C/O 2022 Mid-Season Stockrisers
The jump from year one to year two maybe one of the hardest things to overcome in sports. The pressures of life start to creep up a little bit more as you get older. For athletes they can use their…
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Continue ReadingThe jump from year one to year two maybe one of the hardest things to overcome in sports. The pressures of life start to creep up a little bit more as you get older. For athletes they can use their freshman year as a platform to show they have arrived. Some have such a great freshman year that it is often times harder to replicate past success. However, the positives of year two are a young player starts to learn a bit more about their game and how they stack up against their competition. Mid way through the season in Nevada a number of 2022 propects have shown how truly great they are by ignoring that dreaded sophomore slump.
Declan Sawin 6’2 Combo Founders Academy (#36 2022)- In Sawin’s second year he has shown more of his leadership skills as he was named the team captain. Which speaks volumes being such a young player still. Sawin is a small school product with a big game. If you want a versatile do it all kind of player look no further than Sawin he leads his team in scoring averaging 16.4 points per game. He also leads his team in steals with 3 per game. Sawin has been on a rampage the past three games scoring over 20 points in each contest. When it comes to small school products often times they are asked to be more versatile than most. Last year Sawin started at PF and led his team with 10.8 rebounds per game and an insane 4 blocks per game. This year he is asked to be more of a combo guard and he’s showing he can be more of a scorer with the ball in his hands. I like dynamic players and Sawin is a player I would consider dynamic. If he went to a higher ranked school he would be much higher on rankings list. The school shouldn’t take away the fact this kid is an absolute baller. He is a great two-way player he plays the passing lanes rather well and he has active hands around the glass. He isn’t afraid to go up and block shots either.
2018-2019 stats- 14.9 ppg 10.7 rpg 1.6 apg 2.6 spg 4.0 bpg
2019-2020 stats- 16.4 ppg 5.8 rpg 3.2 apg 3.2 apg 2.3 bpg
Michael Klekas 6’3 SF Elko 2022 (#10 2022) – He’s been doing this for over a year now. Klekas is a dominating force. Elko is 12-1 and Klekas is averaging over 25 per game. He is the second leading scorer in the state and one of the top leading rebounders in the state. He’s definitely going to see his stock rise. Klekas can do it all he has a strong inside-outside game, he could score with ease inside the block. He can step beyond the arc and drain threes. Klekas is the ultimate stat sheet stuffer. He is also one of the better two way players in the state as his steal and block numbers indicate. He is a total baller. Much like Sawin Klekas is a small school product that is asked to do a lot I personally don’t think it is an indictment it shows variety. As his numbers will indicate he has seen a huge jump from year one to year two. Last season his older brother was the go to player. Now that Klekas older brother graduated Klekas has shown as a sophomore that he can step right in and be just as or more effective.
2018-2019 stats- 15.5 ppg 8.7 rpg 1.6 apg 1.9 spg 0.4 bpg
2019-2020 stats- 25.5 ppg 11.4 rpg 3.1 apg 2.0 spg 0.3 bpg
Fredy Vargas 6’1 SG Rancho 2022 (#12 2022) – Vargas is one of the key playmakers for Rancho. He has a unique skill set that includes creating plays off the bounce, crashing the boards and handling the ball in the backcourt. These are things that make a great jump shooter even better. Replacing a key star is never easy and that is what Vargas was asked to do replacing James Brown. Vargas has seen his numbers in every area increase. He was predicted in the preseason to have a breakout year and he hasn’t dissapointed yet. Vargas best game to note was against Valley Christian where he scored 24 points and had 10 rebounds along with 3 steals. Vargas has flashed a bit of everything this season and has benefitted from an increased role. I would go out on a limb and say he maybe the most improved player in all the state. He has shown more as rebounder and shown quicker hands on the defensive side of the ball. Vargas can lock you down and knock em down.
2018-2019 stats: 5.8 ppg 3.7 rpg 0.6 apg 0.7 spg
2019-2020 stats: 15.0 ppg 5.7 rpg 0.8 apg 2.1 spg
Taviontae Jackson 6’0 G Las Vegas (#11 2022)- In the class of 2022 I think Jackson has the potential to be the best two-way player in the class. He is a magnet when it comes to the ball. He reads passing lanes well and also does a good job moving laterally and staying in front of his man. Jackson is a true leader on the court. He is a real Swiss army knife with a clever ball handle. He gets buckets in a ton of ways. On the season he is averaging 15.9 points 3.6 rebounds 7.8 rebounds 3.0 steals. In my personal opinion I think Jackson is the best rebounding guard in the state. Once he gets the rebound he is off to the races and he can find the open man like it is nothing. His game is Rajon Rondo lite to me. I think he is a more confident jump shooter.
2022 Incline (NV) W TT Valosek plays on balance and has a nice midrange game.
TT Valosek 6’3 SG Incline (#15 2022)- As a Freshman he helped lead his team with a 25-6 record and the 2A Nevada state championship.In his sophomore year he looks primed to repeat leading his team to 11-3 record thusfar. Valosek is one of the thicker point guards you’ll see around. With a bigger body that means he is able to finish around the rim more forcefully than most. Scoring comes easy to this young man that’s what he does. When the ball is in his hands he will not make a mistake he can score on any spot on the floor. His recent run includes a 33 and 26 point game which were both wins. In his second year he is showing more of his court vision. He makes pin point accurate passes. He can also lock his defender down. Ultimatley the one aspect that seperates Valosek from others is his leadership skills. Not many people can say they led their team to a state title as a freshman.
2018-2019 stats: 15.5 ppg 5.3 rpg 2.3 apg 1.5 spg 0.4 bpg
2019-2020 stats: 20 ppg 6.9 rpg 4.5 apg 2.5 spg 0.5 bpg
Honorable Mention:
Eric Bobb SG Yerrington 2022- Another small school product with a big game. I will be banging on the table for him to be on rankings this year. Bobb maybe one of the best pure scorers in the state he is averaging 17.3 on the year. Bobb has had a three game stretch where he has scored 26, 27, 27. Bobb has crazy range from deep and can get his points in a multitude of ways. Keep an eye out for him.