Top of the Rockies: Stifling Bigs
The Top of the Rockies went on this past weekend and had some of the state’s best talent all battling it out at Gold Crown. The Top of the Rockies is a wonderful event put on by the Colorado Chaos…
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Continue ReadingThe Top of the Rockies went on this past weekend and had some of the state’s best talent all battling it out at Gold Crown. The Top of the Rockies is a wonderful event put on by the Colorado Chaos that pits together some of the best organizations across the state to go at it. Here are the top big men from the event.
Caleb McGill – Colorado Chaos
McGill makes things really difficult because when he is on I truly do not believe that there is a player better in the state, he just has to realize it. Lately, he has shown laser focus on both sides of the ball and has a great motor for his size. McGill is a 6’8 nightmare for opposing bigs because he does not get tired and plays big minutes. He brings it at the opposing team for the full duration of the game and is versatile with his efforts as he can beat you inside and out and on both sides of the floor. McGill’s game is expanding and since he has returned from an injury has added new pieces to his game. He is shooting the ball as good as any player in the state and also has the size to go inside and mix it up with the big men as well. McGill remains one of the state’s top players and is very well in the Top-3 overall and his play in Top of the Rockies ensured that.
Lucas Moerman – Colorado Hawks
Moerman is starting to get the credit he deserves and colleges are starting to talk. He chose the perfect organization to shine and grow as his game has also evolved. Moerman gets it done down low and is a traditional big man that makes things extremely difficult for the other team with his length and athleticism. He uses his long slender frame to crash the boards and go straight up and also is able to play alongside other talented big men and still get his own which will only serve him well for the season where he is the go-to player once again. Moerman is a perfect complement to any team as he does all of the small things well and plays the game the right way. He does not go beyond his means and understands how to play in a system and having him on this Hawks team has been a much-needed addition as he is such a great player on the defensive end that his offense comes easy. He helped lead the Hawks to the championship where they fell against the Miners. In the semifinals he was able to put up seven points and six rebounds and as long as he remains assertive he is going to be a tough cover for whomever he is up against.
Isaac Ondekane – Colorado Miners
There is not a player in the state as massive as Ondekane and the thing about it is he is passionate about the game of basketball. It is a joy to watch him because he is out there scrapping and giving it his all. He is adding new parts to his game each time out and is showing that he can star with certain units as well as be a great teammate that finds his spots and operates. Ondekane does not shy away from contact and is an aggressive bruiser down low that lets other big men feel him with his weight. He throws his body around and has finesse finishes around the paint. In the Top of the Rockies he again showed how effective he can be alongside other big-time players and still operates well despite not being the focal point. He had eight points and 13 rebounds in the Miners big win over the Colorado Hawks in the championship and is starting to put it all together. This is the type of summer that he needed which will only translate to a huge Senior season.
Baye Fall – Colorado Hawks
Fall is one of the most interesting prospects in the state as he is a 6-foot-9 8thgrader that is playing up by a few years and still crushing the competition. He is different as he has a polished game and is able to affect the game in multiple ways all while not forcing much. Offensively he is showing improvements as he is adjusting to playing with the bigger guys. With that comes a newfound physical addition to his game while picking up the pace. He is strong beyond his age and a skilled big man that when it all comes together is going to be one of the best prospects in the country. He is already one of the state’s best defenders as he has great timing on blocks, is an intelligent defender with great timing, can switch onto a smaller and quicker guard while recovering for the block and alters plenty of shots at the rim. For a player his size it is also interesting to see how athleticism plays a role. He is able to make his impact on the game on both ends of the floor with his long wing span, quickness and he is springy which allows him to see over the defense and finish offensively and gamble on the defensive end. In the Top of the Rockies he put it all together and it was on display in his game against the Colorado Chaos when he scored nine points and has four rebounds and assists to go along with it.