2020 & 2021 Rankings Breakdown: Risers And Players To Watch
With the release of our latest 2020 and 2021 rankings, the future and quality of talent across the Gem state looks to be in good hands. A number of players shot up our list from the previous edition as they have made their mark on their teams this season. We have seen some excellent performances from some of the top ranked players in this class already this season, and we can’t wait to see what this bunch has in store for us down the road and for years to come.
Below is a break down of our latest update to the 2020 and 2021 classes. As always, PHID will continue to track and follow the state’s top talent and stay up to date on players who deserve and earn a boost up the rankings as they continue to take shape. Stay tuned!
Variety At The Top
The 2020 class is loaded at the top portion of our latest rankings with players who have an assortment of tools in their respective games. Starting with the top player currently, Briggs Ranstorm, a player who’s ceiling is extremely high as we think he is only just beginning to show us what his game and the type of play he is able to produce can be. His size is great, and a frame in which he will surely keep filling out in, Ranstorm has to be a player on plenty of observer’s radars. Thus far, Ranstorm has pieced together an excellent sophomore season at the varsity level and against some of the state’s top competition in 5A SIC play, on the year, Ranstorm is averaging 14.2 points and 5.5 rebounds. At 12-3, Rocky Mountain looks primed for another run at a state title and Briggs, brother to another excellent prospect Hunter Ranstorm (2018), will be doing some heavy lifting for his team.
One can’t speak about the 2020 class in Idaho without mentioning our second ranked player overall, Austin Bolt at Borah. Bolt has put up some monster lines this season as is basically a walking double-double. His defense and ability to rebound the ball are without question his top attributes, however, his offensive game is something to keep tabs on as well. So far this season, Bolt is averaging a 5A SIC leading 12.6 rebounds, but also putting up 11.6 points per game. In his recent showdown with Boise, Bolt was a beast on the glass again hauling down 13 rebounds, while his offensive game was a little more quiet, we did observe Bolt’s ability to cash in the three point basket during warm ups as he was hitting seemingly everything he shot from the right corner.
As Bolt’s offensive game continues to develop he will become even more difficult for opposing teams to deal with and based off what we have seen so far from this talented kid, that is going to be the case.
A Couple Of Coaches’ Kids
Staying in the 5A SIC, we can look at another player who moved significantly up our board as Donovan Sanor sits in our top 5 currently for the 2020 class. Sanor, son of head coach Jeff Sanor, has shown he’s capable of producing for his team already and is averaging 8.1 points and 4.7 rebounds this season. Sanor will continue to grow and if he can get his shooting percentages up even more so, this explosive player will remain at the top of his class.
Burley’s Jace Whiting has been an extremely fun player to track and follow while playing for his Dad and first year head coach at Burley, Trent Whiting. Whiting’s father Trent knows a thing or two about playing at the next level, as he played collegiate ball for Snow College, University of Utah and BYU, then went on to play professionally in Italy for 12 years. It is with that knowledge and background Whiting undoubtedly passes on to his son and the others on Burely’s talent laden roster. Whiting is averaging 12.0 points, 2.8 assists, 1.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals through 12 games thus far.
Players To Watch
The 2020 class has some real scorers embedded in the latest rankings including Nampa high guard Donavon Estrada (averaging 10.7 points in 12 games), Minico guard Kason Carpenter, Ambrose guard Paul Yenor (averaging 16.2 points per game through 14 games) and last but not least, Camas County’s Trey Smith, who consistently has been leading the way for his team in scoring most recently dropping 34 points in a loss to Hagerman. Still, Mike Fitts (Vallivue), Tanner Hayhurst (Eagle) and Tyler Robinett (Middleton) all remain players to keep an eye on as well.
2021 Class Slowly Taking Shape
Our top three players currently in this class are contributing to their teams this year and with that sort of experience early on in their high school career, the sky is the limit for this bunch. Jaylen Alexander (Columbia), Day Day Higgins (Lakeside), and Covy Kelly (Garden Valley) despite all playing at schools of variance in size and competition level are putting up numbers this season. Both Alexander (6 foot 4) and Higgins (6 foot 6) have size that you like to see at this stage in their development as prospects as well. PHID will continue to monitor this class before season’s end and into the Grass Roots season as we hope to build this list even deeper and with more of the state’s top young ballers.