Predicting All-Star Teams for the Denver Prep League

<p>We are closing in on the final few leagues to preview before the upcoming season. We’ve been on the search for figuring out which area in the state has the best talent and have observed a few conferences.  </p> <p>We did not want to do it the traditional way so wanted to have a bit of fun with it with predicting who we would have on our “All-Area All-Star Teams” and have taken a look at a couple of leagues already and we are down to our final two conferences and we have pushed it off a bit because it has been that difficult to come up with a list. But here we finally are taking a look at a very deep conference with some heavy hitters, the Denver Prep League.</p> <p><strong><u>First Team:</u></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><u> </u></b></span></p> <p><strong>PG: </strong><strong>Ty Foster – Lincoln -- Sr. </strong></p> <p>Foster pencils in every single checkbox that there is for a true point guard and is one of the state’s very best floor generals. He is an athletic down-hill guard that leads by example and just might be the best on-ball defending guard in the state as well. He plays with a chip on his shoulder and last season was able to put up 13.2 points and 4.7 assists a game which will surely become even more with one of their best players transferring out. He is getting attention from a few Division I schools and this will be a year where it all comes together for him as he leads his team to countless victories. I’m very big on Foster as the top guard in the conference.</p> <p><strong>SG: TJ Bamba – Lincoln -- Sr. </strong></p> <p>Bamba is another division I caliber combo-guard who is far too fast, strong or talented for most teams to deal with. Last season he showed a bit of his versatility as a playmaker that put up 13.5 points and 5.1 rebounds a game while also dishing it off to others – this year however it is time for him to eat. This summer he showed off the same athleticism with fast-break dunks and acrobatic finishes at the rim as he dared defenders to step in front of him but now it is time for him to dominate. I feel as if Bamba is fully capable of averaging 20+ points a game while also showing an emphasis as a defender as well. There should be some explosive scoring nights for him as he proves he is one of the state’s best.</p> <p><strong>SF: Langston Reynolds – Denver East -- So. </strong></p> <p>Reynolds is the top overall sophomore in the entire state and had one of the most impressive offseasons that we have seen. He stood out in multiple showcases and camps both in-state and out and also dominated on the Circuit as well. Reynolds is a guard with size that can play both on and off the ball, has shown that he is working on his jumper and was an important piece to a talented Denver East team that has the chance to shock plenty this upcoming season. He dunks, passes and defends and if you have not got a look at Reynolds yet, now is the time as I feel as if this sophomore season is where he puts his name on the national scene.</p> <p><strong>SF/PF: Kendale Johnson – George Washington </strong></p> <p>Johnson is a player who I feel as if his team’s success has determined how he is viewed because just looking at last season from a statistical standpoint, he had a sensational season. Just not the necessary wins. He put up 18.8 points and 4.8 rebounds a game as a sophomore with teams zoning him and he still made the best of it as he worked with what they gave him on the perimeter with his jump shot as well as sliced defenses up for openings and dunks and easy finishes. He still was his same productive self and took that into the summer where he showed what made him special in the first place. Although the Patriots did not have the season that they wanted, he stayed consistent and now with a team ready to make the jump I feel as if we will get right back to talking about Johnson being one of the state’s best combo guards that has the ability to play positions 1-4.</p> <p><strong>C: Nahsyah Bolar – Northfield – Sr. </strong></p> <p>Bolar is the player I am most excited to see step up this year as this is the year that he should be able to have his way. He will be the best player on the post this year and from what we saw at showcases as well as highlights during grassroots he is the best big man in the class. He is an athletic big man that defends the paint, is able to guard multiple positions and also keeps plays alive with his motor. He dunks and has soft touch around the rim and he has great size and speed that makes it difficult for others to defend him. His confidence is now starting to catch up to his skill which is an even scarier sight for opposing teams. He put up 11.5 points and 6.5 rebounds a game last year and now with the team a year wiser I think they will understand they have to feed the big man and let him go get his own. Northfield is a sleeper team that will be one of the more entertaining teams to watch and their best player last season is poised for a big senior season where he should be getting plenty of looks at small schools and DII’s.</p> <p><strong><u>Bench</u></strong></p> <p><strong>Guard:</strong><strong> RaShawn Wilson – Denver East – Jr. </strong></p> <p>Wilson has an edge to him that is unmatched. He pushes his teammates as well as the opposing guards to their limits, he is going to go at you for the full duration of the game and you will be hard-pressed to find a player that has the heart that he does. Size does not matter with him as he will defend the opposing team's best player, he has court awareness and vision that pushes him above other guards and he also gets to the lane with a quick first step and complete set of moves that other guards do not have. He is a high IQ guard that controls the pace and despite a health scare should come back this year and wreak havoc on opposing teams yet again.</p> <p><strong>Guard: Jarmell Johnson – George Washington – Sr. </strong></p> <p>Jarmell is another player who had an incredible offseason as he has had one of the biggest jumps that I have seen when it comes to a light clicking and him just getting it. He went from a talented role player with the potential to now being a star player each time he touches the court that truly can take over this year. He shoots the ball, he gets to the lane and finishes and is one of the most dangerous athletes in the open court as he has added the windmill to his arsenal and has pulled it out. The game seems to be slowing down for him and as a result, he is seemingly seeing the game from a different point of view. What I will say is he is a player that I am most thrilled to see how much of his summer translates to the regular season. </p> <p><strong>Bench: Boston Staton – Denver East –Jr. </strong></p> <p>Staton is a player that is truly poised for a big junior season as he has all of the intangibles that you look for in a wing. He can put the ball on the floor, he can shoot it, he gets to the rim and finishes with either hand. He is a player that can play and guard multiple positions and what stands out when you see him is his size and a very mature game as he really is a versatile guard with patience. Last year he was not in a prominent role as he was getting his feet wet but this year is one that I feel he will take over in as he has plenty to prove. Someone asked if there would be a change in the rankings regarding Boston – I will not confirm or deny; just know we feel pretty confident about that.</p> <p><strong>Bench: Eddie McPhee – George Washington – Jr. </strong></p> <p>McPhee is a player that I thoroughly enjoyed watching this offseason as I feel as if he truly is a difference-maker that you can build around. He is a player that fits so many different molds as every single time I have seen him there was something new that he added to his game. He has been a lockdown defender, a slasher that has controlled the paint, a solid rebounder and the last time that we saw him at the showcase he was playing the lead guard spot as a playmaker. He is definitely a player to put on your radars as he gets better each time we have seen him and with it only being his junior season is a player that has a chance to work his way up the rankings with a George Washington team that will surely get back on the right track.</p> <p><strong>Bench: Darius Hornbuckle – Thomas Jefferson – Sr. </strong></p> <p>Hornbuckle is a bucket in every sense of the word. There is not a shot that he does not like and not a shot that he is going to turn down. Last season was a bit of a down year for him and he was still able to put up 14 points a game. He has a nice handle, defenders have a difficult time staying in front of him and he also can finish around the rim. He has to get back to playing in that flow that he had as a freshman and sophomore as confidence is the only thing that can stop him. I think he gets back to being one of the top guards yet again and although his team will be pretty young he will get back to his big-time scoring ways.</p>