Six Colorado Sophomores Who Earned All-State Honors

This time of year gives coaches and scouts like me a good starting point for building a watch list, and honors like the All-State teams are part of that process. The Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) released its All-State teams last Thursday. While those lists do not always tell the full story — especially for underclassmen, who are often overlooked in favor of older players — they still shine a light on plenty of talent. These Colorado sophomores put up real numbers, showed legitimate next-level potential, and are players I will be tracking closely this summer.   Here are six sophomores who earned CHSAA All-State honors and stood out this past season:    Sebi Adams was a huge reason why Evergreen made it to the 4A state championship, earning First Team All-State honors along the way. Adams matched up with two fellow First Teamers in the semifinal and championship and more than held his own. The most impressive part of those games was his versatility. In the championship, he handled himself well against a long-dodging midfielder from up top, which is not always a comfortable spot for most close defenders. Adams has also shown he can defend effectively behind the cage and on the island.   What makes him so good is the combination of strength and footwork. He has the quick feet to run with smaller, quicker dodgers and the strength to body up and hold physical dodgers (legally) with his stick. When the ball hits the turf, he is reliable, finishing with 52 ground balls, and he has the handle to be dependable in transition. Adams has a high ceiling for the next level and is a defender to pay attention to when watching the Colorado Kings this summer.     [player_tooltip player_id='177775' first='Alex' last='Winter'] earned Second Team All-State honors after tallying 35 goals and 21 assists. He was the only sophomore named to either the First or Second Team All-State list in 5A. A ton of his production comes from his speed and change of direction. As a dodger, he has the quickness to blow past defenders, and even poles have a hard time getting a stick on him. When you add in his re-dodges, hitch moves, and overall change of direction, defenses had a tough time figuring out how to guard him. As a shooter, he catches the ball “loaded” extremely well on step-downs and also generates plenty of quality shots for himself on the run with both hands. He can finish from a variety of release points, off jump shots, in tight spaces, and with pressure on him. Winter is a player to know as Team 91 Colorado hits the summer circuit.     The offensive trio of Andrew Neilson, Alex Sirois, and [player_tooltip player_id='177781' first='EJ' last='Hines'] made Air Academy a tough cover for opposing defenses this year. Hines earned Second Team All-State honors after putting up 41 goals and 33 assists. The sophomore did damage from all over the field: behind the cage, off the ball, and in the two-man game. As a dodger, he is super deceptive, never staring down where he wants to go, and not afraid to mix in left-handed takes to keep defenses honest.   The best part of his game is his shiftiness. He can split and roll dodge on a dime to leave defenders behind in isolation. Once you add a pick into the equation, he becomes even tougher to handle. He was great at using picks and rejecting them with his change of direction, which made him an extremely hard player to scout and one that defenses were forced to slide to. When those slides came, Hines showed that he sees the field well and can feed with both hands. The sophomore has all the tools to thrive at the next level, and this summer will be a great test to see if he can continue that success against top-tier competition.     [player_tooltip player_id='177777' first='Dylan' last='Hufford']'s sheer length is almost enough on its own to explain how he earned first-team all-state honors in Colorado's 4A class. He is a defender who uses his height and pole so well that it almost feels like a cheat code. He gets into passing lanes, throws nasty pokes, and plays “big” when it comes to slowing down defensive rotations. Hufford is the type of defender who rarely seems to get beaten. He has the footwork to stay in front of his matchup, and even when an opponent gains a step, he has the reach to get over the head or land a trail check. Hufford is one defender I'll be circling when I watch Denver Elite this summer.     [player_tooltip player_id='174050' first='Nate' last='Moatz'] earned First Team All-State honors in Colorado's 4A class after putting up 60 goals and 30 assists at Aspen High. The 4A class is not the toughest competition, but 90 points as a sophomore is still production you cannot ignore. The righty-dominant attackman did a lot of his damage on step-downs and shifty dodges, primarily from the righty wing. Aspen set up plenty of seal plays for him, which gave him chances to show off his time-and-room shot. He can vary his release points and get his hands free around defenders, making him a tough cover and a difficult read for goalies. As a dodger, he creates a ton of advantages and shot opportunities with his change of direction and his ability to cut off defenders like a point guard in basketball. When those chances come, he places the ball well and is not afraid to finish in front and take a hit.     After going over 72% at the X this year, [player_tooltip player_id='177779' first='Ethan' last='King'] earned All-State honorable mention recognition in Colorado's competitive 5A class. He does not have the top-end size, but he is incredibly quick in three key areas: his hands, exits, and feet. He has the hand speed to win the clamp, the reaction time to counter, and the IQ to get out quick and clean. Once he has the ball, he has the speed to run past pressure and a reliable enough stick to push transition. This summer will be the real test. Can he continue that success against top competition from all over? That is something worth checking in on.

This time of year gives coaches and scouts like me a good starting point for building a watch list, and honors like the All-State teams are part of that process. The Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) released its All-State teams last Thursday. While those lists do not always tell the full story — especially for underclassmen, who are often overlooked in favor of older players — they still shine a light on plenty of talent. These Colorado sophomores put up real numbers, showed legitimate next-level potential, and are players I will be tracking closely this summer.