Steinhauser is who we chose as the Northern conference’s breakout player of the year last year as he made a jump and we believe that he could look even better this upcoming year. Leaf has good size at 6’4 and used all of that length to put up 12.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. He’s impactful on both ends of the floor as he’s a fluid athlete who moves well and finishes above the rim at times. Lat year he had a few solid games but he had a 20-point game and he also competed over the summer. He is a glasscleaner who I believe will be even better down low, he gives his team second-chance opportunities and he also protects the paint as well. We’d like to see Steinhauser become more aggressive recognizing mismatches, demanding the ball inside and using his size to consistently punish smaller defenders. He already has the numbers to be considered one of the conference’s better players, why not do it again.

Steinhauser is an athletic player who knows how to put points on the board and make his presence felt around the basket. He plays with a physical edge inside, using his athleticism to attack, finish and compete through contact. His ability to play with energy and pressure defenses gives him a nice offensive foundation, while his toughness allows him to impact the game beyond scoring. The Expo would be a great opportunity for Steinhauser to showcase that athletic, physical style against quality competition and show how his game translates in a high level setting. We’re excited to see him make his presence felt and take another step forward

Leaf is a 2028 who is improving his stock each time out. In January, the 6’4 forward was in a groove and gaining some momentum. While the team is trying to find its footing, he has been the focal point of the offense. He’s finished with double figures in every game in January, including starting the month with 22 points and 21 points against two competitive teams. He’s forcing the issue and showing he can be a scorer. He is also starting to be a reliable rebounder who is starting to understand how to be impactful in games. He’s having a strong start to the year, and we wanted to get that on our radar.

Poudre is going to be a fun team to watch next year and the year after, and one of the big reasons for that is that they have a solid underclass group. Their best player has been a sophomore, Leaf. Leaf is a 6’4 do-it-all forward who has lit it up. He keeps them in games, he battles inside and also has an inside-out game. Leaf hits the 3-ball, finishes inside, and gets out and runs in transition. He’s putting up 13.4 points and 4.7 rebounds a game, has had games where he’s impacted the game on the defensive end of the floor, and checks a ton of boxes. He’s a player to watch and a prospect that we hope to see at camps, showcases and tourneys to gauge just how solid he is. He jumps into the rankings after spending time on the watch list.