4A Breakout Candidates
Every year, players come seemingly out of nowhere to make themselves known. In this article PH takes a look at some of the 4A players poised to have a breakout season. Coleman Lemke 6’7 SF Faith Lutheran 2021 – Within…
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Continue ReadingEvery year, players come seemingly out of nowhere to make themselves known. In this article PH takes a look at some of the 4A players poised to have a breakout season.
Coleman Lemke 6’7 SF Faith Lutheran 2021 – Within two minutes of talking to Lemke, you’re going to realize he has major swag. Within two minutes of watching him play, you’re going to understand why. Lemke is the stereotypical story of guard grows into skilled big man. He had a 4 inch growth spurt in a little under a year. Instead of a skilled 6’3 guard with the ability to shoot it and break people down off the dribble, he’s now a 6’7 power forward with the ability to shoot it and break people down off the dribble. Add in his ability to deliver dimes, and you have an intriguing prospect. Plays for a disciplined Faith Lutheran squad, that will understand how to use him.
Fredy Vargas 6’0 SG Rancho 2022 – The more I see of Vargas, the more I like. He’s in a perfect situation. The Alpha on a young team with an underrated supporting cast. He does so many different things. He rebounds, can play some back up point in a pinch, and of course he can shoot it. Knock down shooter from both the 3 and the charity stripe.
Amari James 6’4 SG Spring Valley 2020 (#44 PHN 2020) – It’s time. James has all the physical tools to be a Scholarship Athlete. A powerfully built combo guard that can shoot the lights out. He simply needs to put it all together for a full season. Sometimes you watch him and he goes unnoticed on the court, other times it seems like you’re looking at a high major prospect. I like his coaching staff, and it looks like the light has gone on. Spring Valley usually has a balanced attack, however this season may see James in an Alpha role.
Xakime Milton 5’8 Centennial 2021 (#35 PHN 2021) – I have to give Xakime some love. The jitterbug PG goes largely unnoticed mostly because he is a pass first guy. However, when you look at his overall skill, you see that he is fast, has a good handle and a high IQ. His breakout season may not come in the form of statistics, rather in the way he leads a relatively inexperienced yet offensively talented Centennial team.
Zach Jefferson 6’1 SG Shadow Ridge 2021 – If he stays healthy, I expect Jefferson to be one of the state’s leading scorers. He has such a solid offensive package. Athletic enough to finish over people, good enough shooter to force defenders to close. Quick first step, with the ability to get by people off the bounce. Alpha situation here. Jefferson is going to be counted on to log heavy minutes, and contribute in a variety of ways for an up and coming Mustangs team.
Chris Dockery 6’5 SF Bonanza 2021 – Sometimes a prospects potential can make a coach salavate! Such is the case with Dockery. The 6’5 wing is perfectly built for today’s game. A position less player with a multi faceted skill – set, expect Dockery to contribute in a variety of ways. He can create offense from D, snag offensive rebounds, and score off the bounce. I like the fact, that with Kendall Burrell, on his team, he won’t be counted on to score night after night.
Michael Medlock 6’1 SG Arbor View 2020 (#35 PHN 2020) – I desperately need to get out to Arbor View to check out a workout. Medlock really impressed me with his skills this summer. He didn’t get a lot of minutes last season, mostly because of a numbers crunch, however this season, he should see significant playing time, as the 3rd option on one of the top backcourts in the state. He has a big to help rebound, and two proven scorers. Where I envision him making an impact, is as a floor spacer, and playmaker.
Max Allen 6’8 PF Bishop Gorman 2022 (#2PHN 2022) – Big Max isn’t as big anymore. He’s slimmed down quite a bit from this summer. He has turned himself into a floor sprinter, and athletic finisher. He already had great hands and feet. Throw in the improved strength, and the weight loss, and Max is looking like a dominant big. He’s going to play a major role for BG. As if there wasn’t already enough to deal with when playing against Gorman, you’re now going to have to double Allen. I expect a couple monster nights from him this season.