2021 Position Rankings: Forwards/Bigs
The HS season is over and we are diving into the individual player rankings. We move on to the forwards and bigs for the sophomore class. There are a lot of stars already in this group plus some who are…
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Continue ReadingThe HS season is over and we are diving into the individual player rankings. We move on to the forwards and bigs for the sophomore class. There are a lot of stars already in this group plus some who are still developing. Three players already have Division-1 offers with one more with a Division-II offer.
1. DaRon Holmes PF 6’8″ Millennium (Offers from Texas Tech, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Mexico, GCU, Cal & ASU)
Holmes was arguably the best forward regardless of class in the AIA. He showed his dominance in the state playoffs and they rode his coattails all the way to the 5A Final. He had some monster games on both ends of the court with many double-doubles and one rare triple double. He is very fluid and fast for his position with great length. He is turning into an elite shot blocker seemingly overnight and can score the ball many ways from inside and out.
2. Jason “JT” Elder SF 6’6″ Cienega
Elder is another talent. He has effortless bounce and glides around the court with long strides and handles the ball well. He is a play-maker and plays like a point forward. He can shoot it from the perimeter plus rip through and score it through contact. He doesn’t have that killer instinct yet but he’s getting closer. He uses his big wingspan to rebound and collect steals. He also plays at a good pace and knows how to change speeds.
3. Matur Dhal C 6’10” Paradise Honors (Offers from NAU & UC Riverside)
Dhal is the top shot blocker in the class. He is super long and tracks the ball at a high level. He moves swiftly up the court and can step out and shoot it from the perimeter. He recently started to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim to finish above the rim. He needs to get stronger but has already put on some weight.
4. Carson Basham C 6’10” Sunnyslope (Offers from Louisiana Monroe & UC Riverside)
Basham is different from Dhal as he is way stronger and plays more of a back to the basket game. He can step out also and hit the perimeter shot. He is probably more polished with his post moves and has the proper college weight.
5. Colin Carey SF 6’6″ Sunrise Mountain
Carey is the fast riser in the class. He is extremely athletic and can shoot it from mid to the 3pt line. He is a quick jumper and rebounds well in his area. He went from completely off the radar to top-20 in the class.
6. Carter Van Hammond C/PF 6’8″ Perry (Offer from Cal State San Marcos)
Van Hammond is a defensive post player. He moves fluidly around the court with good speed. He has good defensive fundamentals and can play out on the perimeter plus block shots and rebound in and out of his area. He has a polished hook shot with his left or right hand. He is a capable shooter and can rip through and dunk the ball. The more playing time he gets, he will keep improving his game.
7. Will Menaugh C 6’9″ Catalina Foothills
Menaugh is one of the strongest post players in the class. He is mostly a defensive stopper currently as he rebounds the ball at a high level. He can move in space and seems to grab any ball near him. He scores it primarily in the paint and will have to extend his shooting range moving forward. He will be the anchor for the young Falcons team as they should go very far next HS season with him up front.