Pangos Best of Colorado League: 2023 Rising Stars from Day 3
Tuesday night was Day 3 of the Pangos Best of Colorado League ran by Dinos Trigonis of CA. Week 3 was a more exciting day of events with more standouts on the day. The 2023 class was one of the…
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Continue ReadingTuesday night was Day 3 of the Pangos Best of Colorado League ran by Dinos Trigonis of CA. Week 3 was a more exciting day of events with more standouts on the day. The 2023 class was one of the most entertaining classes on the day as they had so many players step up and stand out. Here are some youngsters that stand out on the day.
Gus Yalden – Asheville School
Yalden did not have one of his big scoring days, but there was an and-1 dunk and a bit of spring to him on Day 3. He was moving well and showcasing his mobility ad athleticism. Yalden is a big-time rebounder that crashes the boards and keeps the ball high. We speak about him being a high IQ offensive player, but he also is an intelligent defender as well. He was great in help-side defense, got his hands on a couple of balls, and also started the break on boards. There were put back finishes for him, and his highlight was a fast-break dunk to finish off the day.
Kadyn Betts Kadyn Betts 6'7" | PF Huntington Prep | 2023 #90 Nation CO – Suns
Betts is a player with good size and versatility. He is comfortable with the ball in his hands as a big guard that got the offense going. Betts does all of the small things that does not go on the scoreboard. He is moving without the ball and providing excellent spacing, he is slashing off of the ball for more spacing and scoring opportunities and is athletic. On day 3, he was active on the defensive end. He makes smart-reads on defense; he is strong enough to handle himself fon the block and is a perimeter defender as well. Betts is a player I want to see more of, and hopefully, on Day 4, he is more assertive on the offensive end.
Nathaniel Owens – Kings
Owen was one of the youngsters in the event but still was very confident and active. Owens puts himself in scoring opportunities, and if he gets a good look at the rim, he is not turning down shots. On Day 3, he hit two 3-pointers in the second half to keep the Kings in the game. He moved to open spots in the defense, and I can see him being a situational player when you need a 3-pointer as he does not require a ton of space and has a quick release.
JJ Williams JJ Williams 6'5" | SF Highlands Ranch | 2023 State CO – Nuggets
Williams had a better day shooting the ball and finished with eight points in the game. Williams started the game with a 3-pointer that he set up for himself and did all of the small things for clean up opportunities. Williams was crashing the boards from the wing, and it gave him a rebound and finish, and then with a man in his face got a 3-pointer off, which shows the type of confidence he has. Williams, as a pick and pop wing that also has court-vision, is starting to come into fruition, and he has been showcasing that in the Pangos event.
Colin Hawkins Colin Hawkins 6'3" | CG Colorado Prep | 2023 State CO – Sand Creek
Hawkins is an aggressive, offensive player who is looking to score the basketball. Hawkins got some to fall on Day 3 and was hunting for shots. Hawkins is a bruiser guard with a big build that is able to get to where he wants on the floor. He attacks mismatches, and he also brings the ball up the floor. On defense, he moved his feet and held his ground down low. He has solid footwork and a natural feel for the game and is a player to watch moving forward.
Archer Van Sickle – Kings
Van Sickle is a player that is starting to grow on me as he has a very mature game and makes plays happen. He is steadily pushing the pace and causing chaos with the ball in his hands as he is a confident ball handler that also scored the ball with ease. Van Sickle is a savvy floor general with excellent court awareness. He is whipping passes to open teammates on the other side of the court, is making finesse finishes and is a combo-guard that can shoot the ball and also handle it. On Day 3, he continued to be one of the more entertaining players that I need to see more of.