MileHigh Prep Report Class 1A Boys Basketball Preseason Rankings
Note: I am just going to quickly give the rankings and a quick breakdown of what they are returning. We are still planning on doing a Media Poll and that will be released Wednesday or Thursday. If you are interested in voting, please send me a message.
Class 1A
| Rank | Team | Notes |
| #1 | Granada Made State Tournament (2-1, took 3rd) | Granada took 3rd place last season defeating Sierra Grande in the 3rd place game. Granada does lose a big piece of their team with their #2 scorer graduating but they return everything else including #1 scorer Maddox Coleman along with big contributors John Hainer, Brandon Gonzales, and Jonus Guverra. Depth is my main concern for Granada. |
| #2 | Denver Jewish Day Lost at Regionals to Caprock Academy | Denver Jewish Day did not make it to the State tournament a year ago falling at Regionals to Caprock Academy. Denver Jewish Day will be looking for some revenge and they have the talent back. Denver Jewish Day returns their top 5 scorers from a season ago. Gavin Foonberg (20.0 ppg) and Andrew Zimmerman (19.1 ppg) both return to be leaders again for Denver Jewish Day. The main question is can Keenan Winnerman and Ilan Schinagel step up this season and will the rest of the depth step up. |
| #3 | McClave Defending State Champions | McClave is your defending State Champions from last year and are poised to try and defend that title. McClave will return 3 of their top 5 scorers from last season but lose key pieces from that state championship team. Aiden Martinez (14.4 ppg) does return from last season, but Aydin Gomez (7.1 ppg) and Connor Forgue (6.4 ppg) must step up this season. Depth must also step up for McClave to defend that title. |
| #4 | Belleview Christian Lost at regionals to Dove Creek | Belleview Christian did not make it to the State Tournament last year falling to Dove Creek at Regionals. Belleview Christian will have the state tournament on their mind this season and return their entire roster from a year ago. Nathaniel Owen (20.5 ppg), Davin Hunter (9.1 ppg), and Jagga Sandhu (8.2 ppg) all return to be leaders for Belleview Christian. Getting over the hump will be the main key for Belleview Christian |
| #5 | Genoa-Hugo Lost at regionals to Evangelical Christian | Genoa-Hugo did not make it to the State Tournament last year falling in the regional finals to ECA by 5. Genoa-Hugo will lose their #2 and #3 scorers from last year but reload with some other key pieces. #1 scorer Trey Smith (19.5 ppg) does return along with transfer Konnor Rowden-Stum (10.5 ppg). Other depth will have to step up but look for Kyler Rowden-Stum and Dane Lockhart to step up this season. |
| #6 | Wiley Lost at regionals to McClave | Wiley did not make it to the State Tournament last year falling to McClave by 5 in the Regionals Finals. Wiley will lose their top scorer from last season but return other key pieces. Cooper Tixier (10.5 ppg) and Evan Larrick (8.2 ppg) both return to be leaders along with transfer Cade Phillips (10.1 ppg). Wiley will have their eyes on the state tournament this season but need depth and guard play to step up this season. |
| #7 | Dove Creek Made State Tournament Went (0-2) | Dove Creek made it to the State Tournament a year ago with a big run at regionals. Dove Creek will return some key pieces to make another run that the State Tournament, but depth must step up this season. #1 scorer Kade Hankins does return, and Tanner Williams (6.5 ppg) also returns but Dove Creek must get more depth to step up this season. |
| #8 | Stratton Lost at Regionals to Simla | Stratton did not make it to the State Tournament a year ago falling at regionals to Simla. Stratton was young last season and it showed with a 10-12 record. Stratton will return 4 of their top 5 scorers including Cyler Notter (14.9 ppg), Daniel Tanner (8.6 ppg), and Rustin Williams (5.5 ppg). Can this unit put everything together is now the next key. |
| #9 | Idalia Lost at Regionals to Merino | Idalia did not make it to the State Tournament falling to Merino at Regionals 57-47. Idalia will have their eyes set on a state tournament berth this year. Idalia will return 3 of their top 5 scorers. Kale Morris (15.5 ppg), Tarek Glanz (14.4 ppg), and Logan Breyer (10.3 ppg) all return to be leaders. My major concern is depth and who else steps up for Idalia. |
| #10 | Briggsdale Lost at Regionals to Merino | Briggsdale did not make it to the State Tournament falling to Merino at the Regionals Finals 63-58. Briggsdale will return the talent for a deeper run this year, but key pieces do graduate. #1 scorer Tanner Fiscus (14.4 ppg) does return along with John Krise (10.0 ppg) and Zack Bauer (6.4 ppg). Briggsdale will need other depth pieces to step up this season and that is my main concern for Briggsdale. |
| #11 | Otis Did not qualify for Regionals | Otis did not qualify for Regionals last season and were a very young team. Otis went 10-12 last year but return their entire roster. Otis will turn to Jack Willeke (16.4 ppg), Charlie Kendrick (9.6 ppg), and Sawyer Packer (6.5 ppg) to be leaders this season and help get Otis to regionals and possibly a state tournament berth. |
| #12 | Springfield Lost at Regionals to Granada | Springfield did not make it to the State Tournament falling to Granada 62-48 in the regional finals. Springfield will have the talent back for a deeper run this season. Kyler Crane (16.2 ppg), Colby Batterton (10.8 ppg), and Cooper Stolebarger (8.4 ppg) all return to be leaders, but will the depth step up is the main question. Springfield could be a Darkhorse team to reach the state tournament. |
| #13 | Sierra Grande Made State Tournament (Went 1-2 took 4th) | Sierra Grande made it to the State Tournament last year and took 4th. Sierra Grande will lose some key pieces from last season but always seem to reload and make another run. Brian Ontiveros (10.8 ppg) and Tyler Kester (3.2 ppg) must step up to be leaders this season. Other depth players must also step up if Sierra Grande plans on another trip to the State Tournament. |
| #14 | Flatirons Academy Did not qualify for Regionals | Flatirons Academy did not qualify for Regionals last season but went 13-8 a year ago. Flatirons Academy will be looking for a regional berth if not a deeper run this season. Nolan Sheppard (13.6 ppg), Josiah Durrill (11.0 ppg), and Tucker Ryan (8.0 ppg) all return to be leaders for Flatirons Academy. Flatirons Academy has the pieces for a deep run this season but can they put it all together. |
| #15 | Fleming Did not qualify for Regionals | Fleming did not qualify for Regionals last season and went 7-12. Fleming will return their top 4 scorers from a season ago and that could show big improvement for this team. Braylen Feather (13.3 ppg) and Kolten Houser (12.1 ppg) return to be leaders but can the whole team come together for a deep run this season. |
| Teams to Watch for: | Ouray, Arickaree/Woodlin, Peetz, Kim/Branson, Rocky Mountain Lutheran, Cheyenne Wells, La Veta, Lone Star, Moffat, Eads, Hanover |
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