Top 250 Prep Hoops Expo: Young Standouts
The Prep Hoops 250 Expo was a success this past weekend as we had our players play in front of college coaches to showcase what they had. We have gone through the big men, guards, new names and stock boosters…
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Continue ReadingThe Prep Hoops 250 Expo was a success this past weekend as we had our players play in front of college coaches to showcase what they had. We have gone through the big men, guards, new names and stock boosters both in underclassmen and also the older group but here we focus on the MVP’s for the day, the day’s biggest standouts.
Baye Fall – Denver Lutheran – 2023
It is actually shocking to know he is one of the younger players at the event. He is 6’10 and not only is it the size that stands out, but the skill as well. Fall is one of the best shot blockers and rim protectors in the state and he has not even played a high school game, just think about that. His timing is impeccable and he is able to affect the game on that end of the floor. Offensively is where he has the most work ahead of him and that comes with being so young. With him playing up he is having to adapt to that speed and physicality but that is not to say that he cannot score because he does have a nice mid-range pull up and goes up after he secures rebounds for finishes and dunks. Fall is not only one of the state’s best already but is on the national scene as well. He spent the entire day with the older group and it is easy to see why he is already getting division I looks without even playing on a high school team yet. The sky is the limit for him.
Anthony Harris Jr. – Smoky Hill – 2022
Weeks ago, I said that there was another player in the state that was the most athletic player, that was without seeing Harris Jr. I take that back, Harris Jr. is a bonafide athlete that is physically gifted and he was also one of the best players at the showcase regardless of class, this was his coming out week. Harris Jr. was so good that he was forced to be put over with the older group. He is big, he is strong and he is a force to be reckoned with down on the block. On the younger side he scored almost every single time that he touched the ball and on the first time down when he got put with the bigger group he got the ball at the mid-post, did a turnaround drop step and dunked it with power with two hands. He also had some incredible blocks throughout the day which had our writer, Ryan Wesley state that he is the “Mayor of Swat City.” We like that nickname for him right now. Huge day for him.
Langston Reynolds – Denver East – 2022
Reynolds is the best player in the 2022 class and he showed exactly what it is that makes him special. He can dribble, he can penetrate and finish, he dunks, he blocks shots and what he showed that we had not seen prior to the event is that he can also let it fly. I am not sure if it was just a good day but Reynolds was knocking down 3-point shots as well which made it extremely difficult for him to be stopped especially as he was teamed up with the No. 2 player in the 2022 class in James Shiers. They were a dynamic duo all day and we wanted to see if Reynolds game would translate with the older group, much of the same for him on that end as well as he got to the rim and finished on coast-to-coast transition baskets. I liked what I seen from Reynolds and he had one of the most productive summers of anyone in the state and carried that into the expo. Good showing.
Aj Kula – Valor Christian – 2021
Kula is a player that epitomizes control. At the expo the game seemed to adjust to his pace and he made sure to get other teammates involved. He has a high IQ and true understanding of where his teammates are going to be and that is without ever having played with him before. He is an elite passer that also breaks the defender down and gets what he wants. Defenders were having fits trying to stay in front of him and he was able to get his shot going as well as a few acrobatic finishes at the rim that left a few spectators stunned. I am excited about his future as a young player that will have the keys to the offense this upcoming year. As long as he remains aggressive and takes this momentum into the season he will be a player knocking on the door as one of the best in the class. Incredible outing for him.
Vincas Veikalas – Overland – 2021
Veikalas came, he saw, he conquered. This was the first time seeing him and he impressed plenty in his debut that gives Overland the edge as one of the favorites in the entire state. There is honestly not a single thing that he cannot do on the floor and it was all on display this weekend. I originally thought he was a big man as he had easy baskets on the block to start the event. And then he started shooting the ball from deep which shocked plenty. If that were not enough, he started being the point guard and bringing the ball up and finding his men for open cutters. He is the epitome of versatility. Veikalas came in and was arguably the best player on the day. He did not get scored on much, was one of the few players to set and take charges and also scored at ease. I am excited to see his Colorado career get started as he will surprise many this year. MVP day for him.