Eli has been on a mission since last offseason and the growth to his game is tremendous. We saw him have big moments this Summer, he got out to our showcase and was one of the best players at the event and at BBallCo’s showcase I expected him to blend in a bit more. What we saw was a more balanced and mature game. This wasn’t the primary ball-handling role that we’ve grown accustomed to where he’s attacking the rim and finishing at the basket but we saw the jumpshot and him getting to the mid range pullup, the spacing he provided with hitting his outside shots and he also played offball but was still aggressive. Eli had a stretch where he dominated in iso. He kept getting bigger defenders on him, he held them off with his guide hand and is one of the better left hand finishers in the state. He controlled the pace, created off the dribble and also made some defensive stands. He continues to stand out for me and this should be a big big season for him and that FFC. 

Tiatia-Lewis really shined at The Expo, and we came away seeing a different player than the one we watched during the summer. His explosiveness immediately stood out as he consistently got downhill with speed, attacked the rim and elevated for jumpers, floaters and strong finishes. What impressed us just as much was his defensive effort. He used his footwork and active hands to stay in front of opponents and make things difficult. The growth was obvious and The Expo gave us plenty of reason to believe Tiatia-Lewis is ready to make a serious jump this season and be a reason Fountain Fort Carson is in contention

I’ve always been high on Tiatita-Lewis because I think he’s very skilled, he competes on both ends at a high level and he can adapt to what the defense is giving him. I’m also aware that something changes in the club scene and showcase setting when he’s free because that’s when he’s at his best and he has to find a way to unleash that during the year. If he does, FFC could be a dark horse team to follow. He’s even better now and he looks like he’s ready to take a leap. At the showcase, he was an alpha and like one of the top PGs there. He wants the ball, he’s attacking the rim, he had some big guard baskets where he’s trying to play bully ball down low and he’s dunking now and showing off his athleticism and is looking to make plays. He also picked up 90-feet and willingly guarded the better players on the day which lets me know that it was a business trip for him. Curious to see how that looks with the team but he certainly had a day. 

I keep coming away with the same thought every time I watch Eli, that there’s more to him than the stat sheet usually shows. Every time that I see him, it is in a funnel offense where the ball goes to one guy the entire time, but when he does get the ball, good things typically happen. He has to put himself in more positions to get it. He shows that he doesn’t need a high volume of touches to impact the game because he stays connected on both ends. He navigates ball screens well, handles pressure comfortably, and is one of the shiftier guards with the ball that I watched all day. Defensively, he takes pride in guarding his matchup, sliding his feet, and making every catch difficult. To go back to his offense, he was very efficient on the day as he scored when he made up his mind to attack and go score. He also is a playmaking guard who still creates for others so he needs to create more opportunities for himself. He’s HoopTherapy’s most overall player in my opinion, and I walk away each time thinking about the what if. 

Eli is a tough one for us because we see so many flashes from him where he looks unstoppable. He has an elite handle, he breaks defenders down off the dribble, and scores with ease. Against Tru Colorado, he was the one who got the scoring started as he started the game with a pair of 3-pointers and floaters to get HoopTherapy a lead. But then he decides to go in pass-only mode and not create that blend. If he were aggressive and attacking, I truly think he would have some monster games, and we saw that at times throughout the weekend. He’s a natural scorer with good feel and pace, and that was on display this weekend. I just want to see more of it because it’s there. 

Tiatia-Lewis put together a growth season that gave plenty of reasons to be excited about his future. Throughout the year, he showed flashes of the player he is becoming and the impact he can make on both ends of the floor. Offensively his skill set continued to develop, showing he can step up and take over stretches when his team needs a bucket. He plays with confidence and has the tools to become a consistent scoring option. What stood out most though was his defensive presence. He is relentless on the ball, applying constant pressure and giving opponents very little room to operate. That competitive edge makes him a valuable two way prospect heading into the summer

Eli Tiatia-Lewis is a shifty 5’8 combo guard who facilitates opportunities within an effective Fountain-Fort Carson system where everybody gets a slice of success. Distributing the ball confidently and protecting the ball downhill, Tiatia-Lewis’ unpredictability makes him a problem to guard. As a sophomore, his confidence has taken a massive leap, unafraid to pull the trigger from deep. Expect Tiatia-Lewis to make a strong first impression for the Trojans’ playoff run.

Tiatia-Lewis is becoming impossible to ignore at Fountain Fort Carson and is quickly establishing himself as a true floor general. He plays the point with discipline, speed and confidence, constantly keeping defenses on their heels. His ability to get to his spots and score from all over the court makes him a tough cover, while his feel for reading defenses allows him to break teams down and create advantages. He controls tempo, makes smart decisions and consistently puts his team in position to succeed

Eli impressed this summer with his confident scoring and smooth offensive rhythm. He’s a natural three-level scorer who consistently finds ways to fill it up and make plays within the flow of the offense. When that flow stops, he can make plays happen on his own, and that offensive creativity is what sets him apart. Eli reads the floor well and shows comfort creating off the bounce or spacing the floor. As he continues learning when to attack and when to pace himself, Eli’s upside makes him one of 2028’s names to know, and I am expecting him and that Fountain Fort-Carson team to make one of the biggest rises in the state.

Tiatia impressed at the showcase a player that we did not know too much about heading into the event but he took over with his iso baskets. He dominated in 3 on 3 and then took over as a primary scorer in 5 on 5. he’s a shifty scorer with quickness and his first step was too much for opposing guards. He showcased ball handlings and created advantages off the dribble. I enjoyed that he controlled tempo while keeping defenders on their heels. He’s a guard to track as the season unfolds and was a player that I was very intrigued by.