Photo: Santa Margarita’s Jordan Guest makes our list of Top 3 prospects for University of Denver basketball. Denver has three scholarship openings for 2018-2019.

It’s been said before and we’ll say it again – Denver needs to add ‘athletic size’ to their roster while still continuing their up-tempo playing style. So, they need a smart, athletic big man that can play both ends of the floor. That player is 6’9″, 235 pound Jordan Guest. He is a highly rated 3-star (ESPN) power forward with outstanding upside. He could play center at Denver, too with the graduation of seniors Daniel Amigo and Christian Mackey after this season. He will receive immediate playing time. While he has a soft shooting touch, as witnessed by his game film, he can be nasty inside the paint defending space and securing rebounds. That grit would be a huge benefit to the Pioneers, especially when the tempo inevitably slows down during tight conference games, one possession games, and hopefully the NCAA Tournament.

Jordan plays for the Santa Margarita Catholic High School Eagles and Gamepoint Basketball (AAU).

https://twitter.com/jordanguest5/status/886639425307811840

Guest is a high upside power forward with a host of schools showing interest including Lehigh, Vermont, Boston University, American, Utah State, Hawaii, Hartford, and San Francisco to name a few. His court presence is outstanding. He averages close to 10 points-per-game and hauls down 6.3 boards – and he can distribute the ball. He shoots 50% from the field and he has an adequate 3-point shot as well (33%) to open up the middle – along with room for improvement. While he has a large frame, he shows great agility around the hoop and he can run the floor. He would add a much-needed presence in the paint, especially on the defensive end.

Of course, as with most big men, he will need additional coaching and conditioning to become more consistent at this level (D1 & at altitude), especially making stops and limiting his personal fouls. With Denver’s up-tempo system, conditioning and running will be critical and Guest would benefit from Denver’s Sports Performance Department and the associated coaching and conditioning. It took less than a year to transform Denver’s Daniel Amigo into a dominating, physical presence in the middle. The same could happen with Jordan Guest.

2018 F @jordanguest5 took an unofficial visit to Denver yesterday #pumpfam #gpnation pic.twitter.com/dzIDLgkewq

— Double Pump BBALL (@DoublePumpHoops) August 21, 2017

Why would Guest make the move to Denver? First, he has been to the DU campus (see above) on an unofficial visit. Coming from a relatively small Catholic high school (1,700 students, grades 9-12), the University of Denver offers an ideal size and strong academics. His skills would earn him immediate playing time. Add DU’s beautiful facilities and a coaching staff (Billups, Patton, Ficke, and Snell) with 50+ years coaching college basketball and developing “bigs” – the union could be a perfect match. Plus, in Denver’s high desert, he can wear shorts and a T-shirt and get sunburned in January and February – just like Santa Margarita. But, hopefully, he will be too busy in March with the Pioneers to need sunscreen.

Denver needs a tough power forward and Jordan Guest could develop into a very special player for Denver.

Later this week, LetsGoDU will reveal the final ‘Big Shot’ selection for the 2018-2019 Denver Pioneers.