Top efficient players (PPS) returning in 5A for Season B
When trying to measure how efficient a player is in terms of shooting and getting to the free-throw line, points-per-shot (PPS) is a good metric to use for comparison. So with a huge assist from Green Mountain coach Darren Pitzner,…
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Continue ReadingWhen trying to measure how efficient a player is in terms of shooting and getting to the free-throw line, points-per-shot (PPS) is a good metric to use for comparison. So with a huge assist from Green Mountain coach Darren Pitzner, we took a look at which returning players ranked the highest in PPS last season.
Here are some of the most efficient 5A scorers returning for Season B.
Timiya Guevara Timiya Guevara 5'4" | PG Denver South | 2021 State CO , 2021, 5’4, PG, Denver South
This stat tends to favor bigs who get to the line more, so for Guevara to average 22 points per game – third most in Colorado – and also post a state-leading 1.63 PPS is impressive. Of course, some of that can be attributed to the college-bound slashing guard’s ability to get to the rim, as well as the free-throw line, the way she does. Guevara also shot 52 percent from the field and 43 percent from 3-point range as a junior last season.
Lauren Betts Lauren Betts 6'7" | C Grandview | 2022 State #1 Nation CO , 2022, 6’7, C, Grandview
This should come as no surprise, as Betts has long been the nation’s top recruit in the Class of 2022. As a sophomore, the Stanford-bound center led Grandview back to the Class 5A state title game, averaging 17.8 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.9 blocks a night. She also had a 1.61 PPS, while shooting an incredible 73 percent from the field and finishing her 10th-grade year with 463 points on the season.
Raegan Beers Raegan Beers 6'3" | PF Valor Christian | 2022 State #35 Nation CO , 2022, 6’3, PF, Valor Christian
Another nationally-ranked 2022 recruit out of the state of Colorado, Beers put up elite numbers last season to match that status. With two more high school seasons left before she heads off to Oregon State, Beers averaged 15.5 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game last season, and did so with a 1.50 PPS. She shot 65 percent from the field.
Emily Johnson Emily Johnson 6'0" | C Fort Collins | 2022 State CO , 2022, 5’11, C, Fort Collins
Definitely a player who has flown under the radar to date, that could soon change if Johnson continues to develop and play as efficiently as she has so far in her high school career. As a sophomore in 2019-20, Johnson averaged 11.2 points and 9.7 rebounds, while posting a 1.44 PPS. She shot 55 percent from the field and figures to get better as she gets older, more confident and more aggressive.
Courtney Wristen Courtney Wristen 6'2" | PF Broomfield | 2021 State CO , 2021, 6’2, PF/C, Broomfield
A Division-I recruit in Colorado’s Class of 2021, Wristen will play for the University of San Diego next season. As a junior in 2019-20, she averaged 14.2 points, nine rebounds and 2.3 blocks a night. She did so while posting an impressive 1.39 PPS and shooting 44 percent from the field. In an exciting addition to her game last winter, Wristen also stepped out and shot 35 percent (19 for 44) from behind the 3-point line.
Abby Wrede Abby Wrede 5'8" | SG Cherry Creek | 2021 State CO , 2021, 5’8, SG, Cherry Creek
It’s impressive for a player like Wrede, who shoots a lot of 3-pointers, to make it onto this list. She’ll play for Hawai’i Pacific next year and had a 1.37 PPS as a junior in 2019-20. She also shot 42 percent from 3-point range last winter and is shooting 44 percent from behind the arc, while averaging 12 points through four games in Season B.
Addison O’Grady Addison O’Grady 6'3" | PF Grandview | 2021 State #45 Nation CO , 2021, 6’3, PF, Grandview
Headed to the University of Iowa, O’Grady has been a stud at Grandview for years and is averaging 17.3 points and six rebounds as a senior in Season B. Nationally-ranked among 2021s, she posted a 1.36 PPS and shot 57 percent (124 for 216) from the field.
Sydney Bevington Sydney Bevington 6'0" | PG Ralston Valley | 2021 State CO , 2021, 6’3, PG/SG/SF, Ralston Valley
At six feet tall, Bevington is among the most dynamic backcourt players in the state, and she will take that versatility to Santa Clara next season. In 2019-20, Bevington posted a 1.34 PPS and averaged 16.1 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists, while shooting 44 percent from the field. So far in Season B, she is averaging 17.8 points, 9.2 rebounds and four assists.
Tay Williams Tay Williams 5'5" | SG Denver South | 2023 State CO , 2023, 5’5, SG, Denver South
Williams’ 1.34 PPS was the best of any freshman in Class 5A last winter and the guard averaged 14.6 points per game, while shooting 58 percent (151 for 262) from the field. So far in Season B, Williams is averaging 13.5 points and 3.5 steals per game while sharing a backcourt with Guevara (No. 1 on this list) and other talented young players like Briasia Johnson Briasia Johnson 5'4" | CG Denver South | 2023 State CO and Nevaeh Millard Nevaeh Millard 5'7" | CG Denver South | 2024 State CO .
Alex Pirog Alex Pirog 6'3" | C Highlands Ranch | 2022 State CO , 2022, 6’2, C, Highlands Ranch
Pirog took a big step forward last season, averaging 7.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.1 as just a sophomore in 2019-20. She also posted a 1.32 PPS, shot 55 percent (85 for 154) from the field and generally played more aggressively whenever she was on the floor. That upward trend has continued, and Pirog is currently averaging 15.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 2.6 steals a night in Season B.