5A Mr. Basketball Candidates
While 6A has a lot of depth and talent, the best team in the entire state seems to be 5A Olympus. Their backcourt has been second to none as they move the basketball extremely well, score at a high level, and play with a tremendous basketball IQ. In lieu of their strong play, the favorite for the Mr. Basketball award at this point is Rylan Jones. Jones, who will play at the University of Utah next year, will be a huge factor going forward as Olympus hopes to bring home the state title. Below is the rest of our top 5A Mr. Basketball Candidates.
Top 5: 5A Mr. Basketball Candidates
Rylan Jones 6’1 PG Olympus 2018 (Utah)
Jones is a no question on this list as Olympus could potentially be the best team in the entire state, and he makes the team go. He is capable of scoring the basketball at a high rate. However, what makes him really special is his decision making. He has a knack for putting the defense in a tough spot and making the right read. Due to his high caliber of play, he makes his teammates around him better. Assuming Olympus continues to be on track, Jones is the favorite for this award.
Jeremy DowDell 6’3 SG Olympus 2018
Jones’ right hand man, DowDell has earned the right to receive some serious consideration for this award as well. While Jones’ 9 assists per game are impressive, he wouldn’t have those numbers if guys couldn’t finish shots. DowDell does exactly that while shooting a strong percentage from inside and outside the 3. Bottom line, DowDell is a scorer who can do it in an array of ways.
Hunter Erickson 6’3 PG/SG Timpview 2018 (BYU)
While the Olympus boys have certainly earned their praise, Erickson is worthy of being in this conversation for Mr. Basketball as well. He is one of the most pure scorers in the state. He can do it in so many ways that it is almost impossible to prepare for him. Timpview looks to be the most likely candidate to dethrone Olympus as Erickson can go toe to toe with the best prospects in the state. The BYU and Utah rivalry looks to be started before Jones and Erickson enter the college ranks.
Gabe Toombs 6’4 SG Corner Canyon 2019
Toombs versatility and competitiveness makes him an intriguing prospect at the next level and one of the top performers of this year’s 5A classification. In addition to being able to finish inside the paint, Toombs is a consistent shooter from deep. Moreover, his physical style of play and good instincts enable him to be a beast on the glass. Toombs is a solid prospect who will receive more and more consideration as Corner Canyon continues to stay state championship relevant.
Dyson Koehler Dyson Koehler 6'7" | SF Jordan | 2020 State #289 Nation UT 6’7 PF Jordan 2020
While Koehler seems like a long shot to win this award, his performance this season has been nothing short of impressive. Jordan has a lot to be excited about with his improvements and the returning of many talented prospects next year. With that said, Koehler has done more than enough to be relevant now and make coaches factor him in heavily when making scouting reports. Continue to watch Koehler and Jordan High School this season and going forward as they will make plenty of noise.