2021 Rankings Update: Unranked to Ranked

<p>The 2021 class is one of the deepest that we have in the entire state and is the class that took the most time to debate, but we have done it -- we have come out with our latest update. We added over 30 players to the list and saw the most movement from any other class that we have had. Here are the top five players that popped onto the list that were not ranked in our last update that is ready to not only make the list but race up it. </p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tommy-apodaca/">Tommy Apodaca</a> – Lutheran</strong></p> <p>Apodaca went from unranked to now at the No.21 overall prospect in the class and if you do a full breakdown he just might be the No.1 true point guard in a class that is yearning for true guard potential. Apodaca is a fierce competitor that is one of the best perimeter defenders in the class but couples that with the fact that he is a downhill runner that gets to the basket and finishes and offers some relief playing next to one of the best prospects in the entire state. Apodaca is averaging 10.8 points a game but is leading all of 3A in assists with 7.6 dishes per game. He is a tough-nosed high IQ guard that had demanded to be put on more radars and is putting up the numbers and accumulating wins to go along with it.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/vincas-veikalas/">Vincas Veikalas</a> – Overland</strong></p> <p>Veikalas is an out of state transfer so of course he was not ranked but ever since he has played in Colorado, dominating at various showcases, he has been a standout that we had to out in our rankings. He was a bit difficult to rank as he was an MVP of every showcase with his ability to play essentially every single position on the court but we wanted to see it in actual game time. For Overland, he has shown flashes of still being able to dominate both inside and out but has taken on the slashing forward role. He is putting up 9.1 points and 4.1 rebounds a game and will have to take over and get back to the player that we see this summer if Overland wants to come out of a gauntlet-type conference and still make the playoffs. He has the size at 6’4, now he just has to open up that versatility while still playing in the flow of the offense. He comes in at No. 26 in the class.</p> <p><strong>Griffin Lauritino – Evergreen</strong></p> <p>Lauritino is truly one of the hidden gems in the entire state as an athletic guard that excels in multiple sports. He is a standout on the football field as he threw for +2,000 yards this season and is also the team’s best player on the hardwood as well as he is putting up an impressive 18.7 points and also 7.9 rebounds to go along with it. He uses his strong 6’4 frame to get the best of defenders to attempt to get physical with him and he out-finesses them or also matches them with power. Griffin is shooting 41% from beyond the arc and is also going inside and having his way as well. He went from an unranked player that was not talked about as a sophomore despite putting up 13.8 points a game as a sophomore to now the No. 38 overall player in the class with room to grow. Keep him on your radars.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/isaiah-thompson/">Isaiah Thompson</a> – Fountain Fort-Carson</strong></p> <p>There are not many big men that are putting up stats the way that Thompson is out of Fountain Fort-Carson. Fountain Fort-Carson is an exciting team that has had an up and down season but find themselves in 2^ndplace in the Colorado Springs Metro League. They are putting together some good games in an attempt to find a rhythm and a player that has truly stood out for them is 6’7 forward, <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/isaiah-thompson/">Isaiah Thompson</a>. Thompson is a player that did not play much as a sophomore only putting up 2.7 and 3.0 rebounds in 20 games played last season. Now as a junior, he is averaging a double-double at 13.8 points and also patrolling the paint and scooping every board that comes his way at 12.7 rebounds a game as well. He is an inside force that gives his team second chance opportunities. He goes right back up with the board and creates easy baskets and also moves well for a player his size. He went from unranked to now being the No. 42 player in the class and I am SURE that he will progress by next update. Big year for him as one of the state’s best-hidden talents.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tom-connelly/">Tom Connelly</a> – Denver East</strong></p> <p>I will go out on a limb and say that Connelly is the best shooter in the state that nobody has heard about. He did not play varsity last season, he is not one of the top three options circled on the scouting report but teams are quickly finding out that is a mistake. He is Denver East’s third-leading scorer at 10.1 points a game as he provides them the outside shooting touch that they have been missing. He is capable of going for huge scoring games as he is a 40% outside shooter and if he is given an inch of room he is going to let it fly. He played a bit as a sophomore but has upped his game in his junior season as a player that the team now runs the offense for and creates plays to get him free. He excels as a spot-up shooter that knocks them down in bunches and has popped on our radars as he comes in as the No. 43 player in the class.</p>