2020 stars the shine both on & off of the court
Being a student-athlete is a difficult task as it is a position that comes with many responsibilities. Too often overlooked is the academic accomplishments of high school athletes. Stars on the court have even more pressing things to accomplish at school. but somehow balance both. There are some high school basketball players that are able to star on the court while they also excel at school. Let’s take a look at some of those young men.
In our quest we wanted to find high academic players that not only make an impact on the hardwood but also inspire others in the classroom as well as education is the gateway to a better future. Here are five Seniors that are currently ranked in the top-25 that shine both on and off of the court.
TJ Bamba — Lincoln
What a roller coaster ride it must be for Bamba. To move to Colorado from Bronx, New York and make a really good run at a state title but come up short where he played really well but not as great as he is capable of into exploding into one of the state’s best players. All of it has to be worth it now as he is a future Washington State Cougar. Bamba is surely a Division I athlete that turns heads every single time out. He has the size and skill to match up with it as he is essentially willing his Lincoln Lancer team to victory after victory. Bamba is averaging 26 points on the season and has scored 20+ points in seven straight games. The coach knows who the ball is going to, opposing teams know who the ball is going to and the supporters in the stands understand that Balmba is getting the ball but there is little that you can do as he is a bonafide scorer that can get it done in various ways. He plays above the rim with jaw-dropping dunks, gets in the lane and finishes with either hand and now has added a consistent 3-point jumper to his arsenal and he is one of the most versatile and complete players. He puts up 8.0 rebounds a game and also defends multiple positions. Just as good as he is on the court, he is as good off of it as he is a classroom star as well. He is a player that has challenges himself in all aspects of life and has a 4.0 gpa to prove it. He is a captain and great teammate and all-around great person who has the trust of his teammates but he also wants to give back as he still manages the time to volunteer with sports teams at the Action Academy in Aurora Colorado. This kid is going places.
Christian Speller – Rangeview
Metro State got lucky as they received a proven winner in Christian Speller. He was a pivotal part of the 5A championship run from last season and they have now started out the season with a perfect 11-0 record that has the defending champs at 29-straight wins including winning the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas a couple of weeks back. With Christian, you get a combo-guard that can shoot the ball but also is able to get inside and bang as he already has a college-ready body. He is off to a great start of the season as a player who has expanded his game in his senior season with a team-high 12.9 points and 5.9 rebounds and him having a 3.3 gpa as well helped with landing at Metro State next season. He will get to live out his dream of playing ball at the next level while not having to pay for school – it does not get much better than that.
Taylor Harris – Pueblo West
Harris plans to one day be an engineer as one of the most prolific student-athletes that Pueblo has had in recent years. He has the brains for it and it is shown on the hardwood as well as in the classroom. He has led the Cyclones to an 8-3 start of the season as a surprise 4A standout team and it has been on the shoulders of their high IQ combo-guard that can change the outcome of the game in various ways. He can score(16.6 points) rebound (7.0 boards) and is an unselfish (4.9 assists) player that dissects the defense with not only his skill but his mind. The game seems to slow down for him in ways that it does not for others and he takes advantage of this as he creates opportunities for himself as well as others to benefit from. He is a combo-guard that you can put at multiple positions as he seems to study the game as well as his opponents. But the studying comes not only from his love for the game but habits that started in the classroom. Harris has one of the highest gpa’s(4.8) in the entire class and also recorded a 1450 on his SAT. He hopes to do premed or something in the STEM field but has also looked into Neuroscience as he believes that is something that would challenge him. While I am sure that he wanted to talk about things I have no idea about and enlighten me on things such as physiology and molecular biology he said he is just ready to do anything that can get his team a state championship. The rest will be waiting.
Ryker Cisarik – Highlands Ranch
Highlands Ranch has gotten off to an up and down season as they have an impressive win over a top-3 Smoky Hill and Fruita Monument team but also losses against Campbell County and Chatfield as they have been inconsistent as a team but one thing that has been consistent for the Falcons has been their 6’9 forward who has been playing as good as any big man in the state. He has jumped up the rankings as a big man that can step out and shoot the ball, get inside and bang and also create mismatches and attack them. He is putting up 15.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks through 11 games and is a player that Highlands Ranch has ran the offense through and he has also anchored the defense as well. His two-way abilities have him as one of the most unique big men in the state but he also is a young and bright mind that has aspirations of one day playing college basketball while going to school to be an engineer. He has a 3.4 gpa and thinks that will raise by the end of the year and what a school at the next level will be getting is a gym rat that also gets it done in the classroom as well.
Ty Foster — Lincoln
Foster is the true definition of a competitor. Foster is currently averaging 14.8 points, 3.8 assists and 3.9 steals a game. He is a scrappy defender who has made his name as one of the best two-way guards who just might possibly be the best perimeter defender in the state. This is a four-year starter and Senior captain that is a hard worker that gets after it on every single play. He has averaged in double-figures in scoring all four years and has earned the reputation as a top-5 guard in the state with his ability to defend and score. He is also an excellent ball-handler that has great court vision and motivates others around him to work as hard as he does. He stated that being named team captain is one of his best accomplishments as it showcases one of the key principals that he not only holds on the basketball court but in life and that is leadership. Foster is not only a great guard that is alert and attentive on each possession but it also translates to his willingness to learn in the classroom as well. He holds a 3.7 gpa and is also a member of the National Honors Society which brings out his best attributes that are apparent on the court as well: scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Foster has it all.