Week 9: Monday Night Standouts
Monday was full of blowouts. There were not many close games in any class across the state. With that, there were some big-time scores and some unlikely top scorers on the day. Here are some who stood out. Isaiah Trujillo…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingMonday was full of blowouts. There were not many close games in any class across the state. With that, there were some big-time scores and some unlikely top scorers on the day. Here are some who stood out.
Isaiah Trujillo — Dolores Huerta Prep
In Dolores Huerta Prep’s big victory over Pueblo Centennial, the Scorpions had multiple players finish in double figures. They had a balanced attack and pushed the pace and the player that really stood out was their Senior guard Isaiah Trujillo. Trujillo has been scoring with ease all season long as he is putting up 16.8 points a game but he saw a big jump when he went off for a season-high 25 points. He hit three 3-pointers in the game, got to the free-throw line and also remained aggressive throughout the game. Trujillo is a player to keep an eye on.
James Shiers – Mead
This was the type of game that Mead has been needing offensively from their 6’10 sophomore standout. He has good footwork, knows his way around the basket and creates mismatches based on size alone but has been a bit passive, this was a game that he was more aggressive as he got to his spots and made the defense pay. Shiers finished with a season-high 19 points and he was efficient. He was 6-8 from the field, got to the free-throw line and sunk them and also secured rebounds finishing with eight. If he is able to find a rhythm offensively with already affecting the game with his defense the No. 1 team in 4A has a great opportunity to bring home the gold ball.
Javonte Johnson — Cheyenne Mountain
The No.2 overall player in the state played so it was already inked in that he would be a standout on the day. He continued his wrath of destroying every single team that stands in his way and this time it was Palmer Ridge who was the lucky suspects. Johnson went for 28 points on the night and that was while only hitting two 3-pointers. He got out on the break and finished with dunks, he created off of the dribble and attacked the basket and he showed off his strength with some power through finishes. There is not a player in the state that can score the way that he can and he had another big game to prove it.
Blake Essex – Mile High Academy
Mile High Academy was able to get a win over Belleview Christian and from the looks of it 6’8 junior Blake Essex seen a mismatch that he liked and attacked it – every single time. Essex finished with a season-high 33 points in the game to make sure that Mile High Academy got the victory while also securing 19 rebounds in the game. He got inside and had his way, he went up on boards and also used his body to get to the free-throw line. Essex finished with 31 field goal attempts. That does not happen by accident, that was intentional. They saw something they liked and made sure to get their big man the ball. He is definitely on my radar now.
Markus Eiselein – Woodland Park
In Woodland Park’s win on Monday, they went to their combo guard Markus Eislein and relied on him to secure the victory. But that is not hard because he has been their most reliable scorer all season long. He is putting up 16.7 points a game and went above his season average as Mesa Ridge gave him easy scoring lanes and he took it. Eiselein finished with 23 points in the game as he kept on finding holes in the defense and attacking the basket. Good game for him in a tough year for the Panthers.
Tom Connelly – Denver East
Connelly has a strap on him. He is a player that can get himself going from deep and when he is in a rhythm the Denver East team is truly going to be tough to beat because they then have all bases covered. He shoots off of the dribble but really excels in catch and shoot situations. If he gets an open look at it, it is going in. In Monday’s blowout, he finished with 18 points in the game and all of them were 3-pointers. He opens the defense up as a floor spacer with unlimited range, he moves a ton which doesn’t allow the defense to get set and he lets it fly. I want to see him have the same confidence in close games where they need him to shoot lights out as he does when the Angels are blowing a team out.