Class 3A Top Ten Boys Basketball Breakdown
Ranking Notes: 3A has some consistency for the past two weeks. There of course was still some movement. Faith Christian picked up two losses, one to Kent Denver and the other to Colorado Academy. Faith Christian feel from #5 to #10. Colorado Academy rejoined the rankings at #9. Due to the movement Roaring Fork fell out of the rankings but I expect them to move back in. #6 through #10 all moved up a spot.
#1 Sterling (9-0)
Sterling continues to dominate this season. Sterling opened the new year with two impressive 40 point wins over University and Strasburg. Sterling has won every game by double digits and only 3 games by less than 20 points. Sterling would currently be the #1 overall seed as well if the tournament started today as they have the highest rated RPI. Sterling is being led by Bodie Hume 19.1 ppg and Carter Keli 6.7 ppg. Sterling has 7 players scoring over 5 ppg. This week Sterling has 3 games against Frontier Academy (1/16), Valley (1/18), and Sidney NE (1/20). Frontier Academy and Valley are league games for Sterling. Sterling was also my pick to win the Patriot league, but I expect them to be challenged Resurrection Christian and Platte Valley for the #1 spot.
#2 Manual (6-3)
Manual recent jump to #2 was backed up with a pair of wins over Peak to Peak and Skyview Academy. Manual road get much tougher this week with 3 game one of which is a huge league game. Manual is being led by Jaedon Bowles 24.2 ppg and Tre D’antre 13.3 ppg. Manual non-league games are against Fort Lupton, and Skyview (4A). The big game to look out for though is Kent Denver on 1/19. This will give the inside track for the #1 seed in the League Tournament. Manual is projected as the #1 team in Metro league, but Kent Denver, Colorado Academy, and Faith Christian will all challenge for the #1 spot.
#3 DSST-Stapleton (8-2)
DSST-Stapleton last 4 games have all be very impressive and shown why they are the #3 team in 3A. DSST-Stapleton lost to Manual on 12/12 but have since beat Kent Denver, Jefferson, Academy, and Platte Canyon. All 4 wins were by double digits and 3 of them were league games. DSST-Stapleton is being led by Vince Jones 17.8 ppg and Andray Thomas Jr 13.6 ppg. DSST-Stapleton is projected as my #1 team but I expect Arrupe Jesuit and Pinnacle to challenge for the #1 spot. DSST-Stapleton has two games this week against Bruce Randolph (1/17) & Middle Park (1/20) both are league games.
#4 Alamosa (8-1)
Alamosa moved up to the #4 spot following a upset win over Kent Denver to open the new year. Alamosa followed that victory up by beating Pagosa Springs and Montezuma-Cortez. Alamosa two wins in league were big as they are two of the challengers for the #1 spot. Alamosa currently has 4 players scoring over 8 ppg and are being led by Angelo Ramirez 13.4 ppg and Ry Adam 11.9 ppg. Alamosa has a pair of big league games this week. They play Centauri on 1/19 and follow that game with a trip to Bayfield on 1/20. The Bayfield game will give whichever team wins a huge leg in the chase for the league title. Alamosa is projected as the #1 team in league but Bayfield will challenge for that spot.
#5 Kent Denver (9-2)
Kent Denver moved up to the #5 spot following a win against Faith Christian by 14. Kent Denver then kept rolling in league play blasting Peak to Peak 81 to 44. Kent Denver has now won 3 straight games and will be looking for more in the upcoming week. Kent Denver has 6 players scoring over 5 ppg and are being led by James Doyle 16.0 ppg and Coby Gold 15.2 ppg. On the schedule this week for Kent Denver is SkyView Academy (1/17) and a huge game against Manual on 1/19. The winner between Manual and Kent Denver could help lock up the #1 seed in the league tournament. Kent Denver currently is projected as the #2 team in the Mero League but someone that could be decided this weekend when Kent Denver plays Manual.
