Rankings Update: 2021 Top 5 Wings
We just went through rankings update and with that we finally got a glimpse of these soon to be juniors in a more prominent role with there respective school. These players made an impact on their high school teams and…
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Continue ReadingWe just went through rankings update and with that we finally got a glimpse of these soon to be juniors in a more prominent role with there respective school. These players made an impact on their high school teams and also took that play into grassroots season. We take a look at the top wings in the 2021 class.
Jalen Weaver – Smoky Hill
Weaver had one of the best off seasons of any player in the entire state. His two-way game has started to get Division 1 interest and his play in grassroots made it an even easier decision to put him in the top three players in the class with him most likely making a push for top three in the entire state. He put up 11.1 points and 5.6 rebounds a game last season or the Buffaloes and will now be the go-to guy in a very balanced Smoky Hill offense. Weaver is a player that has great court awareness, rebounds well defends and is a top-notch athlete that does what he wants on the court. With a big year coming up for him and national attention if Weaver is able to take some of what he has done this summer into the season he will continue picking up division 1 offers and be able to place his bid as a top player in the state.
Jordan Whitaker – Smoky Hill
Weaver’s backcourt running mate Whitaker comes in at the No. 8 player in the class and also the second-best wing in the state. Last season for Smoky Hill he was able to put up 9.3 points, and 4.5 rebounds a game and that was while hunting for his own. He kept plays alive, had plenty of coast to coast finishes and fits well with any offense as he does all of the dirty work for teams. There was a string of games last season where he was putting up double-digit scoring performances and then kind of fell off. This season it will be about staying consistent and finding that rhythm early and sticking with it. With Foster gone and a more balanced approach for the Buffaloes it appears that his numbers will go back up as he is a player that is versatile. He is a playmaker that is capable of knocking down a few shots, is a high energy filled rebounder with soft touch around the rim and makes things difficult for opposing teams with his ability to switch up.
Taeshaud Jackson – Dakota Ridge
Jackson is an athletic finisher that is very active on the boards as well. He uses his 6’4 frame frame to attack defenders off of the dribble and finishes over smaller defenders and through bigger ones. He is great at getting the defender onto his body and drawing fouls and also has the ability to put the ball on the ground to find others as well. He has great court vision with skill as a ball handler but also strength to play on the block. He is dangerous in the open court and is able to play multiple positions. For Dakota Ridge last season, he was able to put up 7.3 points and 7.7 rebounds and will be looking to lead the charge yet again. I expect a year where he is closer to 15 points and eight rebounds a game and will make things more difficult come our next rankings update.
Tyce Baldwin – Fossil Ridge
Baldwin showed as a sophomore that he is able to score in bunches. The great thing about his game is he is able to affect the game in various ways rather it be his rebounding, defense or hustle but on top of that he is also a player that shot 43 percent from beyond the arc. He is a marksman from deep but also plays above the rim as well. When you combine his ability to score inside with him now showing off athleticism with dunks through traffic along with his outside game he becomes one of the most difficult players in the state to defend. Last season he put up 9.9 points and 4.3 rebounds a game and led the team in steals at 1.3 a game. Baldwin was already named as an All-State honorable mention as a sophomore and will be looking to grow this year, this time with team success also growing. Baldwin will eventually be a top name in the state and if he is able to build on a strong summer it will be sooner than later.
Curtis Stovall – Vista Peak
Stovall is a combo-guard that plays on the wing and is solid both on-ball and off-ball. He is a slasher that has good feel for the game and finishes down low with either hand. With the ball in his hands he is dangerous in the open court as he is a downhill runner that has great ball-handling skills as well court vision to make the right plays. He dunks, shoots and challenges defenders at the rim and also makes it a point to guard the team’s top guy. Stovall is a selfless leader that makes winning plays and progressed as the season went along and took that strong play into the summer with a successful summer with the Colorado Miners. He put up 10.6 points and three rebounds a game last season for Vista Peak and will look to build on all of the growth during grassroots with a big junior year coming up. I honestly feel as if Stovall is one of the state’s most underrated players and if Vista Peak is going to have a big year it will be on the shoulders of their top junior.