Rocky Mountain Mayhem: 17U Second Team All-Tourney

The margin that separated the first and second teams in Denver was razor-thin and these players were also some of the absolute best I have seen on the Dynasty Region so far this year. There were some big-time scorers in the "Mile High City" and these players completely earned the recognition they are getting here with their hard work all weekend long. Congratulations to everyone who made the list! <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="216642" first="Alexis" last="Baker"] | 5-9 G | Colorado Hoopsters 2023 / Thunder Ridge | 2024 </strong> Alexis stood out from the start of the tournament because she was in on every single play for her Hoopsters squad. She is a tall guard who is strong and very physical. She is a tough player who defends very well. Baker has quick hands to knock the ball loose from her opponent and the speed to beat them down the court on the fast break. She is a tremendous slasher with very good handles and the ability to get "downhill" in a hurry to finish at the rim. She is unafraid to go inside and finish among the bigs. She also got off a few very quick three-pointers. Alexis looks to have all of the makings of a Division-I guard should she continue to work at her craft and develop. The sky really is the limit for this tremendous all-around athlete. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="145419" first="Bree" last="Bunting"] | 5-8 G | NOCO Triple Threat Elite 2023 / Platte Valley | 2023 | <a href="https://x.com/bree_bunting">@bree_bunting</a></strong> Bree is another very long, talented guard who stood out from the jump on day one. She goes hard all game long and is just absolutely relentless. I’m sure it is awful for the opponent, but seeing her play that kind of suffocating defense is very, very fun to watch. She can shoot it, for sure, but more than that she is an unbelievable point guard. She has the handles and confidence that you want and one of the notes that I wrote and circled several times while watching her was, "ALWAYS MAKES THE RIGHT READ." When she looks up and watches her teammates work, she seemed to always run the play to perfection. Bunting is clearly someone who understands the game and knows the purpose of the play as well as the way it needs to be executed. She is prepared when things don’t go as planned and is just a joy to watch on both ends of the floor. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="145424" first="Kenlee" last="Durrill"] | 5-10 F | Colorado Basketball Club 2023 UAA / Flatirons Academy | 2023 | <a href="https://x.com/DurrillKenlee">@DurrillKenlee</a></strong> One of the most well-rounded scorers I saw all weekend long, Kenlee can get buckets in a variety of ways. She is a player who really has a feel for when she has the space to get her shot off and just has a great touch from almost anywhere. A true three-level scorer, she is very hard to defend. She uses her great handles and ability to change speeds to throw her defender off balance and at the first sign that she has a bit of space, she lets it fly. She finishes strong inside, especially after rebounding. Durrill just will not be denied down low. She is a hard worker on defense and it is clear to see why she is one of the highest-rated players in the class of 2023. <strong>Fiona Snashall | 6-2 G/F | BC Denver 2023 / Holy Family | 2023 | <a href="https://x.com/FionaSnashall">@FionaSnashall</a></strong> Immediately upon seeing Fiona play, I wrote "looks D-I" in my notebook. When a player is 6’2" and moves with such ease while also being unafraid and completely able to handle the ball, you get the sense that Division-I basketball is most likely in their future. As the weekend progressed and Snashall scored double-digits in every game, it only strengthened my opinion. She is a "stretch four" who really could play every position on the floor for you. She hits the three consistently with a lightning-fast stroke from long range. She rebounds well and does a good job securing the ball with a strong grip and keeping it held high and tight away from those pesky smaller players. She can push it up the floor herself if need be or pass it off to a guard in order to go to work down low. When she does, she showed the ability to fight hard for position in the post and the footwork to finish consistently, even against the biggest defenders. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="422956" first="Dessirae" last="Ulmer"] | 6-0 F | Rising Stars 2023 / Fountain Fort Carson | 2024 | <a href="https://x.com/dessirae_u">@dessirae_u</a></strong> Dessirae stood out from the start because of her willingness to work hard inside on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. As the weekend went on, I noticed more and more little things that make me think that even though she is a sophomore now, she could develop into a top-level prospect before all is said and done. She showed the ability to not only handle the ball at six feet tall but also split double teams and dribble into and out of traffic. She is a good free-throw shooter, which I always say means that she can definitely develop into a good three-point shooter. As she gained confidence over the course of the weekend, the personality of her play shone through and her scoring totals increased. The sky truly is the limit for this young "big" and I will definitely be keeping an eye on Colorado to see how things develop for young [player_tooltip player_id="422956" first="Dessirae" last="Ulmer"]!