Five wings to watch in the Centennial League
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There have been changes to the world as we know it, and the Colorado high school basketball scene has taken its fair share of changes as well. Typically, we will have already been a few games in determining who we…
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Continue ReadingThere have been changes to the world as we know it, and the Colorado high school basketball scene has taken its fair share of changes as well. Typically, we will have already been a few games in determining who we deem as the top teams in the state. Well, good news, we are a couple of weeks removed from the start of the season. With a late start and condensed season, getting off to a quick start is important. One conference that did not see a change and will again be the state’s conference to watch is the Centennial league. Let’s look at a LOADED conference.
Chase D’agostino Chase D’agostino 6'4" | CG Arapahoe | 2022 State CO – Arapahoe
D’Agostino was not a big part of Arapahoe’s team last season but did learn the ropes as a sophomore and contributed a bit. This season he will step into a role where he will be relied on to keep the momentum going. Chase is a 6’4 combo-guard that steps onto the wing with his size and is a solid scorer and defender. Chase plays hard on both ends of the floor, fills in gaps and runs the floor, and makes quick and smart decisions when he gets it. When he did play with Pro Skills this summer, he was able to assert himself as a 3&D prospect that scores in bunches. If he can consistently shoot the ball while giving the same effort throughout the game, he and the Arapahoe team will be competitive. Ultimate glue-guy type of player.
Connor Yslas Connor Yslas 6'6" | PF Cherokee Trail | 2022 State CO – Cherokee Trail
Yslas has the size at 6’5 and the motor to make opponents have to work on both ends of the floor. He can get inside and score, space out the floor with his shooting, and is excellent as a help-side defender. In his sophomore season, he learned what it is he needs to work on over the summer, and we saw those things on display in various tournaments and showcases. Yslas is a gym-rat that plays with passion. He is an interchangeable defender with the strength and speed to defend multiple positions and is an excellent slasher that goes right up with the ball. His bread and butter will be on the defensive end of the floor, and if he can fully commit to that end of the floor, he will be a player that it is difficult to take off of the floor.
Derik Pranger Derik Pranger 6'8" | SF Colorado Prep | 2022 State CO – Arapahoe
Pranger is a player that was a solid contributor in only his sophomore season as he put up 5.8 points and 2.2 rebounds a game, but in his junior season will be the go-to player that the Warriors need to step up. Pranger is a 6’6 wing that showcases versatility as he can put the ball on the floor and get the break started, is active on the boards, and is a microwave scorer. We got to see Pranger a bit more this summer for Pro Skills, and he has the ability to score in bunches. Pranger started the summer as one of the class’s best scorers as the game came to him. He started to get a bit aggressive as the summer progressed, but he will be a player to watch once he finds that balance. Pranger possesses unlimited range, scores inside over smaller defenders, and had some athletic finishes in various tournaments. Naturally, looking to get teammates involved and being fully committed to the defensive end of the floor is the only thing holding him back from being a complete player. Still, not many players in the class have the kind of ceiling that he has. I am high on Pranger and am excited to see the finished product.
Christian Hammond Christian Hammond 6'3" | SG Colorado Prep | 2023 #160 Nation CA-S – Cherry Creek
Hammond jumps into our Top-5 for the 2023 class, and that is a place that he will most likely remain for his entire high school career. Hammond was inherited with the same natural scoring ability that runs in the family, and there are not many players in the state regardless of class with the upside that he has. Hammond has an elite face-up game and is poised. The younger Hammond brother plays with a chip on his shoulder and attacks whoever is in front of him. He is a creative and crafty finisher inside with an unlimited clip from deep. Hammond shoots the 3-ball well, has great size, and will fit in seamlessly into a Cherry Creek team that brings in a majority of the core. Hammonds stock is sky-high right now, but if there is still some out there – buy it. All of it!
Ty Robinson Ty Robinson 6'5" | SF Eaglecrest | 2021 State CO – Eaglecrest
Robinson committed to continuing his playing career at the University of Colorado – the only thing is, it’s for football. Robinson is a Division I athlete that had the ability to play either sport at the next level, and lots of his football abilities show on the hardwood. Robinson is a physically gifted athlete who dunks in traffic, steps out, shoots the 3-ball consistently, and scores with relative ease. When he is aggressive, there are not many players in the state that can compete with him. He uses all of his 6’4 frame to score over smaller defenders, blows by idle feet bigs, and has an inside-out attack. Robinson put up 13.3 points and four rebounds a game as a junior, and if he elects to play basketball this season after locking up his future, he will remain one of the best two-way options in the state and will be a player to watch yet again.
Anthony Harris Jr. Anthony Harris Jr. 6'5" | PF Smoky Hill | 2022 State CO . – Smoky Hill
Harris is undoubtedly the top athlete in the state, and it is not close. This multi-sport standout is an aerial attack that Smoky Hill likes to employ with the most entertaining ATO and set offense packages in the state. Harris is a two-way option that scores inside, steps out, shoots the 3-ball, and leads the conference and maybe state with chase-down blocks. Harris Jr. has elite timing as a help-side defender and does not allow easy baskets around the rim. For Knights Elite this summer, we saw Harris Jr. in a different light as he got the ball a bit and was asked to create a bit more. While playing up, Harris Jr. showed that he could create for others, put the ball on the floor, and create space for himself and consistently shoot the ball. In the fall league, he was the team’s veteran and leader, and that is when it dawned on me that he is only heading into his junior year. Harris Jr. will be a player to watch this season, and his college recruitment is starting to pick up with schools getting their eye on the 6’5 wing/forward that will surely be the team’s No.1 option this season.