Predicting All-Star Teams for the Centennial League
We are closing in on the final few leagues to preview before the upcoming season. We’ve been on the search for figuring out which area in the state has the best talent and have observed a few conferences. We…
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Continue ReadingWe are closing in on the final few leagues to preview before the upcoming season. We’ve been on the search for figuring out which area in the state has the best talent and have observed a few conferences.
We did not want to do it the traditional way so wanted to have a bit of fun with it with predicting who we would have on our “All-Area All-Star Teams” and have taken a look at a couple of leagues already and we are down to our final conference and this was by far the most difficult to predict as I truly feel as if there are about four-six names that I left off and could of went with and also a few that are ready to explode and prove that they too belong such as the boys from Arapahoe, a couple from Eaglecrest and also Overland and Smoky Hill has a few ready to make a name for themselves. This All-Star team would absolutely beat every single team in the state and that is what made things so difficult and why we saved the best for last. Here are my picks from the Centennial League.
First Team:
PG: Quentin Rock – Smoky Hill – Sr.
Rock is a player that I feel as if he has been in high school for about 10 years. The reason for that is because he has been an important piece ever since he was breaking school records in his freshman season. Now with it finally being his Senior year, it is time for him to go out with a bang. The evolution of Quentin has been something to see as I feel he finally has all of the pieces of his most complete year. The 3-point shot, the defense, he is one of the best passers in the state and plays with incredible pace and control. He is a leader by example and with another loaded team of tremendous athletes, he will be asked to lead the bunch again. This is the year that I feel he has career highs in stats while being the calm for the storm. In my opinion, he is a low major Division I athlete, he just has to put it all together and show what separates him from the pack. A huge year upcoming for him.
SG: Julian Hammond III –Cherry Creek — Jr.
Hammonds is a bucket in every sense of the word. He put up 20.3 points a game last year as a sophomore, showed he belonged every single night in the gauntlet that is the Centennial league and despite being public enemy No. 1 on the scouting report was still able to put up incredible numbers. Hammonds has that ‘IT” factor as he is not afraid to take any shot. He has to be guarded the moment he crosses half-court and has range with the ability to finish inside as well. He is an offensive weapon for the Bruins that is only getting better which does not bode well for the rest of the state. Just seeing all of the potential that he has now and imagining his ceiling come senior year is a frightening idea. 20 points a game last season might have just been the starting point.
SF: Jalen Weaver – Smoky Hill – Jr.
Weaver is a player who has jumped on the scene and has not looked back. He is a player who has one of the calmest games that I have seen but demands so much attention that you look up and realize that he is dominating in every facet of the game. He has the size to take over on both sides of the floor with rebounds mixed it, he has the skillset to be a playmaker and get others involved but when he makes up his mind to score at will, consider it done. Weaver is the player that I feel should make the biggest leap this year but it all depends on his mindset and if he truly feels like taking over. Interesting year for the Buffaloes where he gets to take on whatever role it is he wants to. I have a feeling that it is the Weaver we got to see standout all summer as one of the MVPs of the offseason.
SF/PF: Caleb McGill – Grandview – Sr.
McGill has been a player that has consistently remained as a top player in his class ever since he was a freshman and now the 1x 5A champion is going out his senior season with a bang. Unfortunately, he was not able to defend the title last season due to an injury that kept him out of the playoffs but since then the UC Davis commit has shown that he is still one of the top players in the state. He has incredible size but what really stands out is the way that he is able to move and not only play inside on the block but extend the defense with an outside shot as well as a pure mid-range jumper. McGill is on a Grandview team that runs their plays to perfection which ultimately has players sacrifice stats in the way that they play but it also translates to plenty of wins. McGill is a proven winner who still is able to get what he wants, he also rebounds at a high level and secures the paint as well as anyone else in the state. There is no secret that he is one of the state’s best and did not surprise anyone that he went DI.
C: Ike Graham – Overland – Sr.
Graham is my personal pick for the top overall player in the state and has jumped into our rankings as a top-three player. He is a Division I athlete without a doubt and the only reason that it has taken so long for others to catch on was an injury that sat him out for his sophomore season. He came into junior year and was the top overall big man in the state. He has great footwork, he got in shape and uses his body to score at ease down low, he controls the paint on defense and also has shown that he can step out and hit mid-ranges as well. He averaged a double-double last season on an Overland team that was amongst the top teams in the Centennial League and this year behind their man in the middle I feel as if they are the favorites. Look for another double-double season and for Overland to feed their best player very often. 30 point games and wins are in his future before he makes the decision to go help a Division I school.
Bench
Guard: Zion Ruckard – Eaglecrest Sr.
Ruckard is a true-point guard with vision and leadership qualities. He is a two-way player that is a great on-ball defender. He gets others involved and pushes the pace with plenty in his bag.
Hezekiah Swanson – Overland – Sr.
Swanson is a player that also belongs here. The only reason that he is added on the side not because we have to see him come back and show that the injury is behind him. Once he establishes that as I am sure he will he is definitely a top guard in the conference as a two-way pure point guard.
Guard: Lian Ramiro – Grandview – Sr.
The Colorado State-Pueblo commit is poised for a big season where he will have the freedom to make things happen on the fly. He will be the primary ball-handler in one of the state’s most patient offenses. He is a playmaker that can score with ease.
Wing: Skylar Wilson – Eaglecrest – Jr.
Wilson is a big-time shooter that is dangerous in the open court. He is a high caliber athlete that is springy. He scores with ease and is versatile on both ends of the court. This is the season where he proves himself as he will have the freedom and the green light.
Post: Vincas Veikalas – Overland – Jr.
This is the newcomer of the year for the state and teams are going to have fits with the Trailblazers this year. For starters, I am unsure what position he plays as I am sure that teams will be confused about as well. He is a well-rounded offensive weapon that also is committed to the defensive end. He shoots, gets to the rim with great size and has a very high basketball IQ. Make sure you watch Overland before the year is up.
Post: Ty Robinson – Eaglecrest – Sr.
Robinson will take a bit to get out of football shape but as soon as he is committed to basketball again, he will go back to being amongst the top leaders in the state. He has a mature game and allows it to come to him. He is one of the few players in the state that can play and guard positions 1-5 and he is under control at all times. Whatever sport that he chooses, he is going division I in and this multi-sport athlete is a different type of player that has remained in the top-5 beginning in middle school. He epitomizes consistency.