Dev’s Hypothetical “All Star Lineup”: 5A Jeffco League
What area of the state has the best talent? Depends who you ask, so we break it down by conference. We designed our “All-Area All-Star Teams” for some of the strongest conferences in the class. We have taken a look…
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Continue ReadingWhat area of the state has the best talent? Depends who you ask, so we break it down by conference. We designed our “All-Area All-Star Teams” for some of the strongest conferences in the class.
We have taken a look at a couple of leagues already, but one we have not looked at is one that has a few “sleeper teams” that are ready to surprise the state.
It is going to be a gauntlet each and every night, so let’s take a look at the 5A Jeffco League and who I would choose on my All-Star Team.
First Team:
PG: Luis Miera – Bear Creek – Sr.
Bear Creek was a middle of the pack team that lost plenty of Senior firepower due to graduation but will still be able to compete with teams as they have a transfer Senior guard that exemplifies leadership. He is a high IQ guard that rallies the team and competes no matter who is in front of him. He makes other players better and he is stepping into a good situation where he will surely introduce himself to the league as one of the top guards in the conference. He passes well, finishes under the basket with floaters and acrobatic layups and is able to get himself free with a tight handle and crossover moves. He will now have to up that scoring as he will be asked to score a bit more so look for him to have some nights where he goes off. I will surely start my team with a pure point guard that also does not back down. He’s my point guard on my All-Star team.
SG: Caden Gigstad – Ralston Valley – Jr.
Gigstad is a player that we just got to see in person at our Top 250 expo and I love everything about his game. He is a tenacious defender that makes other players work, is stronger than he looks and he is able to create mismatches and attack. He showed us he is a guard that does not back down and can score in bunches. He can shoot it, get to the rim and finish with his speed but also controls the pace of the offense as well. Gigstad is coming off of a junior season in which he set career high and every single category and is getting significantly better every single time out. Ralston Valley was able to surprise teams last year with a bullish style of basketball but made the right plays and it starts with having a great point guard that you believe in. Gigstad is that guy and look for him to have a big season.
SF: Cole Bott – Valor Christian – Sr.
Bott is not only the quarterback for one of the best football teams in the entire state but he is a 6’6 standout on the hardwood as well that is physically gifted enough to play at the next level in whichever sport he chooses. He makes smart plays on the court which you can see the QB coming out of him, he takes care of the basketball and also is able to get what he wants. He has a filthy crossover and right after is able to come off of it and use it as a launching pad to go put a dunk on the defender’s head. That is control and he plays with it each possession with a chip on his shoulder. He is going to challenge the opposing team for the full duration of the game and can score both inside and out. There is no doubt who one of the best two-way, multi-sport athletes are in the state and I would start a team with him for sure even though we know his heart and money is out there on the gridiron.
SF/PF: Luke O Brien – Columbine – Sr.
First player when you think about top players in the state, let alone the Jeffco league. The Colorado Buffaloes commit is coming off of a junior season in which he put up 21.6 points and 8.4 rebounds a game. At 6’8 it is essentially impossible for anyone in the conference to slow him down, he is a force to be reckoned with. O Brien is one of the top-3 players in the state in our rankings and is looking to have a much-anticipated senior season where he goes after POY honors. O Brien is the real deal and a player that can shoot it, dunk, rebound, defend and get it done in every single way and Columbine has a real shot at bringing home the title if he can keep up his high level of play and get other teammates to chip in as well. The Rebels will be one of the favorites and it is behind of the play of their best players and one of the tops in the state. He is definitely who you start your All-Star team with.
C: Trevor Baskin – Pomona – Sr.
I know, it would be tough to put him at the Center position when you also have 6’8 O Brien on the team too but that is why this is my All-Star team and nobody else, I would like to have fun and this would cause such a mismatch that this team would give another fits. Baskins is one of the state’s most elite triple double options as he is already a walking double-double at 16.5 points and 10 rebounds a game but he also has great vision as well, he just need others to be ready for his passes and score as well. He is starting to show us some elite highlight dunks as well and also can space the floor with his perimeter jumper. He is a complete player in the Jeffco league and has jumped into one of the top ranked players in the state category. He is a player that colleges need to go watch and they will surely fall in love as he does it all.
Bench
Guard: Dylan Carter – Chatfield –Jr.
Chatfield did not have the year that they wanted to have but what they did do was get the most out of what they did have and put their young guys in positions to succeed moving forward. One of those players is Carter who was able to show that he could score despite being one of the younger players on the team last year. Heading into his junior season it will be about showing those numbers are not a product of just losing games but also playing under control and within the flow of the offense. Carter is able to score from the guard spot, fit in between and find holes as well as push guards on the defensive end. He will have to work a bit more on getting others involved but he is able to go.
Guard: Treyvaughn Williams – Columbine – Jr.
Williams is an elite athlete with very high upside and with the injury behind him it is time for him to show out. He is a springy leaper that is extremely difficult to contain in the open court. Alongside a true point guard or high IQ playmaker is where he thrives as he soars for multiple dunks a game, can put the ball on the floor and is a player that you can call plays for that is going to score. He gets to the rim easy, rebounds well and is a bit of a playmaker himself with the ball in his hands. He can knock down the outside shot or stop for a mid-range pullup. This season has to be one that it comes together as he will have to be the perfect complement to O Brien and start opening up new parts of his game if the Rebels want a chance at taking home a title. One year of playing alongside O Brien and taking it all in while helping lead the team and then next year the spotlight is all on him. Critical year for him and a player that any coach would have an extreme amount of fun with. He has one of the highest ceilings in the entire state, regardless of class, let’s see if he reaches it.
Wing: Taylor Kline – Arvada West
Kline is a volume shooter that can score from all three levels and stepped up last season on a team that surprised plenty. Now with the spotlight on him as the offense will have to go through him he will have to show that he is ready to step up as not only a scorer but a leader. Hopefully he has been working on scoring off of the dribble and creating for his own as he will be a big part of the game plan and will have to generate offense in the fast break as well as half court set. With him being able to shoot it from deep it adds a different layer to Arvada West that he will have to keep up but he is a guard that should be on more radars as a sure scorer with potential.
Post: Isaiah Tshimanga – Pomona – Sr.
Isaiah started out last season on a complete tear as he was putting up almost 18 points a game for the first few games to begin the season but seen those numbers start to decrease, he has to get back to getting into that flow of playing as it gave Pomona an edge, especially with Baskin coming into his own. Isaiah is an athletic two-way player that rebounds well and also gets to the basket with ease. If Pomona is able to space the floor a bit better this season, him and Baskin can make quite a dynamic duo as he opens things up on offense. Isaiah has an improving outside game and with it it will make him a difficult cover. He went off for some big games last season and will have to continue with that kind of play on a consistent basis. Make sure to keep an eye out for him as a player that will surprise plenty.
Post: Micah Leslie – Valor Christian – So.
Leslie was only a freshman last season but one thing that is for certain is he is one of the top players. He has a very good understanding of the game and know where to be and is a zone buster as he works the middle rather it be turning around and facing up for a basket or mid-range pull up or making the quick pass to break the defense down, he can get it done. He is a strong player that has good size and moves well. He has a high motor and long wing span and he can score. He dominates with his age group but showed that he can play with the older group as it is not too fast for him. He is a physical big man that secures the paint and fights for plenty of extra possessions. As only a freshman he was able to have his way with smaller players and now with a year of experience it is easy to see why we have him as one of the top sophomores in the entire state. High expectations for him this season and he makes my second team. . for now.