Colorado 2018 Player Rankings: Biggest Risers
On Friday, we released the new rankings for our 2018 class. The rankings for our final class, 2019, will be released on Monday, with deeper breakdowns of each class to follow through the upcoming two weeks. Today, we take a look…
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Continue ReadingOn Friday, we released the new rankings for our 2018 class. The rankings for our final class, 2019, will be released on Monday, with deeper breakdowns of each class to follow through the upcoming two weeks.
Today, we take a look at the biggest stock risers in the sophomore class, an examination of the players whose elevated levels of play helped them rise up the list.
Check out the full list of the new Prep Hoops Colorado 2018 Player Rankings here!
The Risers
4. Tre Pierre, 6-5 forward, Widefield
Previous Ranking: No. 22
Widefield has been one of the state’s most improved players this season. The skilled big man is averaging 18.8 points and 9.3 rebounds over 21 games for the 13-8 Gladiators. Pierre has good toughness. He is certainly not afraid to battle, but he also improved his skill-set around the basket.
9. Victor Garnes, 6-0 guard, Eaglecrest
Previous Ranking: Unranked
Garnes was not on our radar before the season began, but he certainly is there now. Garnes is an athletic, quick guard for the No. 5 Raptors, who defends the perimeter well and brings energy. He’s the second leading scorer on a 19-2 team, averaging 9.0 points and 2.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game.
15. McCallan Castles, 6-4 wing, Berthoud
Previous Ranking: No. 28
Castles has been a stat-sheet-stuffing force for Berthoud this season, averaging 13.6 points, 10.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists. He’s very skilled with the basketball is hands and has high court awareness. Great at processing what he sees on the court in front of him to set up plays for himself and others.
21. Connor Staib, 6-3 guard, Mountain Vista
Previous Ranking: Unranked
One of three contributing sophomores for the 15-6 Golden Eagles, Staib has left the biggest mark by averaging 11 points per game, third-highest on a team led by talented upperclassmen in junior Jake Belknapp (17) and senior Trey Boeyink (16.8). Staib is coming off a career-high-tying 22-point effort in a loss to Douglas County on Friday, when he hit 2-of-3 3-pointers and knocked down all six of his free-throw attempts.
24. Te’Rae Johnson, 5-11 guard, Vista PEAK
Previous Ranking: Unranked
At 10-1, Vista PEAK is within a game of first in the 4A Colorado 7 League in large part because of the contributions of Johnson. The jet-quick point guard is averaging 14.6 points per game. He excels at attacking the basket, a major-reason why he is shooting an impressive 63 percent from the field this season — 66 percent on two-point field goals. He’s tallied double figures in all but two games this season.
27. Jeremy Randle, 6-2 guard, Valor Christian
Previous Ranking: Unranked
On a 20-1 team with arguably the state’s top class of juniors, the sophomore Randle has made a big impact in all areas. He’s strong with the ball in his hands and has the ability to create offense. His 9.3 points per game are fourth-most on the deep, talented squad, and his 2.4 assists are second.
31. TJ Davis, 6-2 guard/forward, Widefield
Previous Ranking: Unranked
Pierre is not the only Widefield player who has made big jumps this season. Davis is a great rebounder for his size, pulling in an impressive and team-leading 9.6 per game to go along with 14.6 points per contest.