Top Standouts from Reebok Memorial Weekend & IHoop Tournaments
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The last two weekends I was able to check out the Reebok Memorial Weekend tournament held at Gold Crown in Lakewood, CO. and the IHoop Summer Kickoff tournament held at The Courts in Northglenn, CO. While there were many great…
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Continue ReadingThe last two weekends I was able to check out the Reebok Memorial Weekend tournament held at Gold Crown in Lakewood, CO. and the IHoop Summer Kickoff tournament held at The Courts in Northglenn, CO. While there were many great performers at these events I wanted to highlight the top performers.
Here’s what I saw from these standouts.:
Essynce Contreraz Essynce Contreraz 5'5" | CG Holy Family | 2024 State CO | 5-5 PG | Sophomore | Holy Family High School
I have been covering/scouting/recruiting players, both boys and girls, for 20 plus years and from time time to time run across players who really catch my eye. Contreraz is that type of player. See is a do it all point guard who just finished her freshman year of High School varsity ball and has a very bright future. I had the pleasure of catching her and her team in a very intense semi-final game that went into overtime. Contreraz ability to handle ball pressure and make solid decisions under pressure is one of her most valuable skills but her game doesn’t stop there. She is also a lock down defender and can score both on the drive or from the outside. She is also very adept at creating turnovers with her pressure and anticipation. She is a scrapper and that type of mentality is something you either have or don’t. As I mentioned earlier she is a do it all point guard every team and coach would love to have. She did lead her team to the victory in overtime with a clutch steal and free throws. I’m excited to see her playing career develop because she has next level talent.
Saya Sabus Saya Sabus 5'9" | CG Ralston Valley | 2022 State CO | 5-8 SG/CG/F | Senior | Ralston Valley High School
Sabus is an attacking scoring combo guard/forward. She has good size and score from anywhere on the floor. She has a very nice midrange game, a drive and finish game, and can knockdown the three ball from way downtown. Her team clearly looks to her to handle those aspects and she continuously delivered. Beyond her scoring, which is tough to overlook because she does it so naturally, she is very smooth on the floor. What I mean by that is she seems to be able to play fast but all while being very under control. That is a sign of next level ability. In addition to being a natural scorer she is a very solid rebounder and defender. She can match up against quicker guards/forwards and also guard taller players in the post and holds her own with her physicality. I’m excited to see how her senior year unfolds and where she will potentially end up playing next year!
Amanda Byrnes Amanda Byrnes 6'1" | PF Brighton | 2023 State CO | 6-1 F/C | Junior | Brighton High School
Byrnes is the modern games version of the big in the middle. Defensively she has very good size and is quick enough to cover the entire paint to either get a rebound, disrupt or block a shot and she can also hold her own physically against low post players. I like her length and it was apparent many times on the defensive end of the floor. On the offensive end she can score inside or from midrange, hit the offensive boards and create second chance opportunities for her team to score, and dish out assists. She is a perfect modern games version of an all purpose big in the middle. Byrnes will only be a junior next year and is one to keep an eye to see how her game continues to develop.
Tathis Arnedondo | 5-6 SG/CG | Junior | Greeley Central High School
Arnedondo is an all purpose player. She always seems to be in the right place at the right time, can score and defend. She can drive and finish, shoot the three or score from midrange, and she is a solid rebounder as well. She is also not afraid to finish in traffic against much taller players and is crafty at doing so. When she isn’t finishing inside against taller defenders she can step back and knock down the three ball or dish out an assist to a teammate. Arnedondo is heading into her Junior year and I’m excited to keep an eye out for this up and comer.
Amirah Pena | 5-5 PG | Freshman | Vista Peak High School
Pena is the youngest player I covered this past weekend who played up as a rising Freshman. She showed no signs of being younger against the older competition and is a very solid point guard with a very bright future. Pena can handle all of the ball duties, dish out assists, finish in the midrange or at the bucket and also hit from way downtown. With her High School career just starting I’m excited to keep an eye out for how she develops and what the future holds for her.