game as he was finishing at the basket and handling pressure, but also was not sped up at any point, which made him very dangerous in PnR situations. He showed a smooth lefty pull-up, went to the high post at times to attack off the dribble, and was active defensively in plenty of plays. He's a catalyst for this Magic team, and that stood out.     Francois had himself quite the weekend for D1 New Mexico as he looked to be one of the best scorers at the event. He showed up in every game of the weekend as an explosive guard who finishes with either hand at the basket, was blowing by and finishing with the let and other guards couldn't do anything with that. There were plenty of times where he forced the double team to just get it out of his hands, and he still kept moving to make himself for available outlet passes. Against Colorado Collective, the top team at the event, he showed range. He hit 4-5 3-pointers, competed on both ends of the floor, and capped off a solid weekend by putting up another 20+ point performance. He showed up for New Mexico all event.     [player_tooltip player_id='2026077' first='Elijah' last='Martinez'] was my favorite guard to watch on the weekend, and it wasn't close. He plays with such control and a pace to his game that cannot be matched, and he put pressure on defenses all weekend. He might've been the best passer at the event as he was getting into the teeth of the defense and kicking it out, making the extra pass that you don't typically see in the club scene to get teammates going, and he also scores in a plethora of ways. He had floaters that I think all smaller guards should have; he had middies, knocked down 3-pointers, and created for himself off the dribble. Martinez was dangerous both in half-court and fast break situations as he always looked to create. He's a playmaking pass-first guard who can light it up as well. Martinez is an all-around player who turned heads at the event for D1 New Mexico.     Covin was a player who stood out, especially on Day 1 with how he was able to control the offense and get the attention of the defense. I watched his game against Morgan Dawgs, and despite the loss, he was getting to his spots. He was rising for shots, hitting 3-pointers, and finishing strong as well. Jaxon gave his team life as a confident scorer who can break guys down and score i,t and can play both on and off-ball as well. He was scoring with ease, spacing the floor, and competing on both ends. He got out in the open court and attacked and put plenty of pressure on defenses throughout the weekend. Solid outing by Jaxon.     Stromski is a player who we have seen a few times throughout the years, and that's the fun part of him coming down to Denver is we've got to see the maturation process, and it's all starting to come together for him as he heads into his senior season. He was a force on the boards this week, and he went right up with it. He was running the baseline, they put him at the nail and let him operate, and he showed a bit of a face-up game. Julian had some tough finishes at the high post and was attacking, even finishing through contact. I like that he forced the mismatch down low and even stepped out and hit a 3-pointer. The game is starting to slow down for him, and when he's patient, it looks even easier for him. He had a couple of solid performances on the weekend.

I always enjoy seeing teams from outside the state because it gives you a different measuring stick. You get fresh matchups, different styles of play, and a chance to evaluate players you don't normally have access to. A handful of those prospects stood out throughout the PH Tuneup, either because of their production or the way they impacted winning. They may not be names Colorado fans see often, but they definitely earned a place in my notebook this weekend.