Colorado Stock Up Showcase: Top Slashers/Finishers
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The Stock Up Showcase in Westminster on Sunday featured dozens of players with wide arrays of talent. As such, our evaluations have been broken down by specific skill sets exhibited by those in attendance.
We’ll have new evaluation pieces throughout the week. First up, a look at the players who most impressed with their abilities to slash and explode with the ball in their hands.
Mozamil Doria, Jr., Liberty: With a wingspan that exceeds his athletic, 6-foot-4 frame, he was a tough cover when he decided to get to the rim, and even a helping defender wasn’t enough to keep him from getting off a good shot. He also displayed the ability to defend and step out and shoot from behind the 3-point arc. Doria has a high ceiling, displaying it while averaging nearly 20 points per game and leading his team to the second round of the 5A playoffs. We expect that he’ll turn some heads on the AAU circuit this spring and summer.
Marquise Johnson, Sr., Vista PEAK: He’s just 5-foot-10, but this kid has the physical maturity and muscular frame you would expect from a collegiate athlete who can play both offense and defense effectively against other powerful guards. Probably the most explosive and aggressive player at Sunday’s Showcase, he got to the rim at will and was unstoppable in the open floor. Johnson is planning a visit soon to Otero College, and he would be an immediate impact player at the junior-college level.
Jake Haertl, Sr., Green Mountain: The 6-2 Haertl was one of the top standouts of the day. He brought consistent energy from the beginning of drill work all the way to the final buzzer in his final game. Haertl doesn’t have the most conventional jump shot, but he hits with consistency from outside. His most effective trait is a willingness to mix it up around the ball. He cuts and moves, hits the glass and generally demonstrates good knowledge of the game. Good be a good candidate as a late signee for a D-III or NAIA program.
Avery Rembao, So., Loveland: Already 6-foot-4 in the 10th grade, he has great body control for a player of that physical makeup at that age. With his height and length, and the ability to put the ball on the floor, his long arms allowed him to finish regularly on Sunday.
Akiel Aries, Jr., Mountain Vista: A 6-foot-6 player who can play all over the floor with a motor that impressed the Prep Hoops coaches, he’s the type of player every coach wishes for. Though he has the ability to take over games, he played within the rhythm of his teammates and picked his moments to flash his next-level athleticism when necessary on Sunday.
Christian Davis, So., Mullen: Davis is a longer than his 5-11 frame would suggest, and he’s crafty scorer who showed the ability throughout the day Sunday to put the ball in the basket from all three levels. He doesn’t have breakaway speed, but he changes pace well and knows how to find seams in defensive coverage. Skilled offensive player who can score with array of floaters, runners and ambidextrous finishes.
Nick Holmes, Sr., Overland: The smooth 6-1 lefty scored attacking, pulling up in mid-range and launching from deep. Holmes missed much of his senior season at Overland but is working hard to prove he’s worth a school taking a shot on. He’s the kind of player who can be impactful in the open floor because he can make plays in various ways and has the athleticism to get all the way to the rim. He has the tools to be a strong perimeter defender as well, and he put some of that on display Sunday.
Rashon Johnson, Jr., Cherry Creek: Long, coordinated and explosive, he demonstrated his ability to affect the game in a number of different ways at the Showcase. He was a tough draw on defense and there really wasn’t anyone keeping him from getting to the basket.
Lorenzo Bailey, Jr., Smoky Hill: At one point on Saturday, a coach remarked, “He’s the best defender here and he might not even know it yet.” The footwork and ability to guard multiple positions that the coaches saw on Saturday might be Bailey’s ticket to the next level and his all-around athleticism showed even against Saturday’s solid field of talent.
Naishon Thomas, Jr., Wheat Ridge: An exceptionally strong kid at 6-foot-2, he was able to bully his way into the paint when he set his mind to it on Saturday. Even with tired legs towards the end of the third game, he also had the dunk of the day, knifing his way through the defense in transition for a one-handed jam.
Noah Sarria, Jr., Clear Creek: The 5-11 Sarria has a strong, compact frame and has some nice quickness, both as a ball-handler getting downhill and as a defender laterally. He’s not afraid to get to the cup and draw contact.
Eugene Rivers, Jr., Smoky Hill: The 6-0 guard can get downhill in a hurry and does a nice job using his body to absorb contact, finishing through it at the rim. Has nice vision when he’s on the move. Rivers is a guy who makes good things happen when he’s in attack mode.
Others: Darrian Leu-Pierre, So.; Christopher Podtburg, Jr., Roosevelt.