Colorado Elite Camp: Day Two Standouts
The Colorado Elite Camp on Sunday, run by Colorado Chaos at Green Mountain High School, saw some excellent performances from many of the same players who stepped up the first day, guys like Ravel Moody, Daylen Kountz, Matteo Busnardo and…
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Continue ReadingThe Colorado Elite Camp on Sunday, run by Colorado Chaos at Green Mountain High School, saw some excellent performances from many of the same players who stepped up the first day, guys like Ravel Moody, Daylen Kountz, Matteo Busnardo and Braxton Bertolette, but also several others. A few of the players were underclassmen, biding their time last season in top-flight high school programs, but talented nonetheless. Here’s a look at the guys who stood out on the second day of camp.
Michael Wright, 6-foot-1 guard, Eaglecrest, 2018.
Wright had an absolutely ridiculous up-and-under circus layup in traffic yesterday. While it was just one play, it did highlight the guard’s ability to out-athlete plenty of players. In a very strong Eaglecrest program, Wright played on the freshman team last year, a talented group that went 15-0. He could turn into a nice varsity piece for the Raptors in the coming years as he has speed, a good handle, and the ability to finish at the rim. He’s an intriguing young talent.
Tre Pierre, 6-foot-5 small forward, Widefield, 2018.
Pierre, already a major contributor for the Gladiators as a freshman with averages of 11.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and .9 blocks, showed that he knows how to use his strong and thick body inside. He’s an aggressive, fearless player in the paint and his solid athleticism helps him on the glass. His Colorado Hawks coach, Simeon Boddie, says Pierre is the most physical player on his team. He displayed that this weekend, as well.
Matt Johnson, 6-foot-1 point guard, Rangeview, 2017.
Johnson, coming off an outstanding summer with the Colorado Connect, played his game offensively at the camp—great ball-handler, good shooting stroke with range, distributor with vision—but also impressed on the defensive end. Despite being only about 6-foot-1, Johnson has plenty of length and possesses good bounce and timing, allowing him to contest and alter shots on occasion. He also used his range to deflect passes and grab steals over the weekend.
Trey Morrill, 6-foot-5 forward, Fruita-Monument, 2018.
Morrill, in several stretches on Sunday, flashed a mature game for a player his age. He has a very good body for only being a sophomore, both in length and strength. He finished athletically at the rim and was an aggressive player in transition who ran the floor well. Morrill is a gifted rim protector with a motor. He’s simply too good to hover under-the-radar any longer.
David Simental, 6-foot-2 guard, Pueblo West, 2017.
Simental, one of Colorado’s best scorers, can put the ball in the basket with ease and he showed that Sunday. He has a gorgeous pull-up jumper and can shoot off the bounce or spot-up. He’s a fluid and skilled player who is extremely difficult to guard for an entire game. Simental is the type of guard who could win the Class 4A scoring title this season.
Josh Walton, 6-foot-6 forward, Eaglecrest, 2017.
A number of Eaglecrest players stepped up over the weekend. Walton was one of them as the big-bodied forward displayed surprising versatility. He shoots it pretty well and has some all-around perimeter skills. For a program that graduated a large senior class and is lacking in height, Walton might be ready for the varsity rotation. He had a solid camp.
Jamison Washington, 6-foot-2 point guard, Lincoln, 2017.
Washington, as he’s been known to do at a number of camps in recent months, simply performed well. He’s blossomed into one of the best point guards in the Centennial state and knocked down plenty of open and contested looks. His speed was difficult to pick up and he distributed well.
Andre Sepeda, 5-foot-8 point guard, Greeley West, 2019.
Sepeda already sees the floor like a veteran. He understands when to attack and when to pull back. He has a feel for where his teammates might be and he can find them with good looks all over the floor. While he’s just a first-year, Sepeda will likely play major minutes for a solid 5A team, because of his aptitude for running an offense and distributing the ball. He more than held his own all camp and appeared fearless even while being guarded by talented upperclassmen.
Tyrei Randall, 6-foot-4 wing, Rangeview, 2016.
Randall played with a smile on his face and it’s easy to see why as the lefty threw down a number of monstrous dunks, used his cross-over to get open looks, and was able to penetrate and finish. He’s as coordinated as anyone and has become a much more consistent force in the past year. Randall was absolutely one of the top players at the camp.
Tyson Gilbert, 5-foot-10 point guard, Highlands Ranch, 2018.
Gilbert, whenever his team needed a spark, seemed to hit a flurry of shots—two-pointers, three-pointers, mid-range jumpers—anything and everything. He’s got skills, but he’s also a tough-minded competitor and should be a nice sophomore floor general for the Falcons.
Other standouts on Sunday:
Jack Fiddler, 6-foot-4 wing, Highlands Ranch, 2016, Troy Brady, 6-foot guard, ThunderRidge, 2016, Jon’il Fugett, 5-foot-11 guard, George Washington, 2018, Brett Harmon, 6-foot-5 guard, Arapahoe, 2016, Corey Seng, 6-foot-4 guard, ThunderRidge, 2017, Jackson Ehrlin, 6-foot-8 forward, Rampart, 2017, Austin Blount, 5-foot-11 guard, Falcon, 2016.