Scouting Report on Fort Collins
Fort Collins, with a junior-laden team, has been dangerous once again as the Lambkins are sitting in a tie for 4th in the 5A Front Range League at 6-3 with a 13-7 overall record. Collins has four players listed in…
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Continue ReadingFort Collins, with a junior-laden team, has been dangerous once again as the Lambkins are sitting in a tie for 4th in the 5A Front Range League at 6-3 with a 13-7 overall record.
Collins has four players listed in our latest 2017 rankings, with another on our radar, so this is a team of intrigue. Here’s a breakdown of Fort Collins’ top players:
Jacob Pfaffinger, 6-2 junior guard
Pfaffinger is one of the most efficient scorers, especially among those who put the ball in the basket with regularity, in the state. In leading his team in points per game (15), the guard has buried 109-of-190 shots from the field, 57 percent, 16-of-29 three-pointers, 55 percent, and 65-of-83 from the line, 78 percent. In an easy 93-64 win over Horizon in January, Pfaffinger was a ridiculous 13-of-14 while tallying 33 points. A soft shooting touch isn’t the only reason he’s been so efficient. Pfaffinger is also patient in working for excellent looks. He’s smooth on the perimeter, attacks the basket hard, and his ability to score in double-figures is instrumental to his team’s success. Fort Collins is 1-3 in the only four games he hasn’t scored 10+ points. Pfaffinger, the No. 42 prospect in the 2017 class, is a surefire small-college prospect who has Division II upside.
Iseri Palacio, 5-10 junior point guard
Palacio has a distinct advantage over most players. His speed fuels his game, whether in transition or knifing through the lane while earning assists, he averages 5.2, snatching loose balls and affecting the game at both ends while averaging 3.9 rebounds and 1.9 steals, or making it difficult for defenders to stay in front of him during half-court sets. For a team that has nailed 157 three-pointers this season at a 40 percent clip, ranking top-4 in 5A in both categories, Palacio is one of the Lambkins’ shot-makers. As a junior, he’s over 40 percent from beyond the arc and over 80 percent from the charity stripe as the consistency of his mechanics helps him knock down perimeter looks in rhythm. Palacio, the No. 55 prospect in the 2017 class, is a surefire small-college player as well.
Brian Read, 6-6 junior forward
Read is the post presence for Fort Collins, the tallest and most physically dominant player on the team at 6-foot-6 and nearly 200 pounds, but he’s listed on the roster as a wing, a position he’s transitioning to in preparation for college. The junior has skills that are coming along nicely as he’s a pretty talented shooter, can handle the ball, and drive it. Read is athletic enough to guard multiple positions and plays with plenty of energy. A riser each of the last two times we’ve released our updated 2017 rankings, he’s now No. 56, Read could continue his ascension as he develops his guard skills to a further extent. He’s averaging 10.8 points and 4.7 rebounds and has received interest from a Division II program in Colorado, Western State.
Damien Murillo, 6-1 junior guard
Initially unranked, Murillo has now joined our top-100 due to his ability to make shots (12.4 ppg, team-leading 48 three-pointers). But that’s not the only element of Murillo’s game we like. He’s not the tallest or thickest player at 6-foot-1 and about 150 pounds, but he has solid length and competes on the glass (5.1 rpg). He’s very active defensively, as evidenced by his six steals and three blocks in a recent win over Rocky Mountain. Murillo anticipates well and is tallying two steals per contest. He also plays with poise and is a sure ball-handler. On such a junior loaded team, Murillo is another talented player with collegiate potential.
Ricky Orozco, 5-11 junior guard
Orozco came off the bench against Greeley West in a recent two-point loss and provided scoring punch with 11 points while finishing 3-of-5 from three-point land. He’s displayed the ability to catch fire at times as a shooter, averaging 7.6 points and making 37 percent of his treys. Orozco has solid perimeter skills and is yet another junior who could join our rankings down the road.