Top Unsigned Seniors in Colorado: Bonus Edition
There are still plenty of unsigned seniors in Colorado talented enough to make an impact at the collegiate level. Some have D-I upside, while others project more to D-II or D-III/NAIA. Below is a bonus edition of a series on…
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Continue ReadingThere are still plenty of unsigned seniors in Colorado talented enough to make an impact at the collegiate level. Some have D-I upside, while others project more to D-II or D-III/NAIA.
Below is a bonus edition of a series on the top unsigned seniors state-wide:
Will Halfon, 6-1 guard, Cherry Creek
Halfon averaged 20.2 points in probably Colorado’s toughest 2016 league. The Bruin has drawn some interest from D-I programs as a potential preferred walk-on as his shooting ability—48 percent from field, 46 percent from three, 87 percent at line—was often second to none as a senior. His game took off in 2016 and he’s a solid student on top of that.
TJ Clark Jr., 6-0 point guard, Liberty
Clark is hyper-athletic and can put the ball in the basket (17.4 ppg). His slashing is a bit ahead of his shooting touch, but he could be a weapon for a small-college program. He’s really grown into a high-level player and showed it as a senior.
Jackson Everhart, 6-4 guard, Fossil Ridge
Everhart was a two-year starter for a strong program and averaged 15.4 points as a senior. He’s an excellent student, a bigger guard and a strong all-around player. The Sabercat defends really hard and has a tough mid-range game. Looking at D-II programs.
Colton McLean, 6-3 guard, Windsor
McLean has been known to snap the net (13.4 ppg, 41 percent from three, 91 percent from line), but he also made a habit of being clutch in key games, even draining a game-winner to take out Rocky Mountain in the season opener. He’s a valuable catch-and-shoot guy who could fit in nicely on an NAIA program or something comparable.
Noah Saunders, 6-6 guard/forward, Falcon
Saunders had the Colorado Springs hoops community buzzing a bit with plenty of loud games while averaging 18.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 1.5 blocks. He honed his jumper from the mid-range and three-point line in his final high school season, allowing his offensive capabilities to expand. Saunders shouldn’t be on the market much longer.
Jesus Martinez, 6-8 forward/center, The Pinnacle
Martinez protects the paint. Long arms, solid coordination and timing led to an average of 5.1 blocks this season. Martinez also accounted for 19.7 point and 12.8 rebound averages and has a good motor. Small-college prospect who is one of state’s better unsigned post players.
Jack Fiddler, 6-4 wing, Highlands Ranch
Fiddler is a high-academic achiever who averaged 11 points and 11 rebounds. He hustles, plays both ends of the court and is a strong D-III prospect. He can also get hot shooting the ball.
Jalen Guidry, 6-1 point guard, Rangeview
Guidry is the best passer Rangeview coach Shawn Palmer has ever had, Palmer said this winter. “He’s a team captain, he gets our flow going offensively, his vision gets our guys moving and all the kids trust him,” his coach added. Guidry also possesses an explosive first step and is worth a look as a junior college prospect.
Jack Studer, 6-4 guard, Conifer
“He can score. He’s long, fast, athletic. He has a mid 30- to 40-inch vertical leap,” Conifer coach Eric Valerio said of Studer this season. “He runs a 50-second flat 400 for our track team. He’s one of those kind of do-it-all kids. He’s one of those caliber of athletes who could play 31 1/2 minutes if I time it right and get him some extended rests at the end of quarters and things like that. He’s probably the highest motor guy that I’ve ever coached.” Studer was one of the state’s most improved players this winter (18.7 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 2.9 spg) and is a D-II possibility.
Kevin Mitchell, 6-3 guard/forward, Longmont
Mitchell was a pretty big-time player for one of 4A’s best teams the past few seasons. His game sometimes goes inside to out and his perimeter skills are a bit underrated. He’s a solid, crafty and fairly athletic wing who is an intriguing small-college prospect.
Ryan Blodgett, 6-5 forward, Golden
Blodgett is a load in the paint with an imposing frame. For a top-flight 4A team, he averaged 13.7 points and nine rebounds and shot 56 percent. A bit undersized height-wise, he makes up for it with strength. Blodgett is a surefire small-college prospect as well.
Ronnie Barfield, 6-3 wing, Cherokee Trail
Barfield is a versatile weapon, an athletic and long defensive stopper with a nice offensive game. Athletically, he can make the jump to college quickly and he could be productive for a lot of college teams.
Cameron Horning, 6-3 guard, Glenwood Springs
The under-the-radar guard, and a star soccer player, Horning scored 1,361 points in his career. As one of the state’s most productive players, the guard averaged 23 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.6 steals as a senior in 4A. He also snapped the net to the tune of 52 percent from three and 60 treys. Mostly unheralded but an outstanding player.
Jake Ellis, 6-3 guard, Castle View
Ellis, who has received interest from some D-II/D-III programs, was steady and tough as a senior while averaging 13.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists. He’s a creator offensively and has some scoring ability.
Cameron Pearson, 5-11 point guard, Chatfield
Pearson helped lead the Chargers to their first Final 4 since 1996, and it was in Colorado’s highest classification. He’s a tremendously driven player on and off the court and is a pretty shifty point guard. He’s really skilled and finished as one of the state’s top perimeter shooters while averaging 13.6 points. Pearson has grown into a potential impact player at the small-college level.
Josh Mohammed, 6-1 guard, James Irwin
Mohammed was extremely productive on the glass for a guard (7.7 rpg) and, as usual, was a pest at both ends for the Jaguars as a senior. He averaged 18.8 points during his career and is a worth a look at the non-Division I levels.
Jack Peck, 6-3 guard, Heritage
Peck poured in 18.4 points per game in the stacked Continental League. He scored in a number of fashions and had a great career for the Eagles with over 1,000 points. He’s our No. 61 prospect in 2016, an impact recruit for a smaller college.
Tyler Stevenson, 6-2 guard, Overland
Stevenson is impressive physically with speed and pretty good size. As a valuable role player for the 5A state champion Trailblazers, the guard could be a small-college or junior college recruit. He’s a solid player who defends well.
Isaac Hirsch, 6-4 guard, Rock Canyon
Hirsch was a major contributor for one of 5A’s better teams. His body has matured really well (around 200 pounds) and he still plays with smarts and poise. Hirsch averaged 12.1 points, 8.6 rebounds and three assists as a senior. He is also a valuable shooter. Good small-college prospect.
Relando Rogers, 6-9 forward/center, Far Northeast
Rogers missed his senior season with a foot injury, but displayed outstanding growth this summer and fall. He has size and strength that can’t be taught and, while a fairly raw player, Rogers could develop into a capable collegiate big man at the D-II level after further seasoning at likely a junior college.
Patrick Vasquez, 6-1 guard, Fort Lupton
Vasquez, who has received looks from junior colleges and D-II programs, broke out to the tune of senior averages of 16.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists and two steals for the Blue Devils. He went wild for 39 points in a victory over Erie. Vasquez is still working on his shooting touch, but it continues to improve.