17U Standouts at SportsStable Invitational
The Colorado RoughRiders put together an invitational where they put some of the top teams in the state in the same gym and let them go at it. It was productive, fun, and competitive. Teams got the opportunity to get…
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Continue ReadingThe Colorado RoughRiders put together an invitational where they put some of the top teams in the state in the same gym and let them go at it. It was productive, fun, and competitive. Teams got the opportunity to get together in light of recent cancellations, and some teams and players stood out. Here are the 17U standouts from this past weekend.
Ben Bowen Ben Bowen 6'5" | CG Mountain Vista | 2021 State CO – Colorado Hoops Academy
Bowen is the player that many put on their radars to watch. Bowen is fresh off of signing to the University of Wyoming after a HUGE high school season, so the target was on him. He showed up and showed out. In Bowen’s debut tournament with this group, he was the teams leading scorer and led his team to a couple of wins. Bowen is still growing and is a taller guard but is confident with the ball in his hands. He is a shifty guard with a knack for making plays. In the event, he scored with ease as he used a lethal crossover to get by defenders and finished at the rim. He also has a unique ability to finish with contact, and that got him 3-point opportunities. He is sound on defense and can defend multiple positions. It was great for him to compete and go at it for nothing more than the love of the game.
Brayden Carter Brayden Carter 6'8" | PF Seiling Ok | 2021 State CO – Colorado Hawks
Carter is a player that was buried behind two unique phenoms in Fall and Diop on that Colorado Hawks team, but when the Hawks needed a basket, they knew who to call on. Carter is not a player that you have to make a call for; he gets excellent positioning on rebounds to go right back up with it, he also finds gaps in the defense where he hit plenty of mid-range jumpers. Carter has solid size and is agile. He moves well and has soft touch around the rim, and against smaller competitors, he was able to use that length and athleticism to score with ease. Carter also altered a couple of shots at the rim and also is capable of stepping out and defending guards for a couple of seconds. I like what I saw from Carter, and it will be interesting to see how he plays for the rest of the summer.
Blakeley Stoughton Blakeley Stoughton 6'3" | SF Regis Jesuit | 2021 State CO – Pro Skills
In the games that he played, Stoughton stood out. Stoughton is a guard that is extremely difficult to slow down as he is a strong lefty that is an excellent finisher at the rim. He finds holes in the defense as a slasher, steps out, and shoots the 3-pointer and, in the first game, took over with small runs of his own to secure the win. He also had a few solid flushes that showcased his athleticism as well. When Stoughton is attacking, he is a problem to be dealt with. He uses a quick first step and pull-up jumper that opens up the rest of his game. He got injured on the second day and did not finish up the day, but when he did play, he played well.
Kendale Johnson Kendale Johnson 6'5" | SF George Washington | 2021 State CO – Colorado Hawks
Johnson is a perfect fit for the Hawks. He has size that surprises you in person, but his ability to space the floor with his outside shot is what stands out. Johnson’s shot was on throughout the entire event and that was with dealing with a lingering injury. When the Hawks needed a 3-pointer, he answered, and he also understands where rebounds are going and secures the board and goes right up with it. Johnson had some big rebounds and mid-range finishes, which opened up the Hawks offense and didn’t allow them to be a one-dimensional team. He got out on the break, and what I really liked is that he started to show glimpses of the old Kendale where he was moving defenders around on the block with his body. Once he gets a balance of being able to shoot it from outside and also realize just how big he is, he is going to open up new parts of his game where it comes easy. I hope that Johnson stays aggressive as the Hawks will need his scoring as well as outside touch.
Garrett Arnold Garrett Arnold 6'0" | PG Thunderridge | 2021 State CO – Colorado Hoops Academy
Arnold is typically the best passer in the game when he plays, in the event; however, he was one of the teams go-to scorers, and CHA made sure to run the offense through him. Arnold has the ability to see plays before they happen, and he made sure to stay aggressive throughout the game. He hit some 3-pointers, he turned the corner after the many pick and rolls, and he also did the usual finding the open man. When Arnold is in a rhythm, he is difficult to defend as he has some much offensive production. At the event, teams had to pick their poison; either stop him from dissecting the defense with getting to the rim or his passes carved them up. Arnold had a great balance on offense and held his own on defense as well. Solid event for him.