Rankings Update: 2021 Top 5
We updated out rankings during the summer and with that there was a big shakeup in the top-5 for the 2021 group. This will surely be a year in which new names may emerge in a relatively deep class but…
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Continue ReadingWe updated out rankings during the summer and with that there was a big shakeup in the top-5 for the 2021 group. This will surely be a year in which new names may emerge in a relatively deep class but here is who we have at the top and why.
Ty Robinson – Eaglecrest
Robinson yet again comes in at the No. 1 spot in the class. Albeit his numbers were the lowest out of the other players that filled out the top-5, his production on the court is still immense to his team’s success and his play carried over into grassroots season as well. Robinson has a polished game which is highlighted by his strength as well as athleticism. He gets to the rim as well as anybody, plays above the rim and also has shown that he is capable of knocking down a shot when given space. He rebounds well, is a willing defender and alters the game in many ways. His play this summer picked him up an offer from the University of Minnesota and that is another Division 1 school with interest. He will surely add on his 12.3 points and 3.9 rebounds a game from last season and I am sure there will be more interest on the way.
Julian Hammond III – Cherry Creek
Hammond is a player. He is a scorer that is lethal from beyond the arc but also has nice touch inside as well. Last season for the Bruins he led the team in scoring(20.5 ppg) by a wide margin and despite being under 6-foot also led them in rebounds(6.5 rpg). Hammond was able to take the state by storm as he scored in double-digits every single game last season and when he is on from deep there are not many players that can change the outcome of a game in the ways that he can. Hammond is a confident shooter that can create for his own and this summer for Billups Elite he was able to showcase exactly why he is a top-3 player in the class as he turned a few heads. He is a floor general that seen his defensive game improve this summer and now with another year under his belt will try and improve on his scoring. Cherry Creek will be a team to look out for this year and with a guard like Hammond III at the helm they will be tough to beat.
Jalen Weaver – Smoky Hill
Weaver is the most underrated player in the class and that is scary to say because he is at No.3. If he continues playing the way that he did this summer it will be hard pressed to find a player that can be over him as he seems to have the highest ceiling in the class. He shoots the ball, gets to the rim and finishes with either hand or a highlight dunk and he also is a distributor that see’s the floor well. Weaver is one of the smoothest players in the state and is patient with the ball. He can play off-ball but is surgical with the ball in his hands. Last season he put up 11.1 points a game and was the second leading rebounder for the Buffaloes behind Gatorade player of the year at 5.6 rebounds a game. Now with Kenny Foster out of the picture and national attention on Weaver I expect him to be unleashed for a big junior season where he not only climbs up the state rankings but national as well. My bold prediction is by the end of the year Weaver will be a top-3 player in the state no matter the class.
Donta Dawson – Harrison
Dawson is a player that most do not get a ton of chances to see but based on his production from last season it was difficult to keep him out of the top in the class. He put up 17.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and a whopping 2.2 blocks a game for a team that went 21-5. He is a willing scorer that uses his 6’4 frame to get inside and dissect the defense. He also is a nimble big man that is a playmaker with the ball the feels the double-team and makes the smart play, is stronger and aggressive on the low block and is a two-way player. This season Dawson will have to take his game to the next level if he wants to stay in the top-5 with so many other players vying for his spot but with numbers like that if he is able to duplicate on that success schools will surely come calling.
Kendale Johnson – George Washington
Kendale is a player whose rank dropped tremendously from freshman to sophomore season but a large part of his drop-off came from team success. The Patriots did not have the season that many expected and as a result his play took a toll, but make no mistake about it, Johnson is no slouch. He was still able to put up 18.8 points and 4.8 rebounds a game while being the focal point for teams to attempt to double-team. He was not able to navigate the low block like he is accustomed to and as a result had to go create baskets on his own. He is a player that worked the middle, shoots it from deep but his bread and butter is inside as he is a physically gifted athlete that plays with a chip on his shoulder. He finished well at the rim and is willing to go up and attack the rim which is either a basket or gets him to the free throw line. This is a season in which the Patriots will attempt to bounce back and his play this summer with a very talented Billups Elite unit will have him ready to go back after a top spot in the class. Expect him to continue doing numbers.