Sophomore Standouts (Part II)
If you’ve watched the 2021 class, you are starting to see some stars emerge. This class has plenty of talent and potential and just might be the best class in the state. The class is so loaded and deep that…
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Continue ReadingIf you’ve watched the 2021 class, you are starting to see some stars emerge. This class has plenty of talent and potential and just might be the best class in the state. The class is so loaded and deep that we had to make a Part II and that is not enough as we are missing so many student athletes. There are several players that are having breakout performances and lightbulb moments to start the season, here is Part II.
Myles Purchase – Cherry Creek 2021
Purchase is a multi-sport athlete and all of those instincts come into play when he is on the court. He is an above average defender who makes the right plays and is quick and strong enough to do whatever it is that he wants on the basketball court. He is averaging 11.4 points and s 3.5 assists a game which shows that he can score when he wants but what really stands out is the way that he operates on the defensive end. He leads the team at 2.6 steals a game and takes pride in showcasing how solid of a perimeter defender he is and a guard that you can put on the opposing teams guard and it is going to be a rough night each time out. While he is not regarded as a knock down shooter but has been showing that he is working on that part of his game and is coming off of a monster performance when he put up 28-points and knocked down four 3-pointers. HE is one of the best guards in the class and it shows.
Nathan Wiggins – Golden 2021
Nathan is not a starter but the way that he has been playing, matters nonetheless. He is the sixth man that instills tons of energy as soon as he enters the game and is a spark plug that is trusted by his coach and teammates. He plays the right way and has a great motor that leads to the right play more often than not. Although he comes off of the bench he is the third leading scorer on the team at just over seven points a game. He also leads the team in rebounds which when all put together is remarkable as he is not only a player that comes off of the bench but does all of these things as a sophomore which bodes as a sensational season and X-factor type of weapon for the Demons.
Kendale Johnson – George Washington –2021
There is no way that we leave out the N0. 1 player in the entire class. Kendale is a player whose impact goes beyond the box score. He was pushed into a position where he went from a glue guy and player that was breathing it all in last year to the focal point of the team and player that each team’s scouting report begins and ends with. Johnson is best as a slasher that finishes around the rim that also is athletically gifted enough to dunk it when he wants. He has soft touch around the rim and is comfortable with the ball in his hands. He also can shoot and that has opened things up. On the season he is averaging 16.1 points and 4.6 rebounds a game and is looking to turn things around for a struggling Patriots team.
Gavin Poxson – Legacy – 2021
Gavin is a player that just stands out on the court. He has great size, moves well without the ball, does the right things, he competes on every possession and is not afraid to get physical. He is also a player that when he gets hot it is tough to slow him down as he heats up quickly. He has had some big games this year where he has finished with over 15 points in four games and also a 20-point outburst. He is up to 10.2 points a game and is a reliable shooter that Legacy runs plays for to open things up. Defenses must account for him at all times on the wing and close out harder when he is there. With increased work this offseason and another year under his belt I truly believe that Poxson could be one of the state’s best 3-point specialist.
Garret Arnold & Nolan Marold – Thunder ridge
Thunder Ridge has quite the duo and it would not feel right just doing one. These two have incredible to start out the year. They play off of each other, make others around them, create for themselves and play a disciplined style of ball on one of the hottest teams in the state.
Marold is a starting 6’6 big man that’s play demands respect. He bangs inside and places pressure on the opposing team. He is the second leading scorer on the team at 10.7 points a game and makes up for one of the best big men tandems in the state. He has no trouble getting to his spot and making you pay and finishing through contact. He rebounds well defensively and boxes out and makes it tough on defenders. He has soft touch and also has great hand-eye coordination which helps with guards getting it to him at good spots and he goes up and finishes. He is raw but is very talented with a very high ceiling.
As for Arnold, he is a true point guard that makes every player around him better. He is a high IQ guard that runs the show, has great ball handling, does not make many mistakes and takes care of the basketball. He is a pass first point guard which you do not see very often that players run harder for because they know they will be rewarded. He leads the team in assists by a long shot and is the primary ball handler on a team that has started off to a great 10-2 start. His selflessness is one of the main reasons for how well the team has done and although he is only a sophomore has a game that translates well at the next level.