2022 Rankings Update: Taking a look at the big fellas
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A highly anticipated 2022 class has been updated, and this was our most difficult class yet. We added over 70 players to the class and saw plenty of shakeup from top to bottom. With as much talent in the class,…
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Continue ReadingA highly anticipated 2022 class has been updated, and this was our most difficult class yet. We added over 70 players to the class and saw plenty of shakeup from top to bottom. With as much talent in the class, it was difficult to compose, but we got it. Here we take a look at the big fellas.
Joey Bilello Joey Bilello 6'8" | SF Thunderridge | 2022 State CO – Thunder Ridge
Bilello comes in as the top forward in the class after a season where he filled in every single hole that ThunderRidge needed him to, and is a big reason that they ended the year as the 5A state champs. Bilello is as steady as they come and balanced. At 6’7 and the ability to open up the floor with his outside shooting, Biello becomes a tough cover for smaller players and is willing to battle with the bigger players as well. Bilello runs the offense to perfection, has an excellent motor, and makes the right decision with the ball. He’s a zone buster that looks to score but is totally fine just doing the small things as well. Bilello put up 11.8 points and 5.4 rebounds a game in his junior season and was a big part of the rotation. He stepped up most when it mattered as he averaged 13.2 points a game in the playoffs and had some big-time baskets and stops to help the team continue to advance. He is a player that stars in his role, can fit into any setting, and is productive with or without the ball. He’s the No.12 player in the class and can play positions 3-5.
James Shiers James Shiers 7'1" | C Mead | 2022 State CO – Mead
Shiers has had the most to prove with him being a 7-footer, and those expectations can weigh heavy on a kid. “He’s so tall, to not be able to do this,” “he’s so big that he should be doing that.” Nobody is ever satisfied. But that’s okay because the 7-foot junior standout had a sensational season and silenced the critics. Shiers did it in his own way as he put up 11.4 points and 9.6 rebounds a game as his team was crowned the 4A state champions this season. His teammate was the 4A player of the year, but that is a responsibility that was shared as Shiers was just as valuable in different ways. Shiers controlled the paint, showcased what he had worked on over the summer as a more capable scorer, and took over in games when locked in. Shiers had a few double-doubles this season and a breakout performance where he put up 10 points and 21 rebounds. He blocked 4.1 shots a game, altered plenty more, and was a 1st Team All-State member. He is the No.1 big man in the class.
Anthony Harris Jr.– Smoky Hill
Anthony Harris Jr. being springy is a bit understated. The conversation should be surrounded by the idea that he may perhaps be the most athletic player in the state, regardless of the sport. The highlight dunks, jaw-dropping finishes, and alley-oop flushes are enough to fill up a jar, but what AHJ was able to show as a complete player, especially down the home stretch, has us ready for a huge senior season. The normal dunks and blocks off the backboard were there, but his ability to affect the game as a complete basketball player was new for us. AHJ hit a few 3-pointers to keep the defense honest, moved without the ball for slashes and aerial attacks, and also went inside and battled. AHJ used his athleticism for rebounds and extra scoring opportunities and looked like one of the top players in the class down the final stretch of the season. He averaged 12.3 points and 10.5 rebounds a game. He had nine double-doubles on the year and looked comfortable with the ball in his hands this year and became more of a ballhandler which opened up the rest of his game. He comes in as the No.2 forward in the class, and it will be a highly anticipated senior year for him.
Aguir Dawam Aguir Dawam 6'7" | C Denver East | 2022 State CO – Denver East
Dawam is a player that made the jump as we got to see a bit more of him, and he opened up more to his game as the season progressed. At 6’7 and strong as a bull, he already has an advantage over the players that the Angels are up against, and once you mix in the ability to run the floor, the coordination to grab the ball and finish and also compete down low, you have a near-complete big man. Dawam crashes the boards, finishes at or above the rim, and is locked in defensively. He’s not easily backed down, switches onto guards, and holds his own against other top bigs. He averaged 12.1 points and 7.8 rebounds on the season, but it was the defense that stood out. Dawam had 3.5 blocks a game, two of which he had seven blocks, and a career-high of nine stuffs in one game. When he was on the floor, he was East’s second line of defense. He makes the jump to the No. 2 big man in the class and No. 18 overall.