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. I will be doing my District/League Predictions for Class 1A thru 3A later in the week along with full Season Previews next week. Games kickoff for Basketball November 27th.
Class 1A
| Rank | Team | Notes |
| #1 | Stratton Made State Tournament (2-1, took 3rd) | Stratton took 3rd place last season defeating McClave in that game. Stratton will be looking to make it one game further and win the state championship. Stratton returns 3 of their top 5 scorers from last season. Cyler Notter (14.3 ppg), Von Isenbart (8.6 ppg), and Jose Gallardo (7.2 ppg) all return to be leaders. Charlie Tagtmeyer also returns as the leading assist player. Depth will be key as they lose two key seniors from last season. |
| #2 | Otis Made State Tournament (Went 1-2, took 6th) | Otis made it to the State Tournament last year reaching the 5th Place Game. Otis fell in the 5th place game to Granada. Otis will be looking to make a push on the other side of the bracket this year. Otis does lose their top scorer from last season but return the rest of the roster. Otis will look for Charlie Kendrick (13.3 ppg), Sawyer Packer (11.4 ppg), and Carter Wells (8.0 ppg) to step up this year. Main question mark for Otis is who else step up on the block this season. |
| #3 | Genoa-Hugo Made State Tournament (Went 0-2) | Genoa-Hugo made it to the State Tournament last year going 0-2. Genoa-Hugo will be looking for a much longer tournament run this season. Genoa-Hugo will have plenty of scoring back returning 3 of their top 5 scorers and their top 3 scorers from last season. Trey Smith (20.7 ppg), Konner Rowden-Stum (10.3 ppg), and Dane Lockhart (7.7 ppg) all return to be leaders for Genoa-Hugo. My big concern for Genoa-Hugo is rebounding as they lose their top two rebounders from last season. |
| #4 | Cheyenne Wells Made State Tournament (Went 0-2) | Cheyenne Wells made the State Tournament last season going 0-2. Cheyenne Wells will look to learn from last season experience and make a deeper run this year. Cheyenne Wells will lose some key pieces from last season with 2 of their top 3 scorers graduating. Cheyenne Wells will lean on Carson Noe (11.2 ppg), Zach Dickey (6.4 ppg), and Bryson Hyle (5.8 ppg) to step up this season. Cheyenne Wells does return their top rebounders and assist leaders from last season. |
| #5 | Granada Made State Tournament (Went 2-1, Took 5th) | Granada made the State Tournament last season finishing in 5th place with a win over Otis. Granada will have key pieces to replace losing 3 of their top 5 scorers. Granada will lean heavily on Maddox Coleman (16.5 ppg) and Jonus Guverra (10.5 ppg) to be leaders. A third scorer will need to come along with possibly Elijah Rodriguez (4.2 ppg) or Terrence Hainer (2.6 ppg). Granada main question will be depth and who else steps up to help in the scoring category. |
| #6 | Sierra Grande Lost at regionals to Cheyenne Wells | Sierra Grande did not make it to the State Tournament last year falling in the Regional Finals to Cheyenne Wells 46 to 35. Sierra Grande will look for a State Tournament appearance this season. Sierra Grande returns plenty of key pieces with their top 8 scorers all coming back. Brian Ontiveros (16.1 ppg), Manuel Miranda (11.5 ppg) and Aron Ojeda (6.9 ppg) all return plus their top rebound in Tyler Kester (5.9 RPG). Sierra Grande will hope to learn from last season and make a big push. |
| #7 | Peetz Lost at Regionals to Sierra Grande | Peetz did not make it to the State Tournament last year falling to Sierra Grande at Regionals 55 to 50. Peetz will have plenty of key pieces back to make a deeper run this season returning their top 3 scorers from last season. Rhyder Bayne (16.6 ppg), Noah Naegele (10.7 ppg), and Chance Segelke (9.6 ppg) are all back to be leaders. My main concern with Peetz is depth scoring and who else steps up this season. |
| #8 | Eads Lost at Regionals to Denver Jewish Day | Eads did not make it to the State Tournament last year falling in the regional finals to Denver Jewish Day 57 to 25. Eads will look for that state tournament appearance this season and have the weapons coming back. Eads returns their three of their top four scorers from last season in Porter Spady (15.0 ppg), Brently Lening (10.5 ppg), and Stockton Mitchek (7.3 ppg). Eads will be searching for a new top rebounder and more depth to take a big step this season. |
