The Force Preview
When you think of an elite basketball program that competes both in-state and out, look no further, it’s The Force. This Colorado Springs based team has been preparing student athletes for the next level as well as providing life lessons since 1985 and have some of the best coaches that you’ll find around when it pertains to player development. This summer, they bring in another strong group that’ll compete and most likely take down a tournament or two.
15U Elite
Kobey Matarazzo
Noah Ragsdale
William White
Tyler Edwards
Daniel Olivares
Colin Westfall –
Ty Wolken —
Daniel Reynolds —
Edward Speller
Players to watch:
Noah Ragsdale is a player that you build around as he has all of the small things a coach asks for. He’s coachable and disciplined while willing to learn how to progress his game to the next level. He has good size and a feel for the game and this will be a summer that he becomes a known player that gets on those who watches this team’s radar. With teammate
Colin Westfall is also on the team, this will be a year of getting some chemistry together as this will be a strong Lewis Palmer team come senior year that continues on the success the team has been having. Expect this team to win – often.
X- Factors: Ty Wolken, Daniel Olivares, Kobey Matarazzo
16U Elite
Keion White – Mesa Ridge
Emeri Palacio – Fort Collins
Thijs Angelo Derubis — Doherty
Dailen Terry – Sierra
Raymond Johnson –
Chris Cashen – Fountain Fort Carson
Joshua Rhodes – Fountain Fort Carson
Players to watch:
Dailen Terry is a 5’11 guard that knows how to put himself in a position to score. He can light it up any given night and will be a player that this unit looks to for scoring. His season high of 11 points against Mesa Ridge earlier in the year shows the upside he has and he’s a great perimeter defender that plays the passing lane well.
Joshua Rhodes is a guard with size that can also score when called upon. He played JV this year and was a key contributor both offensively and defensively. Not many guards at this age are scoring on Joshua and once he settles into his own, will be a go to player for Fountain-Fort Carson. The Force will have him ready to blossom.
X- Factors: Emeri Palacio, Keion White
17U Elite
Zachary Ring — Mesa Ridge
Matthew Ragsdale – Lewis Palmer
Julius Flores – Vista Ridge
Sean Bohuslavsky — Liberty
James Sanders – Fountain Fort Carson
Devin Williams —
Tristan Pratt – Vista Ridge
Rashon Barron – Fountain Fort Carson
Ethan Forrester – Lewis- Palmer
Gabe St. Marie—Palmer Ridge
Players to watch:
Rashon Barron was the second leading scorer for Fountain this year as he put up 8.5 points a game while also leading the team in rebounding at 6.5 rebounds a game in his junior season. At 6-foot-6 220 points, Rashon is an aggressive big man that will be asked to defend some great big men this summer, he’ll have to prove that he’s up for the task. Alongside him is Matthew Ragsdale who was incredible this year and had one of the most impressive junior campaigns in the Springs and also Sean Bohuslavsky who averages 12.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and over a steal a game also Tristan Pratt (13 points, 4.7 rebounds) that’s a forward that can do it all and this has the makings to be one of the top teams in the state this year. They’ll surely share the basketball and have plenty of players that can be called upon. This will be a fun group that will get it done and it starts in the Spring Kick-off for Prep Hoops.
X-factors: Ethan Forrester, Zachary Ring