2023 guards that stood out in the 5A playoffs
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With the season over, we want to look back at a season before we head onto the grassroots scene. Here we focus on some sophomore guards that stood out in 5A during their state-run as they gave us a glimpse…
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Continue ReadingWith the season over, we want to look back at a season before we head onto the grassroots scene. Here we focus on some sophomore guards that stood out in 5A during their state-run as they gave us a glimpse at the future.
Rickey Mitchell Rickey Mitchell 6'3" | CG Smoky Hill | 2023 State CO – Smoky Hill
Mitchell is a player that Smoky Hill has to be excited about from what was seen in his sophomore season. Mitchell might not be big in size, but he does not lack in confidence and has a great feel for the game for his age. Mitchell can control the tempo a bit and is not sped up when the ball in his hands. He moves well and is an elite ballhandler with a strong base to build on, and it was on display throughout the playoffs. It was interesting to watch his game against Horizon in the opening round and not think about how it will be for him next season when he is given the keys alongside another talented guard. Mitchell finished with eight points and four assists in the game and showed flashes of what to expect out of him. In a tough matchup against arguably the best backcourts in the entire state, he finished with seven points and did not back down and is a sophomore that is poised for a big junior year.
Christian Hammond Christian Hammond 6'3" | SG Colorado Prep | 2023 #160 Nation CA-S – Cherry Creek
Hammond is a bucket, plain and simple. It does not matter; he will find a way to put the ball in the basket, and in his sophomore season, it was easily implemented into a strong core and solid frontcourt. He found ways to continue navigating through the defense, found himself open often, and also forced the issue to score in iso situations. In the opening game, he finished with 13 points and followed that up with 14 points in a game that came down to the wire. Hammond had issues with his efficiency in the remaining two games but did show that he can affect the game in other ways than only his scoring. That is why he will be one of the most intriguing players in the state for the next two seasons with enormous upside.
Christian Drummond Christian Drummond 6'2" | CG Doherty | 2023 State CO – Doherty
Drummond is a do-it-all type of player that does so many things that goes beyond the stat sheets, and his versatility shows his impact on the team. Drummond allows the team to defend with size; he got to his spots offensively and was the team’s facilitator. He puts teammates in spots to succeed and is a force on the boards as well, and although he was only a sophomore, he had some key moments and positives to build on. I am curious to see how he looks this summer in a different setting where the offense runs through him a bit more but has all of the characteristics to be a solid player.
Tarea Fulcher Tarea Fulcher 5'11" | PG Regis Jesuit | 2023 State CO – Regis
Fulcher is one of the more intriguing guards in the class as he has a calmness to his game and plays with controlled aggression. Fulcher was pushed into a role down the home stretch and showed that he is a part of Regis’s future. Fulcher was a solid defender in the playoffs that could defend multiple positions and did not let his matchup get loose often for big games. He is a strong guard who can play on and off the ball; he feeds the hot hand and does not force the ball much, and has intangibles that display the type of player he could be. He will step into a situation where he will be relied on heavily next season, so he must continue to progress and work on his game over the summer.
Gavin Hershberger Gavin Hershberger 5'9" | PG Rock Canyon | 2023 State CO — Rock Canyon
Hershberger was excellent this season and also helped lead his team to two upset wins over some very talented teams in the playoffs. He is a high IQ guard that plays with a sense of urgency and his teammates feel comfortable when he has the ball in his hands. He makes the right play, controls the tempo, and runs the offense. He rides the hot-hand and does not force much but scores when he needs to. Hershberger started the playoffs with 11 points and three assists, followed it up with 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists in a nailbiting win that came down to the final possession, and also battled with one of the top guards in the state until the final whistle in a loss where he put up 14 points and three assists. Hershberger is a player that I am excited to see grow and his run in the playoffs was a fun one to watch.