Wings to observe out of the Larry Farmer Region
The 5A State playoffs get started this coming week and there are plenty of great matchups to get out and enjoy. The Larry Farmer region is loaded with talent. Here are some wings to look out for in the region.…
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Continue ReadingThe 5A State playoffs get started this coming week and there are plenty of great matchups to get out and enjoy. The Larry Farmer region is loaded with talent. Here are some wings to look out for in the region.
Josh Rogers – Arvada West
Loads of talent and is able to take over any game. He can get going and is tough to slow down. He is a great ball handler that can create his own shot and is aggressive with the ball in his hands. He has real good mechanics on his jump shot and can really shoot the 3-ball. The offense runs through him and he moves well without the ball in his hands. 20.6 points a game with 5.0 rebounds as well and is really a great on ball defender that stays in front of his man without fouling much. He is a natural leader and a hard worker each time out. He is having an incredible senior season and should have schools after him.
Keyshawn Maltbia – Fountain-Fort Carson
Keyshawn came into his junior season as one of the top wings in the state and has upped his play a bit more as he is averaging a whopping 17.3 points and 6.7 rebounds a game. On top of that he is averaging 2.0 steals a game and has been a stat stuffing machine this season on a team that has been solid. Keyshawn is in great company as he is one of the only players in the only state to score double digits in every single game this season. He gets into the lane and disrupts the defense as easy as anyone, finishes at the rim with either hand, has soft touch from inside and when he is not settling for jumpers is a really explosive player that must be accounted for at all times. He is also a player that can defend multiple positions. Trojans will need Maltbia to be at his best if they plan on advancing, there is a favorable matchup against Prairie View where he can get going and from there if they happen to advance they will be up against an Arvada West team that can score the ball.
Dalton Knecht – Prairie View
Prairie View snuck in the tournament but now that they are here, it is time to make a statement. They did not have the season that they expected but one bright spot on the year was Knecht. Knecht is a 6’4 wing with great size and the ability to shoot the ball from wherever on the court. He uses his size to see over the defender and finish. He finished off the year on a scoring tear as he scored 20+ in nine of his last 10 games and is capable of giving you 30 points while being the focal point of the offense. He is averaging 21.4 points a game and is all effort. He also uses his size to go inside and rebound at a high rate as well as seen by his 6.4 rebounds a game. If you ask for it he can do it and despite the team having a down year he was able to show some consistency and lead the way.
Kendale Johnson – George Washington
Kendale is a sophomore that made immense strides in his second season, despite not experiencing much team success. George Washington has been a 5A powerhouse for the last few seasons and finally took steps backwards but he was a player that stepped up and attempted to get them back in the spotlight. He comes into the tourney averaging 18.8 points a game and has really found a scoring rhythm since the winter break in which he has scored in double-digits ever since. He has a mid-range pull up as he is forced to run the baseline and break zones, excels in the open court, uses his body to force his will down low and is very athletic. He is tasked with the job of trying to bring some playoff success on a team that lost the last two games but before that finally found their own. Against Boulder he will have to really be aggressive and I expect him to take a ton of shots, if a few of them fall early the Patriots have a chance.
Brayden Schlitt – Brighton
Schlitt is having a solid senior season and is ready to end it with a bang on one of the surprise teams in 5A. He has been able to score the basketball as he averages 16.6 points a game and the way he gets it done is what makes him different than other guards in the region. He is a bigger guard that pushes him into a combo guard setting and comes right at you on the fast break and can finish at the rim. He is also able to dish it off to the open man but is able to put it on the ground and run the offense as well. He is a player that gets after it down low as well as he is always trying to keep the ball alive for rebounds. He goes down low, boxes out and grabs the rebound as seen in his 7.2 rebounds a game. He is a player that stays inside of the key and runs the baseline well and is able to go straight up. He plays the passing lane well and steps up on defense.