Metro State Team Camp: Top Prospects and Top Teams

The talented coaching staff at Metro State University, led by the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame legend, Tanya Haave, hosted a camp that drew some 4A and 5A contenders last weekend. There was definitely enough talent in the gym to highlight a few teams and players who impressed: <strong>Doherty 5-0</strong>  The Spartans ran the table with their toughest games coming in close wins over Skyview and Green Mountain. This group looks like they spent the spring in a weightlifting camp. The 5A #7 seed from last season is strong at all five spots. <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="95177" first="Payton" last="Sterk"] (2022, 5’10") is a threat to score every time she touches the ball. At 42% behind the arc, the 5’10" guard draws a ton of help and gives her teammates the daylight to operate.</li> <li>Sterk is surrounded by shutdown defenders, especially [player_tooltip player_id="263607" first="Tahlaya" last="Biglow"] (2024, 5’5") and Gabby Beauperthuy (2022, 5’11").</li> </ul> [caption id="attachment_298381" align="alignright" width="150"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/06/JaydaMaves.jpg"><img class="wp-image-298381 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/06/JaydaMaves-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="95215" first="Jayda" last="Maves"][/caption]<strong>Green Mountain 4-1</strong>  The Rams secured a nice comeback win over Skyview and three blowout wins, losing only to Doherty’s top group. <ul> <li>Midway through the Douglas County game [player_tooltip player_id="95215" first="Jayda" last="Maves"] left the planet and spent about three hours in the stratosphere before returning back to earth. She dropped 33 points against Douglas County and 25 against another Doherty team while up there.</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="117693" first="Avery" last="Oaster"] commanded the paint throughout the weekend and took occasional strolls to the perimeter to knock down about one three-pointer per game just to keep teams honest. Equally confident with her left as her right, Oaster cannot be guarded one on one.</li> <li>Olivia Sears alternated baskets and assists on seemingly every possession. The Rams put the ball in her hands a lot and she gets it where it’s dangerous.</li> </ul> <strong>Skyview 3-2</strong>  The Wolverines almost knocked off both Green Mountain and Doherty, playing each team closely to the final minute. One of the only teams in Colorado not allowed to play the shortened 2021 season, Skyview is back with a vengeance and will push into 4A’s top-10. <ul> <li>If you didn’t take [player_tooltip player_id="117724" first="Mikylah" last="Espinosa"] seriously when she was scoring 18.2 PPG [caption id="attachment_298371" align="alignright" width="150"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/06/Liv.jpg"><img class="wp-image-298371 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/06/Liv-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a> Olivia Sears[/caption] playing in 3A for The Academy, then maybe a 28 point performance against Green Mountain will get her on your radar. With great handles, she’s a one-woman press breaker and her aggressiveness puts pressure right back on defenses that try to pressure her. Skyview’s in for a big year with this addition.</li> <li>Jenni Jaramillo logged a 15 point/15 rebound/5 assist line in Skyview’s toughest game against Doherty, nearly willing her team to a big upset. Her physical presence can’t be missed and her finesse is quickly catching up to her strength.</li> </ul> <strong>Westminster 3-2 </strong>New coach, new brand of basketball. Westy brought an even faster-paced, high-pressure brand of play than normal under new head coach, Dante Ramos. <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="216639" first="Ashley" last="Alvarez"] (2024, 5’6") combines her speed to fly around the floor creating chaos for opponents and her strength to muscle for 7.0 RPG. She’ll build on last year’s 8.0 PPG performance.</li> <li>The Wolves’ speed on defense is part of what makes [player_tooltip player_id="95233" first="Alexei" last="Trujillo"] (2023, 5’5") so dangerous on offense. They find her immediately after steals and she makes teams pay (35% three-point shooting, 17.1 PPG).</li> </ul> <strong>Littleton 1-4</strong> The Lions’ 1-4 camp record was just a few plays away from being 4-1. As their young, athletic guards gain experience look for Littleton to improve on an already strong 10-5 record from this past season. Littleton could showcase a 6’1", 6’0", 5’10", 5’9" lineup at the two through five positions. <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="216728" first="Penny" last="Urquhart"] (2024, 5’9") is clearly on track to build on a terrific freshmen campaign that saw her lead her team in points (9.5) and steals (2.5) per game. She defends every spot, shoots well, drives, creates, feeds her team’s pride of posts, and does it all in a way that shows she loves the game. She’s fun to watch and is in for a big year.</li> <li>Dalana Jakovljevic (2023, 6’0") is a force inside and, along with [player_tooltip player_id="216656" first="Jacy" last="Chandler"] (2024, 5’10") who is drenched with potential and a great athlete, the Lions have been built for success.</li> </ul> <strong>Chatfield 1-4</strong>  The Chargers weren’t at full steam so their record is misleading but they still had a couple of players turn some heads. <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="95173" first="Grace" last="Talbot"] was her normal, playmaking self, scoring a consistent 16 points a game and improving on her already strong finishing skills.</li> <li>She’s joined by 2025 sharpshooter, Jordyn Reed, who is shooting her way into the lineup for a Chargers team that’s now a clear top tier Jeffco 5A contender. Chatfield was 6-2 in league and 11-4 overall last season.</li> </ul>