2019 Rankings Breakdown: Top Guards And Sleepers To Watch
The 2019 class in the state of Idaho is as intriguing as ever as the top half of this class in our rankings seem to step it up often for their teams when they need them most. From impact players to potential late bloomers, there are plenty of prospects to find in our latest 2019 rankings. Similar to the 2018 class, top players can be found from the 5A level down to the 1AII, talent is rich across the state regarding the 2019 class.
Below is a break down of our latest update to the 2019 class. As always, PHID will continue to track and follow the state’s top talent and stay up to date on players who deserve and earn a boost up the rankings as they continue to take shape. Stay tuned!
Guard Heavy Class
With 15 of our top 20 players in the 2019 class rankings hovering close to 6’0, you can say with ease that this class is dominated by the guard position. But, the smaller sized ballers in the top 20 have some serious game and have also been putting up some monster lines this season for their respective schools. Starting first with our top ranked player of the class, Jake Poulton, in 11 games the tenacious leader for Columbia averaged 19.1 points per game, good for third overall in the 5A SIC. Poulton has also averaged 3.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game over that same stretch. He is dynamic and clearly worthy of our top spot leading this class going into the latter portion of this season.
Behind Poulton is a small school stud in Johnny Hillman from Genesis Prep. One of Hillman’s highlights this season can be seen from his team’s December trip down to San Diego, where the gifted scorer’s performance helped him earn our Player of the Week honors from 12/25-1/1. Hillman posted 24 points including the go ahead layup in a win over El Cerrito followed by a 24 point effort in a loss to Mater Dei Chula Vista, 43-57. Next, Hillman finished with 14 points in a loss to Spanish Springs, 54-66. In their final game at the National Under Armor Holiday Classic, Hillman poured in 18 points in a win 48-46 over British Columbia Christian.
Hillman should continue his dominating ways as Genesis Prep moves ahead in their impressive season where they have posted a 5-0 record in conference play.
Ellis Magnuson has been a flat out beast for Borah, who remain undefeated in 5A. The Lions have put together a tremendous season thus far and in part are led by Magnuson as the well-rounded and incredibly tough player continues to do a little bit of everything out on the court. Whether it is scoring or assists, the mustached guard brings it every single time he’s out on the court. Magnuson could move up to the top spot by the season’s end, but is certainly a top 5 player in the 2019 class.
Deshun Harwell has been loads of fun to follow and watch this season for Century as the skilled guard has been a steady force for the Diamondbacks. While he doesn’t explode for points typically, he can impact the game at multiple levels. The team has remained above .500 and that is large part due to Harwell’s tough, gritty play. A player to track and follow as the season progresses and we won’t be surprised if he in fact moves up our rankings by season’s end.
Vallivue’s Amoro Lado is another guard in this class who has impressed us this season as he has expanded his impact on the game and has helped Vallivue by leading different statistical categories throughout the season. Skilled defensively, keep an eye on Lado and the Falcons as we move further into the season. Andy Ford (Timberline), Troy Patterson (Kuna), Cole Alton (Boise), Zack Welch (Wallace), Javen Woodall (Meridian), Emmitt Plummer (Boise), Cole Lake (Eagle), Justin Radford (Nampa), Gabe Gallegos (Vallivue) and DeVaughn Williams (Borah) are all valuable guards for their respective teams and could shoot up our rankings with more solid play as they have already shown they’re capable of this season.
Sleepers and Potential Risers
While Michael Ure at Ririe is hardly a sleeper, he is a potential riser as he continues to post 20 point plus games and lead his team. Despite playing for a small school like Ririe, Ure has been impossible not to follow and notice this season with his excellent play and could sneak up our rankings even higher by the end of the season. There is no doubting that Ure will continue his scoring ways for Ririe
Madison’s Spencer Hathaway has hit our radar often this season and with more 20 point plus games from him and shown leadership which he has done so this season, we could see this 6’3 forward move up the 2019 list with ease by season’s end. The same can be said for Twin Falls big man Mitchell Brizee who at a listed 6’8 is one of the few bigs in the 2019 class who has caught our attention and looks like a riser down the stretch for sure. Genesis Prep’s Kon Ajang looks very intriguing as seen here:
Kon Ajang ‘19 of @GPA_Jaguars at @TP_HdayClassic pic.twitter.com/JtdVp773TZ
— NateThoreson (@NateThoreson) December 30, 2017
While Borah’s Biggie Bergerson, Bryant Corbridge (Malad), Faust Ystueta (Twin Falls), and Garrett Hawkes (North Fremont) all look the part for a bump up our rankings when the next 2019 class rankings drops.