2020 Stock-boosting bigs by seasons end
With the 2019-20 high school basketball season officially over, it’s time for some unsigned seniors to narrow down their choices and close in on the recruiting process. While some players have already chosen a school to go to, here are…
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Continue ReadingWith the 2019-20 high school basketball season officially over, it’s time for some unsigned seniors to narrow down their choices and close in on the recruiting process. While some players have already chosen a school to go to, here are five seniors left on the board that boosted their stock in their final season and can help out a school at the next level.
Tommy Crawford Tommy Crawford 6'6" | PF Thunderridge | 2020 State CO – Thunder Ridge
Crawford is a player that we kept our eyes on this season as he came to a Prep Hoops event this summer and was one of the standout bigs on the day. Crawford is listed at 6’6, but I do not believe he is done growing and he just might be a bit taller. Crawford is a long and slender build with extraordinarily long arms that is more of a stretch-four. He is not a knockdown shooter and will have to improve from deep but can extend the defense with his range. This season for the Grizzlies, he was able to showcase his ability to both rebound well and also score inside. Crawford averaged 7.5 points, and 5.0 rebounds a game and was a player that ThunderRidge relied on at times. Crawford definitely boosted his stock, and once Crawford becomes more aggressive and realizes his full potential, he will surely be a player that can help a small school or juco.
Caden Showalter – Mancos
Mancos was one of the better teams in all of 2A as they finished with a 19-4 overall record. They won their two district games and a regional game before falling to a talented Ignacio squad. Mancos was a solid team that had multiple players that put them over the top, but the player that stood out most for them was their All-State honorable mention forward Caden Showalter. Showalter was the team’s most reliable player and best rebounder. He averaged a double-double of 13.7 points and 10.7 boards a game. Showalter was a four-year starter that massively produced in every season and, in his senior campaign, showed that he could affect the game in other ways than just scoring. Showalter is a player that proved that classification did not matter as he came to a couple of Prep Hoops events and stood out and took that momentum into the season where he wholly owned the paint. He would surely be a stock booster by season’s end.
Dalton Waldron – Chaparral
Waldron is a player we had high expectations for coming into the season but did not play to begin as he handled an injury. But when he got back, it gave Chaparral an additional traditional big that they could throw in the game for time to time as a bruiser that was aggressive on the boards, altered shots at the rim, and made big men think twice before attempting to go at him. Waldron is a strong big man with a solid base. He is not easily moved and stands his ground. He also has a good feel around the basket, and although this was not the season that he wanted, he still produced. Waldron is a player I expect to have a bounce-back season at a school next year, and plenty of what he does goes beyond the box score.
Liam Mckenny – Battle Mountain
The Western Slope conference was substantially represented in the playoffs as they had four teams make the state tournament. Battle Mountain was the 4th team to make it after an up and down season, but the reason that they were even able to go that far was behind their star forward Liam Mckenny. Mckenny had himself quite the season as he was the leading scorers for the Huskies. The three-year varsity scorer and two-year captain saved his best year for last. Mckenny averaged 18.8 points, and seven rebounds a game, which were both amongst the top in the league, and that is while showing off an ability to affect the game in various ways. He dished out three assists a game and was able to defend almost every position on the court. Mckenny had his way inside and made it extremely difficult on opposing teams inside as a player. They could not get off of the boards and had to give different looks to defensively. He had great footwork and got to the free-throw line and is a big man that will help a team at the next level. Mckenny went from unranked to one of the better forwards that a team at the next level should take a chance on.
Tayvis Sagrillo-Smiley – Littleton
Littleton did not have the season that they wanted as far as wins are concerned, but they did have a group that played hard. One of those players that went from unranked to being a wing/forward that showed that he belonged is Sagrillo-Smiley. Tayvis is an athletic 6’5 wing with a college-ready body. He gets out on the break and is lethal as a highflier but also can put the ball on the floor and break a defender down. He is also strong enough to defend more prominent players as well, which makes him a versatile defender. Sagrillo-Smiley will most likely be a forward at the next level with his ability to score on the block, attack from the mid-post, and has a soft touch around the rim. He runs the baseline and finishes well around the rim, and opposing teams found out the hard way as he finished with 20.4 points and 9.0 rebounds a game as a senior. Both amongst the top of the conference. He surely is amongst the top forwards remaining that a school will be getting lucky on and is a sure-fire stock-booster.