2018 Class Top SG’s
With the 2018 rankings release, we’re taking a look at the top-5 shooting guards for the senior class. Prep Hoops Colorado takes an in-depth look at each player and what makes them special.
1) Daylen Kountz-Denver East- Overall Rank #1
Kountz is the No. 1 player in the state and has led his team to a 20-3 record, good for the 4 seed going into the state tournament. There isn’t much Daylen hasn’t done in his high school career except win a state title which East is currently in the midst of attempting to achieve as state playoffs get started this week. He’s one of the most prolific scorers we’ve seen in quite some time and has the accolades to show it. The University of Colorado commit has averaged 22.7 points, 3.7 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 2.7 steals which have just about made him a lock to win Mr. Basketball this season. Daylen has had 20+ points in all but four games this season and the other four he still managed to score 15+ points. Most players have just joined the 1000 points club, but, by the end of state playoffs he’ll be on the closer end of 2000 points and that’s as incredible an accomplishment I’ve seen from a player in their four year high school career.
2) Sam Masten- Rock Canyon- Overall Rank #2
Sam is arguably the best finisher at the basket that I’ve seen from a high school player in Colorado. Although Sam isn’t the most athletic player in the state he always seems to find a way to get through the cracks in the defense for easy layups leaving coaches and defenders with not many answers on how to guard him. In his senior campaign he’s averaging a team high 22.3 points and 8.1 rebounds a game, while also adding 3.3 assists and 1.5 steals on 58% shooting from the field. Sam’s 8.1 rebounds a game is good for 2nd in the state out of all guards and his 22.3 points is 2nd in scoring in all of 5A, only behind Kountz. In his three years of starting varsity, the University of Northern Colorado commit has a career average of 21 points per game but has also impacted the game in many other ways and will go down as one of the top players in Rock Canyon history.
3) Kaison Hammonds-Thunder Ridge-Overall Rank #7
Kaison really made a name for himself during his junior year which he has continued to build on during his senior season. His Grizzly team sits at No. 2 heading into the state tournament with a state best 22-1 while also going a perfect 10-0 in league play. The reason for their success is Hammonds who is usually the focus for opposing teams. With a team best 16.3 points, he also contributes in other ways, adding 3.1 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.1 steals a game that sets the pace for the team. Kaison seems to do a little bit of everything for the Thunder Ridge, but will it be enough to win them a state title? We’ll see as Thunder Ridge begins their quest for a state title this week.
4) Daijon Smith-Overland-Overall Rank #10
Daijon‘s mission this season has been to win another ring, this time as one of the key players on the team. Well, he’s done everything in his power to try and get the Trailblazers back to that place and has been arguably the key reason for the team’s turnaround from early on in the season. He’s putting up 14.1 points, 2.9 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals a game this season and has been the best player on perhaps the hottest team going into the state tournament after one of the worst starts in the state. The Trailblazers have turned it around and became the Centennial league champion which is easily the best league in the state. After struggling from the first couple games of the season, Daijon put together a stretch of five straight 20+ point games to get back in rhythm and help pull his team out of a hole. In doing so, the team ended with a league title and a first round bye of the state tournament. Many are excited to see what the Trailblazers have in store for state tournament and Daijon has been why.
5) Sam Bannec-Regis-Overall Rank #11
Same is one of the best players on a well- balanced team and while it takes away from the statistical production he could have, it’s made it easy for Sam to be in the right place at the right time for his team. He could’ve easily went to a school where he’d be the star and put up star-like numbers, but with Regis we see him playing the right way and the state hasn’t even scratched the surface on what he’s capable of. Sam’s just now starting to get back into his scoring ways that we seen from him earlier in the season, like the game against Lincoln where Sam had 31 points going 13/18 from the field as he led him team to 78-69 victory. ON a team that has other contributors putting up the same type of numbers, we got to see Sam shine. He’s putting up 13.4 points, 2.1 assists and 4.1 rebounds a game which has led him to making a significant jump in overall ranks for the senior class. His Regis Raiders squad looks poised to make a late run in the state tournament and upset a team or two and I’m sure Sam will be one of the main reasons.