Colorado Early Season Stock Risers: Class of 2017 Guards (Part I)

It's hard to believe, but the 2016-17 high school basketball season in Colorado is already almost a month old. With most teams having played somewhere around eight or nine games, at least, we've had some time to discover some early season, under-the-radar risers, players who have put themselves on the radar with strong starts to their respective seasons. We'll start today with a look at some of the 2017 guards who have really elevated their stock early in their senior seasons: Jeffrey Gary, 6-4, Sand Creek Gary, who transferred in from Austin, Texas, has melded very well with the Scorpions alongside Colorado's top player, D'Shawn Schwartz. Gary is averaging 19.4 points per game during Sand Creek's 7-1 start, while also dishing out 3.8 assists, grabbing 3.3 rebounds and recording 3.4 steals per game. That's all while shooting 40 percent from 3-point range. Gary is a player who has great feel for the game. Lukas Maly, 6-0, Arvada West Arvada West knew it would have to find a new go-to scorer after watching three college players -- Dallas Walton, Luke Neff and Will Wittman -- graduate after last season. Maly has answered the bell. He's averaging better than 20 points per game, including 42 points -- the most by a 5A player this season -- in a narrow 80-77 loss to Far Northeast on Thursday. The Wildcats are 3-6 but have been fiercely competitive in every game and Maly, an unsigned senior, is a big reason why. Lucas Rodholm, 6-3, Manitou Springs Rodholm has led the Mustangs to a 7-0 start and a top-five ranking in 3A by averaging 18.4 points per game. Rodholm is a consistent shooter, he uses his outside shot to set up strong attacking drives. He's a good ball-handler and has nice size for his position. T.J. Lucero, 6-0, Fountain Fort-Carson Lucero scored 19 points in back-to-back narrow losses to Mountain Vista and Legend in the Cherry Creek Holiday Classic this week. He's a good shooter off the dribble he gets his shots without forcing. He's got a nice motor and competes on both ends of the court. Overall, he's averaging 16.8 points per game this season. Matthew Johnson, 6-2, Rangeview Johnson was a role player on Rangeview's 5A Final Four team last season, but he's stepped up as the go-to player for the Rangers this season. The uncommitted senior is averaging 21.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.4 steals per game, demonstrating himself as a two-way player who could make an impact at the next level, be it in the RMAC or elsewhere. We've been high on Johnson's game for sometime, and this year he's really taken advantage of the opportunity to showcase it.