Event Preview: Top of the Rockies (17s Division)
One of the top in-state grassroots events of the spring season is almost here. The Top of the Rockies tournament, hosted by the Colorado Chaos, tips off Friday night with more than 100 teams from five different states ready to…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingOne of the top in-state grassroots events of the spring season is almost here.
The Top of the Rockies tournament, hosted by the Colorado Chaos, tips off Friday night with more than 100 teams from five different states ready to do battle.
Prep Hoops Colorado will be providing coverage from all three days of the event, and we will be rolling out previews of each division leading up to Friday. You can find all the scheduling information for the tournament here. We begin today with a look at the loaded, 36-team 17U Division.
All of the state’s top club teams, with the exception of Billups Elite, will have their 17s in attendance, while the Miners and Hawks will have their top 16U teams playing up in the division.
A closer look:
Pools
(Our predicted winner for each pool is in bold.)
Pool A
Colorado Chaos 17s
Colorado Hawks 17s
Kansas City Pacers 17s Blue
Pool B
Colorado Miners Elite 17s
The Force 17s
Colorado Connect
Pool C
Colorado Titans 17s Gold
Shining Stars Black
Colorado Thunder
Pool D
Colorado Hawks 16s Red
Colorado Fire 17s Black
Colorado Cardinals 17s Red
Pool E
303 Elite CO Hoops
Colorado Miners 16s
Colorado Fire 17s Silver
Pool F
Colorado Miners 17s
Colorado Chaos 17s Blue
Phenom Elite
Pool G
Wyoming Power
Denver Elite Crocker
The Force 17s Blue
Pool H
P2P 17s Blue
Denver Elite 17s
303 Elite 17s
Pool I
B&B 11th Black
Powerhouse New Mexico 17s
Colorado United 17s
Pool J
Colorado Chaos 2017
B&B 11th White
Durango Demons
Pool K
Elevation Flyers 17s
Team B.A.N.G. 17s
Kansas City Pacers 17s White
Pool L
B&B Seniors
North Metro Ballers 17s
Pinnacle
Under-The-Radar Players To Watch
Below is a group of players who we believe could be due for breakout performances in the 17s Division:
Trey Early, 6-1 guard, Team B.A.N.G.
Team B.A.N.G. has had an impressive spring, and Early has been a big factor. The Vista PEAK 2017 guard said he has really been working on being aggressive on the defensive end of the floor, and we saw him play well on the perimeter on that end last weekend.
Mue Muwwakkil, 6-1 guard, Colorado Miners 16s Elite
Muwwakkil has made massive strides from the time we saw him playing early in his sophomore season at Smoky Hill last December to this grassroots season. At the Prep Hoops Spring Kick Off last month, he showed an impressive ability to attack the basket and make plays with his athleticism. Mue may not get as much attention as some of the other talented 2018 guards, but he’s coming on strong.
Trey Marble, 6-0 guard, Colorado Connect
There is always an adjustment period joining a new team or club, but the high-scoring guard from Prairie View seems to be finding his way with Connect. He has the ability to get in the lane and make a play when his team needs one.
Joe Miks, 6-1 guard, Shining Stars Black
Miks appears to have really found his long-range shooting stroke this spring. He is excellent at running of screens and shooting it quickly off the catch. When Miks is on, it helps take some of the heavy attention off elite sharpshooter Kolton Peterson.
Deven Nelson, 6-1 guard, Colorado Hawks 16s Red
Part of what makes the Hawks 16s Red one of the best grassroots teams in the state regardless of age is the depth it has in the backcourt. Guys like Nelson, a high-scoring guard from Mesa Ridge, and Faith Christian’s Jonah Gardner provide major punch off the bench.
Austin Anguilm, 5-11 guard, Denver Elite
We have seen Anguilm play each of the last two weeks on the CCBA circuit, and he has impressed with his athleticism at the guard position. Can score in spurts but is content to make the simple play to get teammates looks.
Kayden Sund, 6-6, Colorado Chaos 17s
In what should be a hotly-contested division, particularly in the bracket stage, Sund is a guy who can exploit matchups at various positions because of his size, speed and skill level. Sund has been a big riser since the second half of his junior season at Golden.
Sam Grad, 6-6 forward, Colorado Titans
Grad had a few nice moments when we watched him play at the CCBA event last weekend. He’s pretty agile and his able to knock it down from deep. When he’s motoring he can be a good contributor in the post.
Gold Bracket Predictions
(Matchups are based on projected winners of pools and first-round bracket games. Predicted winners in bold.)
Quarterfinals
Colorado Hawks 17s vs. Shining Stars
Colorado Hawks 16s Red vs. Force 17s
B&B Seniors vs. Chaos 17s Elite
Miners Elite 17s vs. Kansas City Pacers Blue
Semifinals
Colorado Hawks 17s vs. Colorado Hawks 16s
Chaos 17s Elite vs. Miners Elite 17s
Championship
Colorado Hawks 17s vs. Chaos Elite 17s