State Recap: 5A Top Guards
The 5A state championship saw a host of players make a name for themselves on the biggest stage. Here, Prep Hoops takes a look at several guards who raised the bar when their teams needed them most. Christopher Speller –…
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Continue ReadingThe 5A state championship saw a host of players make a name for themselves on the biggest stage. Here, Prep Hoops takes a look at several guards who raised the bar when their teams needed them most.
Christopher Speller – Range view
Speller had a great season, but his play in the playoffs is why the Range view Raiders were crowned state champions. Speller attacked opposing guards in the playoffs and used his length and athleticism to finish at the rim. He got to his spots and made teams pay with his aggressive ways as he was either able to finish or get to the free throw line where he converts at a high rate. He finished in the championship game with a game-high 21-points which garnered some attention from USA Today. He also had 21 points in the Final Four game against Mountain Vista and his scoring ways put pressure on defenses and opened things up for the rest of the Raiders to get going.
Kobe Sanders – Chaparral
Sanders is the epitome of a true point guard and leader. He runs the team, controls the pace, gets all players involved and understands when to score. In only his junior season he was voted to First Team All-Conference and was the Player of the Year in the Continental league and that was for his play throughout the season. In the playoffs he continued that strong play and led the No. 1 seeded Wolverines all the way to the championship game where he put up 20 points while knocking down four 3-pointers. He is one of the state’s best players and top overall guard and that is as a junior so he will have a highly anticipated offseason which I am sure will be full of getting better and be ready to take the state by storm yet again as a Senior.
Austin Holt – Thunder ridge
It is still interesting to see Holt’s development as a guard. He has the size and strength to play down low but he showed that he is able to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim and also a high IQ mixed in with great court awareness to include his teammates. Before he got injured in the Final Four game his team was cruising and it was behind a physically dominating performance from Holt that seen him finishing at the rim and getting the rebounds and going up. Against Overland in the Sweet 16 Holt was able to finish with 14 points and 12 rebounds to show his versatility and see his team advance. He will be a successful guard at the next level that does not take ill-advised shots, takes care of the basketball and does not make many mistakes and it was seen in the playoffs.
Cam Le Van – Legend
Le Van is a quick and crafty guard that keeps his dribble alive and opens things up for his teammates with ball handling. He makes it difficult for opposing guards to stay in front of him and he also keeps his head on a swivel to find the open man. In Legend’s loss to Eagle crest it was Le Van that got going and kept Legend in the game as he finished at the rim as well as showed off his 3-point shooting. He had 16 points and was able to get it going from both inside and out. He knocked down four 3-pointers which pushed out the defense and then he carved them up inside penetrating and dishing or finding the open man. Le Van is a junior with high upside that will continue to get better and his ability to work both with the ball in his hands and off-ball to knock down open shots will separate him. A great run for him although he came up short.
Andre Sepeda – Greeley West
In the entire playoffs the stat line that jumped off of the page to me was Sepeda who put on quite a show. Greeley West went down in the second round of the playoffs but there is absolutely nothing negative that can be said in Greeley West’s opening win against Cherokee Trail when Sepeda led with 40 points. He was able to get to the foul line and convert. He showed off his range as he knocked down four 3-pointers but even crazier is the idea that he attempted 28 FT’s on the night which shows how he was not settling. Sepeda will excel at the next level because he is a high IQ guard who breaks down the defense and then attacks. He is a natural scorer with a good feel around the rim but is also able to knock down shots with the defender in his face or open.