Breakout Candidates in Colorado: Class of 2021 Part 2

The high school basketball season has been pushed back to January in Colorado so we’ll all have to wait a bit longer. But while we do, there have been plenty of players who we’ve kept a close watch on and it’s clear that they’re poised for breakout seasons once everyone returns to their respective gyms and competition resumes. Some of them have been crushing it on various grassroots circuits, others will have greater opportunity to shine in 2021. All of them are already talented and simply on the verge of a big-time step forward, and be sure to check out Part 1 if you missed it. Over the next few months, be sure to familiarize yourself with these players. While they may not be household names nationally just yet, expect their stocks to rise as they climb the ranks in Colorado.  

Anna Hefner Anna Hefner 5'11" | PF Erie | 2021 State CO , 5’11, PF, Erie The Erie girls basketball team gets plenty of attention for good reason since the Tigers have numerous prospects on their roster. Hefner, however, is a player who flies under the radar but won’t for very much longer. This 5-foot-11 post sets the tone and is a key glue player for the Tigers, and Hefner can be counted on like clockwork to do all the little things her team needs in order to win at a high level. The Erie girls reached the Class 4A Great 8 last winter and that likely doesn’t happen without Hefner playing tough defense down low and leading the team with 7.2 rebounds per game. While she doesn’t currently do a ton of scoring because of her many responsibilities on a team with more than a few talented perimeter scorers, Hefner could still be counted on for 10 points a night as a junior. More importantly, her teammates and coaches trusted Hefner to hit more than a few clutch shots in 2019-20. https://x.com/BradCochi/status/1224877412942565379

Dasiya Jones Dasiya Jones 6'0" | SF Grandview | 2021 State CO , 6’0, SF, Grandview Jones is yet another in a long line of players who have had to wait for their time to shine in an absolutely loaded Grandview program. But Jones is not longer flying under the radar, as she has been crushing it this grassroots season with Pro Skills Basketball. As a result, Jones has reportedly received offers from Western Colorado University and Regis University. Those will end up being the first of many. Standing six feet tall, Jones is an exceptional athlete with great length and good footwork. Her physical tools combined with her ball-handling ability make Jones a real problem in the open floor who can also get past defenders and finish at the rim in the half court. As a junior last season, Jones averaged 4.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, two assists, 1.1 steals and nearly a block a night. Expect those numbers to increase with Jones getting more opportunities this spring. https://x.com/CourtsideFilms/status/1288522292838969347 Samantha Jones Samantha Jones 6'0" | SF Regis Jesuit | 2021 State CO , 6’0, SF, Regis Jesuit An excellent athlete with a high motor, Jones is already well known for her ability to lock down and create turnovers at the defensive end. In 2019-20, she also showed the makings of a dangerous left-handed jump shot, shooting 40 percent from the field on just 25 attempts that included a 5-for-7 night from long range against Ponderosa on Feb. 21. Add to the mix her great footwork, above-average speed for a six-foot player and her leaping ability, Jones has all the makings of the special player head coach Carl Mattei fully expects to her to be in the spring of 2021. Jones thrived on the fast break and helping generate offense for her considerably talented teammates, posting a stat line of 10.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 0.6 blocks in 2019-20. With a void to fill and a step forward to be taken, expect Jones to have a monster senior season when high school basketball returns to Colorado starting in January.

Amiya Robinson Amiya Robinson 5'9" | PF Mountain Vista | 2021 State CO , 5’9, PF, Mountain Vista Mountain Vista head coach Mike Willahan said in November that he believes Robinson could develop into the Golden Eagles’ best all-around player and that the biggest thing holding her back was confidence and finding a way to be more aggressive. Playing beside a pair of quality senior who rightfully dominated the ball in 2019-20, Robinson averaged 8.2 points and 3.2 rebounds a night. She was also incredibly efficient, shooting 50 percent from the floor. Robinson also showed flashes of the aggression Willahan is hoping for in the form of two 15-points games, in which she went 7 for 7 and 7 for 8, respectively. Those aforementioned seniors have graduated and if there was ever a time for Robinson to flip the switch and get the most out of her athleticism and skill, it is this upcoming season. We think she’ll do it. Madison Shepard Madison Shepard 5'5" | SG Chatfield | 2021 State CO , 5’5, SG, Chatfield Shepard looked poised for a breakout last season but tore her ACL in an October fall league game and missed all of her junior year. But following some significant and intense rehab, the Chargers guard is back and healthy now. Head coach Kindcaid Bimler said Shepard has looked pretty good in some 3-on-3 this offseason and has become a much better shooter because she spent a lot of time last season on the sidelines practicing her shot. The hope is she can fill a new role while getting back up to speed heading into January, giving the Chargers another compliment to rising junior and 20-point scorer Grace Talbot Grace Talbot 5'6" | PG Chatfield | 2022 State CO . If Shepard, who is also a talented softball player, can return to her original form when it comes to driving and attacking the basket, then she’ll be a real handful as a better-shooting version of the sophomore who averaged 8.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.5 steals in 2018-19.