PHC Top 250 Expo Recap: Stock Risers
Well over 200 players were in attendance at the Prep Hoops Colorado Top 250 Expo, an event that took place Saturday at the Gold Crown Fieldhouse and featured a great group of young talents.
While a number of players showed well during both the morning skill sessions and afternoon games, this is a breakdown of some of the top stock risers from the event. We will continue our takeaways from the Expo in Lakewood during the next few days.
Damien Murillo (2017) jumped into varsity competition as a junior at Fort Collins and made his mark as a bucket-getter. What he showed at the Expo was that dribble-penetration skills are clearly in place. He had quick, purposeful drives and the guard also defended the outside well.
Noah Beatty (2017) jumped out defensively, playing with energy, focus and aggressiveness. He was capable on the break and showed he understands how to draw contact. Only 5-10, but has solid foot speed and poise.
Matt Wheelock (2019) might be in line to crack the top-20 of his class. He’s a 6-7 relatively versatile talent with girth for a sophomore, which helps add to his rebounding prowess. Wheelock was listed at 215 pounds as a first-year. He was a very active, engaged player at the Expo.
Devon Ricketts (2018) was already talked about as one of the more impressive wings at the event, but it’s worth a mention that he’ll be going from unranked to ranked with ease. We are looking forward to further evaluations of the Colorado Springs product, but talk about obvious upside. The 6-2 wing just about tore off the rim on a few of his morning and afternoon dunks.
Xavier Johnson (2018) is a tough cover physically for many high school guards as his 6-2 sturdy build is often used to his advantage. When he gets downhill, he’s difficult to stay out of the paint. He’s a strong two-way talent who could be the go-to guy for Rocky Mountain this year. He played like he’s fired up for another season to get underway.
Caleb Stewart (2017) is explosive and very adept on the glass for a 6-2 wing. Looking to weigh close to 200 pounds, he’s talented around the basket and guarded hard at the Expo. Stewart is the type of talent who can fill a number of categories in the score sheet.
Tylor Trinh (2018) is really a strong player offensively and often created just enough separation to launch his lethal jump shot. He also distributes the ball well.
T.J. Boykins (2019) exhibited a soft mid-range shot of his own, while flourishing at times with ball-handling skills that are a bit advanced for a player his age. He’s a fun player to watch, one who is not afraid to attack the basket and mix it up among the trees, even at 5-7.
Trey Marble (2017), a PHC Player of the Week last winter for Prairie View, is a do-a-little of everything point guard who has solid court awareness. He showed he can play up-tempo and create for others. Marble averaged 18.6 points and 4.5 assists for Prairie View last season and should be in store for plenty of big performances again for the Thunderhawks.
Payton Egloff (2019) is a player who didn’t so much raise his stock, after all he is ranked No. 10 in his class, but more so lived up to his lofty ranking. He’s one of the most skilled guys around for his age. During the drill and game sessions, he showed just how dangerous he can be off the bounce. He regularly wreaked havoc as one of the better guards at the camp.
Malcolm-Hudson Haynes (2017) is probably a touch under 5-9, but he certainly had some nice moments on Saturday as a fiercely competitive player. He can stop on a dime, change speeds, and be a strong ball-handler and playmaker.
Cole Sienknecht (2018) found real estate to spot up and do what he did best much of the camp—take advantage of catch-and-shoot opportunities. He is also strong with the ball and plays under control. He’s a small-town 6-0 lefty from Manitou Springs who stepped up offensively in the drills, as well.
Jamison Washington (2017), a 6-2 point guard at Denver East, built off a July that Colorado Chaos director Dave Matthews said was monstrous with a really solid showing at the Expo. He has made plenty of strides with his all-around scoring repertoire, can play on or off the ball, and boasts a Division II offer from the University of Sioux Falls.
Daiquan Hill (2018) is a 5-11 guard from Gateway who displayed a quick first step and nice athleticism on the attack. He puts pressure on defenses with his ability to move downhill.
Ryan Lencke (2018), a 6-0 guard out of Rock Canyon was one of the most active players we saw on Saturday. Lencke doesn’t always make the perfect play, but his motor is fantastic. He’s very disruptive on defense with the way he continues to move his feet, and he’s always moving in transition.
Michael Georgiton (2018), a 6-4 guard out of Broomfield is a player who brings a nice dose of toughness to the court. He embraces physical play and sets a tone defensively. On the offensive end, he showed a nice ability in games to finish with both hands, and he has a nice mid-range jump shot. He’s a pest in the best way if he’s on your team.