Potential Breakout Players in 2019-20 Part 1

Due to the cyclical environment of high school sports in which top players inevitably leave on graduation day, each new season presents opportunities for relative unknowns to burst onto the scene and shine. Let’s take a look at some players who appear to be poised for their breakouts to come during the 2019-20 prep campaign. &nbsp; <strong>Jessica Hoffman, 2020, 5-5, G, Broomfield</strong> Throughout the Eagles’ run to the 5A Great 8 last winter, then-senior Steph Peterson deservedly garnered a lot of the attention. Meanwhile, Hoffman built a reputation as a bulldog type of player that doesn’t back down at the defensive end of the floor. She also averaged 9.3 points and three rebounds a game. Well Peterson is gone and Eagles head coach Mike Croell said Hoffman will be asked to do more this season so expect the scoring numbers to go up. If Hoffman comes into her own the way Broomfield hopes she will, she could develop into a solid Division-II recruit as a senior. &nbsp; <strong>Lydia Marshall, 2020, 5-8, PG/SG, Liberty</strong> The Liberty Lancers won 16 games last season and reached the second round of the 5A playoffs with Marshall averaging 13.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.7 steals per game. So she’s certainly not off the radar, but Liberty coach Monty Taylor thinks she has a chance to be player of the year in the Colorado Springs Metro League. “Lydia is just a great kid and a strong player,” Taylor said. “She might not pass the eye test in the way some other girls do, but she gets more out of her ability than a lot other players with more talent.” &nbsp; <strong>Ashayla Powers, 2020, 5-10, F, Skyline</strong> When it comes to girls basketball, the Tri-Valley League doesn’t get the same amount of attention that several of the other leagues in Colorado do. But outside of the spotlight and playing for a rebuilding program, Powers put up a line of 15.9 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.4 steals per games while leading the Falcons to the playoffs in 2018-19. Flanked by athletic guard Alyssa McKrola and 5-foot-11 Lindrey Schendel, Powers could be in line for an even bigger season this winter. If the Falcons can make it back to the postseason and make a run, people will have to take notice. &nbsp; <strong>Iyahnni Qualls, 2020, 5-3, PG, George Washington</strong> Injuries have prevented Qualls from playing a full season in any of her first three years in high school. But it’s looking like she’s good to go now, according to GW head coach Keithan Lyons. That means the Patriots get back their steals machine that has a knack for taking the ball away whether that is defending the ball handler or anticipating passes in the lanes and had 101 steals in just 15 games last winter. Qualls is also a good passer, slasher and shooter, and averaged 11.5 points, 3.5 assists and 3.4 rebounds to go with her 6.7 steals as a junior. Together, Qualls and junior Maya Whiteside should be a real handful for a young but talented George Washington team. &nbsp; <strong>Taylor Ray, 2022, 6-0, G, Highlands Ranch</strong> Ray saw limited minutes for a deep and talented Highlands Ranch team last season but even in that senior-laden lineup, she was able to finish sixth on the team in scoring with 4.0 points per game as a freshman while also averaging 2.8 rebounds and nearly a steal per game. The incoming sophomore played this past summer with coach Caryn Jarocki on the Colorado Basketball Club’s top team and became more of a threat as a shooter. Already six feet tall, Ray gets lots of offensive put-backs and has a knack for making clutch plays that can turn the tide in games. Look for Ray to pair with teammate Payton Muma and several others to power the latest retooling playoff run for perennial power Highlands Ranch.