#6 Grand Valley (8-0)
Grand Valley continues their rise yet again and really have show how good they are. Grand Valley opened the new year with 2 wins and both are very impressive. Grand Valley beat Olathe 88 to 51 and a huge win over Moffat County 72 to 51. Moffat County beat Grand Junction Central the day before and looked to make a big move, but Grand Valley showed why they are ranked #6. Grand Valley currently has 4 players scoring over 10 ppg and are being led by Kade Hurst 19.8 ppg and Brenden Hagerty 13.3 ppg. Grand Valley has 2 games on tap this week against Gunnison (1/19) and a possible battle for the #1 seed in the league title against Roaring Fork (1/20). Roaring Fork is sitting at #11 in the rankings and will be yet another challenge to how good Grand Valley can be. Grand Valley is projected as the #1 team in the Western Slope but will be challenged by Roaring Fork, Delta, and Coal Ridge for the #1 spot.
#7 Arrupe Jesuit (7-1)
Arrupe Jesuit keeps moving up the rankings as well. Arrupe Jesuit shot into the rankings after stunning #3 Platte Valley. Arrupe Jesuit opened the new year with solid wins against Clear Creek and Lake County. Arrupe Jesuit currently has 5 players scoring over 5 ppg and are being led by Elijah Chavez 18.8 ppg and Eric Dawson 11.6 ppg. Arrupe Jesuit has 3 games on tap this week against Bennett (1/17), Middle Park (1/18), and The Academy on 1/20. All 3 games are league games and the big one of the three is against The Academy who was preseason ranked. Arrupe Jesuit will look to show why they are ranked this week. Arrupe Jesuit is projected as the #2 team in the Frontier League and are chasing DSST-Stapleton.
#8 Platte Valley (9-1)
Platte Valley picked up their first lose of the season on 12/16 but have since won 4 straight games 3 of which were by double digits. Platte Valley opened the new year with 3 games beating Fort Morgan (4A), Fort Lupton, and Liberty Common. Platte Valley currently has 5 players scoring over 6 ppg and are being led by Bryson Becker 15.7 ppg and Dustin Horn 10.3 ppg. Platte Valley has 2 games on tap this week and have a huge on tonight 1/16. Platte Valley travels to Loveland to take on Resurrection Christian. This is a huge battle and could help determine seeding for the league tournament. Platte Valley will also be fighting for their spot in the rankings as a loss to Resurrection Christian will move Resurrection Christian into the rankings and Platte Valley out. Platte Valley currently is projected as the #2 team in the Patriot but are being chased by Resurrection Christian.
#9 Colorado Academy (8-3)
Colorado Academy rejoins the rankings after a big 62 to 59 double OT win over Faith Christian. Colorado Academy also picked up an impressive 61 to 39 win over Machebeuf. Colorado Academy has improved every week and with an impressive resume they are looking to move up the standings in the Metro League. Colorado Academy has 5 players scoring over 5 ppg and are being led by DeAnte Dennis 20.1 ppg and Alex Mushkin 15.4 ppg. Colorado Academy has two games on tap this week against Peak to Peak (1/16) and SkyView Academy (1/19). Colorado Academy has a easier week this week before jumping head first into Manual and Kent Denver. Colorado Academy was projected as the #4 team in the Metro league but after upsetting Faith Christian they are looking to make a move towards the top spot.
#10 Faith Christian (6-4)
Faith Christian picked up back to back losses for the second time this year. This time they lost to league opponents in both games. Faith Christian did pick up a big win after break against Pinnacle but now will be behind the 8 ball in league play but must look to lock up the #3 or #4 spot. Faith Christian has 4 players scoring over 6 ppg and are being led by Benjamin Hawkins 21.7 ppg and Jonah Gardner 13.7 ppg. The road for Faith Christian does not get much easier looking ahead. Faith Christian has 2 games this week against 4A D’Evelyn and Prospect Ridge. Faith Christian will look to win every league game from here on out. D’Evelyn is not a league game but could be a huge opportunity to pick up a solid win.
Note: The one league without a ranked team is the Confluence League. The league currently does not have a clear-cut favorite, but you have to like Ridgeview Academy, DSST-Green Valley, Fort Lupton, and Weld Central to be the 4 favorites to win the league.
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