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.