| #9 | McClave Made State Tournament (Went 1-2, took 4th) | McClave made the state tournament last season finishing in 4th place falling to Stratton 56 to 49. McClave will lose some key pieces from last year with their top two scorers graduating. McClave will look for Connor Forgue (10.7 ppg) to be the leader this season. Ray Mungaray (5.3 ppg), Gavin Temple (1.8 ppg) and Ethan Bronniman (4.4) are a few other players who must step up for McClave this season. Guard play will be key to McClave finding success this season. |
| #10 | Idalia Lost at Regionals to Granada | Idalia did not make it to the State Tournament last season falling to Granada in the Regional Finals. Idalia is eying a spot at State this year and have plenty of key weapons back including 3 of their top 5 scorers. Kale Morris (19.5 ppg), Fernando Herrera (9.0 ppg), and Tarek Glanz (7.7 ppg) all return to help Idalia reach the State Tournament. |
| #11 | Briggsdale Lost at Regionals to Idaila | Briggsdale did not make it to the State Tournament falling to Idalia at Regionals. Briggsdale does lose some key pieces from last years team in their #2 & #3 scorers. Briggsdale does return their top scorer in Tanner Fiscus (19.2 ppg) and he will be tasked with being the leader. Briggsdale will have some concerns with depth scoring but look for players like Scott Grancis (3.0 ppg) and Dallas Glass (2.7 ppg) to step up this year. |
| #12 | Belleview Christian Made State Tournament (Runners Up) | Belleview Christian was your runners up from last season falling in the State Championship game to Denver Jewish Day. Belleview Christian lose some key pieces from last years team but have some key pieces back to help them try and make a return trip. Belleview Christian lose their #1 and #3 scorers from last season including their top two rebounders. Belleview Christian will still have key players back in Brandon Ewing (12.7 ppg), Jagga Sandhu (7.7 ppg), and Josh Norman (5.1 ppg). Belleview Christian will look for more depth to step up this season. |
| #13 | Nucla Lost at Regionals to Otis | Nucla did not make it to the State Tournament falling to Otis at Regionals. Nucla was a bit of a surprise last season and will look to build off last years success. Nucla returns their entire roster from last season. Nucla returns their top two scorers in Brycen Rummel (18.4 ppg) and Steele Arnold (13.6 ppg). The rest of the team will look to make big leaps this year and look for Hemmy O’Brien and Joseph Casillas to make big strides this year. |
| #14 | De Beque Lost at Regionals to Flatirons Academy | De Beque did not make it to the State Tournament falling to Flatirons Academy at Regionals. De Beque is a team I view as a dark horse team to push for a State Tournament berth. De Beque returns their top 3 scorers from last season in Jace Graham (14.4 ppg), Burke Largent (14.1 ppg), and Scotty Vines (13.8 ppg). My main concern for De Beque is their depth as they lose the only other players from last season who scored over 1.0 ppg. If De Beque can get some depth scoring they would be dangerous this season. |
| #15 | Pikes Peak Christian Lost at Regionals to Wiley | Pikes Peak Christian did not make it to the State Tournament falling to Wiley at Regionals. PPC is a very intriguing team if they play this season. PPC returns 3 of their top 5 scorers including their leading Scorer in Eddie Harmon (14.1 ppg). The #4 and #5 scorers also put-up good numbers Noah Sachsenmaier (10.5 ppg) and Trevor Roney (8.3 ppg). The main concern for PPC is they have Eddie Harmon (Who played football at CSCS) and depth scoring. |
| #16 | Springfield Lost at Regionals to Stratton | Springfield did not make it to the State Tournament falling to Stratton in the Regionals Finals. Springfield is another team who could push for the State Tournament falling just one game short last season. Springfield returns 4 of their top 6 scorers from last season. Colby Batterton (13.1 ppg), Cooper Stolebarger (9.4 ppg), and Kurt Parks (7.1 ppg) all return to be leaders. Springfield will look for more depth scoring but could be a threat to make a big run. |
| Teams to Watch for: | Denver Jewish Day, Cheraw, Centennial, Ouray, Moffat, Primero, Kim/Branson, Walsh, Wiley, Flatirons Academy, Dove Creek, Front Range Baptist, La Veta, Fleming, Arickaree, North Park |
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