Prep Hoops 250 Awards — Class of 2021
Prep Hoops 250 expo came and went and was a successful event with a great turnout of student athletes that came out and competed from start to finish. There were great shooters, defenders, rebounds, distributors and glue guys but the best of the best came out and were on display – here’s who stood out most with our Prep Hoops Awards.
MVP
Kendale Johnson Jr.
This was our first time getting to see Kendale in action as he’s coming off a huge summer on the national stage where he did not disappoint. He brought that same intensity to the Prep Hoops Top 250 Expo as he was the clear-cut MVP of the lower class. He completely dominated each and every game and is a player that will do everything in his power to challenge for top dog in his class. What makes him so special is his ability to use his strength and size to get to the rim and finish over defenders. He also showed a much-improved jumper that took many by surprise and left defenders clueless. During his upcoming season at George Washington this year Kendale will have the keys to the offensive and will look to build upon a solid freshmen season. He took down top honors for the day.
Best Big
Aaron Jacob
With Chaparral losing All Star stand out Ronnie DeGray to Prep School its understood that there is a big void to fill on both sides of the ball and Aaron Jacobs seems ready to step up. Aaron was all over the glass on both sides of the floor but also was able to protect the rim in key moments of games. One of the most underrated parts of Aaron’s game is his ability to put the ball in the basket from all levels of the floor and that was on display. On Sunday, the 6’7 forward put his whole offensive game on display from the 3-point jumpers, to tough lay-ups in the paint and his versatility is refreshing. This season should be a breakout a year for Aaron and a way for him to make a name for himself. Sunday, he took over.
Best Scorer
Jarmell Johnson
Jarmell is a risk taker on offense which can either make or break a team. On Sunday, it made him as he was getting everything he wanted. He was making plays and he’s a shot creator that gets the ball in the basket despite there being defenders draped all over him. Jarmell used his speed and quickness to make crafty finishes and had sneaky athleticism. He also drained multiple jumpers from around the court and carried the scoring load for his team for most of the day.
Best 2-Way Player
Taeshaud “Tae” Jackson Jr.
From shot blocking to easy fast break dunks, Taeshaud was fearless and made his presence known throughout the day. Serving as a do it all type of player for his team Tae was aggressive on offense and found ways to get extra possessions for his team on defense. Excelling in drive and kick situations as well as finishing at the rim when defense didn’t help while making the right plays showed his high IQ. On defense, he took on the challenge of guarding the best offensive player and ran with them which showed off his high motor and versatility on the end of the court. Tae recently transferred from Cherry Creek to Dakota Ridge and is off to a fresh start.
Best Defender
Jason Pelzel
Jason did all of the things a coach loves on Sunday and excelled, specifically on the defensive end of the floor He played the passing lanes well, was there on help side and was a constant force on that side of the ball for the day. Jason showed what it is like to give 100% for the entire day and it was contagious as he elevated the whole teams play and was the difference maker. With improvement on his offensive game and developing an aggressiveness on that side of the ball will really separate him from the pack and make him one of the better players in his class, but as for defense, he owns it.