Underground Invitational VII 2021 Standouts
Another week, another solid turnout. Some of the top players in the state going at it for hours. Here are 2021 players who stood out in Underground Invitational VII. Jameel Wright Jameel Wright 5'10" | PG Overland | 2021 State…
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Continue ReadingAnother week, another solid turnout. Some of the top players in the state going at it for hours. Here are 2021 players who stood out in Underground Invitational VII.
Jameel Wright Jameel Wright 5'10" | PG Overland | 2021 State CO – Overland
Wright started the day as the scoring option as he was consistently getting to the basket in various ways and getting downhill and finishing. He went on mini-runs and did not let up and what I noticed is how confident he is with his off-hand. Wright is a tough cover because he is hitting reverses, floaters, off-hand pull-up jumpers around the basket, and also hitting difficult shots. Wright had a few step back shots and a 3-pointer that secured the victory, which goes to show what kind of confidence he has a scorer. That is progression in itself as he typically gets going on the defensive end of the floor and does the dirty work. There is still plenty of that. Wright rebounds well as a guard and puts a body on larger defenders. He has excellent positioning as he goes up with plenty of misses by teammates, makes it a point to defend the opposing team’s best player, and gets others involved as he had the highlight play of the day on a pinpoint alley-oop pass. Wright as a pass-first option that scores when the defense gives it to him, opens up the offense. He controls the tempo and is an excellent passer that is difficult to contain.
Ben Hageman Ben Hageman 6'3" | PF Windsor | 2021 State CO — Windsor
Hageman knows his way around the rim and continues to be arguably the best finisher in the run. He makes some TOUGH baskets as he is a creative finisher that has been the most aggressive he has been in these last few weeks. He was knocking down the 3-ball at a high clip, and that forced defenders to try and run him off of the 3-point line, and it only played to his strengths. Hageman is a quick and robust guard that is comfortable with the ball in his hands but also plays well off of the ball as a cutter. He fills running lanes correctly, goes right up, rebounds well, and is a lockdown defender that makes it difficult for opposing guards. Hageman is a guard that plays the right way and doesn’t force much, and with that, he is an X-factor in most situations that also can create his own.
Keegan Phillips Keegan Phillips 6'7" | SF Douglas County | 2021 State CO — Douglas County
Phillips remains a bucket. He has been a player that has had it going every single week, but this week he hit new highs as a missed high-five attempt with a teammate might’ve been the only thing he didn’t hit on the day. Phillips is a big-time scorer that, despite taking many shot attempts, remains efficient. There was a point in the day where he hit six 3-pointers in a row. When Phillips is in a rhythm like that, he is a tough player to slow down. He typically does this thing where he dominates early and then slows down but not this week. He remained aggressive on the day and opened up his arsenal. He was hitting hook shots on smaller scorers, stepping back for shots on the move, and also having his way with getting to the rim. He was the best scorer on the day and suddenly looks to be one of the best shooters in the entire class.
Eddie Kurjak Eddie Kurjak 6'8" | PF Longmont | 2021 State CO — Longmont
Kurjak did a bit of what he always does. Provide an aerial attack as an athletic big man, grab some boards, and also protect the rim. This week he was with one of the better pass-first point guards, so he made sure to give it to Kurjak in launchpad spots, and Kurjak went up with some flushes. Kurjak plays extremely hard and is so dangerous in the open curt. He is a mobile big man that fills the lanes correctly and is coordinated. He is not a player you dump it into and just expect a bucket that works out because he is an in the flow type player. He had a few off the backboard blocks, he was active in the passing lanes and was getting to the rim for finishes over smaller defenders. Not a bad day for Kurjak, and he continues to grow and open up.
Michael Wolf Michael Wolf 6'0" | PG Regis Jesuit | 2021 State CO — Regis
Wolf is a player that is powered off of rhythm and confidence. When he is in a zone and shooting the ball, he is one of the most difficult players in the state to slow down because he can get his shot off against anyone, he is a creative shot creator, and all he needs is for one to fall and he feels as if he is on a streak. Wolf was overpowering smaller defenders on iso post-ups, he was handling the ball well and also zipping out passes to open teammates. He is improving as a playmaking guard that can shoot lights out from beyond the arc as well but not only settling on jumpers. With more work and practice on it, he can be a real threat that teams will have to guess—solid day for him.