West Coast Elite Standouts: Top Standouts
The West Coast Elite showcase came to Colorado this past weekend and brought out some of our top names as well as new players to take a look at. It was put together in a different way with the younger…
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Continue ReadingThe West Coast Elite showcase came to Colorado this past weekend and brought out some of our top names as well as new players to take a look at. It was put together in a different way with the younger guys mending in and sharing the court with some of our top players but was still a bit entertaining. Here are some of the biggest standouts from the weekend
Ty Foster — Lincoln
It almost was not fair for Foster as he took over on the day. It is already too much for guards his size and age to stay in front of him just add in the younger guys attempting to keep up with a player of his speed, physicality and IQ. He dissected the defense for easy finishes at the rim and also showed off some explosion with a couple of dunks down the lane. He scored when he wanted and showed exactly what makes him special – he’s good.
Boston Stanton —Denver East
At most showcases it is treated as just an All-Star game where players are just allowing other top players to look and feel good, it’s not that way for Stanton. He was a player that sought out the opposing teams best player to guard and on offense he made sure that one of the top guys were guarding him and he went at them. He does not shy away from competition but rather embraces it and he is really one of the most versatile players in the state as he can defend positions 1-4 and does everything that you want him to do. He can score, rebound, defend and shoot at a high level and is easily becoming one of my favorite players to watch. Schools have been asking around but this will be the year that they really come knocking – Stanton has arrived and there is no looking back. He was my No.2 MVP on the day.
Elijah Knudsen—Mead
Knudsen was one of the smaller standouts on the day who made their presence felt. There was talk heading into the event as him being one of the best shooters in the entire state and let me start by saying this; there’s a chance. He is a sniper from deep but what seperates him is the ability to change it up. He can create for himself off of the dribble in which he did a few times, he can come off of the screen and knock it down and if he is open, just start heading the other way. He defenitiely boosted his stock as he showed that he is a guard that can knock down a plethora of shots and just when the defense gets comfortable he can switch it up and go inside as well. He had a couple of blow by reverse finishes and easily made it on the list as one of the best on the day. Liked what I seen from the guard out at Mead.
Kendale Johnson Jr. – George Washington
Johnson did a bit of what he always does. Get buckets. He is going to use his body and athleticism to overpower defenders and get whatever it is that he wants in the paint and just when the defense gets comfortable and tries to play off of him he is going to knock down a few shots as well. He is too strong for smaller players and knows how to get to the paint for easy baskets. He dunks, shoots and is able to put the ball on the floor. He is a bigger guy that can take over at guard duty as well and that ability to change it up will go a long way on a Patriot team that is looking to get back in the spotlight and show that last season as a one-off.
Taeshaud Jackson Jr. —Dakota Ridge
Taeshaud was my pick for the best player on the day. He is a player that brings his all on every single possession and no matter who he was facing he took over. He scores with ease, finishes in transtition and pushes the pace every single time. He is one of the most physically gifted players we have in the state this year and somehow that gets overlooked. He had dunk after dunk and the highlight of the day when he dunked over a defender with the left hand on a body-to-body finish. He has been playing guard more which I think is amazing as it opens up the offense even more. He’s a guard that attacks with purpose and he is also selfless which leads to him giving it to the open man or finishing with one of his highlight finishes. This was one of the first times that I have seen him in a setting that the offense centered around him and it is a role that I enjoyed. If he is able to come with this mentality every single time out the sky is the limit for him and schools would be calling instantly.