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. Practice is underway today and games kickoff for Basketball December 2nd.
Class 1A
| Rank | Team | Notes |
| #1 | Cheyenne Wells Defending State Champions | Cheyenne Wells is your defending State Champions for Class 1A basketball. They will bring back plenty of talent but also will have a few holes to fill. They lose 3 of their top 5 starters but have key pieces back in Cory Hill (16.3 ppg) and Zach Dickey (5.6 ppg). Depth will have to step up for Cheyenne Wells this year. |
| #2 | McClave Made State Tournament (Went 2-1, Runner Ups) | McClave was your runner up last season falling to Cheyenne Wells in the State Championship. McClave will also return plenty of talent but lose 2 of their top 5 scorers from last season. McClave will look for Tuff Kelley (15.3 ppg) to be the leader again this year but also Ethan Bronniman (8.1 ppg) and Mason Barr (4.8 ppg). |
| #3 | Flatirons Academy Made State Tournament (Went 2-1, 5th Place) | Flatirons Academy made the State Tournament last season taking 5th Place defeating Sierra Grande. Flatirons Academy gained valuable experience and return the talent to push for the state championship. Flatirons Academy returns their top 4 scorers from last season. Pistol Chavez (19.5 ppg), Jude Meyer (11.7) and Parker Wilson (11.0 ppg) all return for the Bison. Also add Brandon Ewing who transfers from Belleview Christian to Flatirons Academy. |
| #4 | Otis Lost at Regionals to Stratton | Otis did not make the State Tournament last season falling in the Regional Finals to Stratton. Otis will have a keyhole to fill losing their top rebounder and #2 scorer from last season. Otis will look to Charlie Kendrick (14.8 ppg), Mitchell Stivers (8.9 ppg), and Grady Bechtle (5.4 ppg_ to step up this season and lead Otis to the State Tournament. |
| #5 | De Beque Lost at Regionals to Sierra Grande | De Beque did not make it to the State Tournament last year falling to Sierra Grande in the Regional Finals. De Beque will have a big hole to fill losing their #2 scorer and rebounder but return 6 of their 7 top scorers. Burke Largent (18.6 ppg) and Jace Graham (13.8 ppg) return for De Beque, but depth MUST step up this season. |
| #6 | Evangelical Christian Lost at regionals in Class 2A | Evangelical Christian did not make the State Tournament last season in Class 2A but did win a game at regionals falling in the Regional Finals. ECA moves back into Class 1A this year and I think will be an immediate contender. ECA returns 6 of their top 7 scorers including their top 2. Brock Jones (17.9 ppg) and Bo Galliart (15.8 ppg) return for ECA but depth must step up this season. |
| #7 | Granada Lost at Regionals to Belleview Christian | Granada did not make it to the State Tournament a season ago. Granada was hit with the injury bug early last season and this year appear to be healthy and loaded for a deep run. Granada will return Maddox Coleman (21.5 ppg) who will be the leader this season but Granada also returns Terence Hainer (5.3 ppg) and Elijah Rodriguez (5.0 ppg). |
| #8 | Sierra Grande Made State Tournament (Went 1-2) | Sierra Grande made it to the State Tournament last season falling in the 5th place game. Sierra Grande will have some reloading to do this season plus a new head coach. Sierra Grande will look to Jadyn Martinez (13.2 ppg) and Aron Ojeda (11.4 ppg) to step into the leadership roles this season. |
| #9 | Denver Waldorf Lost at Regionals to Cheyenne Wells | Denver Waldorf did not make it to the State Tournament last season falling in the Regional Finals to Cheyenne Wells. Denver Waldorf will look to reach the state tournament this season and return their top 2 scorers from last season. Cayden Quinn (16.8 ppg) and Henry Lottridge (11.9 ppg) are back to lead Denver Waldorf but I do have concerns about depth. |
| #10 | Arickaree Lost at Regionals to Denver Waldorf | Arickaree did not make it to the State Tournament last season falling at regionals to Denver Waldorf. Arickaree had one of their most successful seasons last year and will look to build off that. Arickaree will return 6 of their top 7 scorers which include Jake King (13.6 ppg), Dillon Noletubby (10.7 ppg), and Austin Wright (10.0 ppg). |
| #11 | Kim/Branson Lost at Regionals to Front Range Baptist | Kim/Branson did not reach the State Tournament last season falling at regionals to Front Range Baptist. Kim/Branson was a young team at many positions last year and will look to take a big step forward. Kim/Branson will look for Kolter Cranson (10.8 ppg), Trotter Watkins (8.7 ppg), and David Gamez (7.6 ppg) to all be leaders this season. |
| #12 | Stratton Made State Tournament (went 2-1. 3rd Place) | Stratton made the State Tournament last season taking 3rd Place. Stratton will lose some key pieces from last years team including 3 of their top 5 scorers. Stratton will look to Von Isenbart (12.4 ppg), Gage Levin (5.3 ppg), and Brody Webb (5.1 ppg) to step up this season. |
| #13 | Holly Lost at Regionals in Class 2A | Holly did not make it to the State Tournament last season falling at Regionals to Loveland Classical in Class 2A. Holly moves back to 1A this season and could be a contender right away. Holly returns 3 of their top 5 scorers and should help power them right away. Truman King (15.7 ppg) and Devin Eaton (15.0 ppg) are both back for Eaton but who else steps up around the two seniors. |
| #14 | Springfield Lost at Regionals to Pikes Peak Christian | Springfield did not make it to the State Tournament falling to Pikes Peak Christian last season. Springfield will be looking to take that next step this season and return the pieces to do so. Springfield will return 3 of their top 5 scorers but depth must step up. Colby Batterton (18.9 ppg), Leland Gable (7.5 ppg), and Colin Swanson (6.5 ppg) are back as leaders for Springfield. |
| #15 | Elbert Lost at Regionals to Wray Class 2A | Elbert did not make the Class 2A State Tournament falling at Regionals to Wray. Elbert makes the move back into Class 1A this season and have plenty of talent back to push for a state tournament berth. Elbert will lose their top scorer from last season but Ethan Tesman (12.2 ppg), Eli Cornell (12.2 ppg), and Caleb Cornell (8.0 ppg) are all back to be leaders. |
| #16 | Peetz Made State Tournament (Went 0-2) | Peetz made the state tournament last season going 0-2. Peetz will lose 4 of their top 6 scorers from last season but still have the pieces to be a top team this year. Rhyder Bayne (11.7 ppg) is back to lead Peetz but Connor Schumacher (7.2 ppg) and Logan Vallier (3.0 ppg) must step up for Peetz this year. |
| Teams to Watch for: | Primero, Sangre De Cristo, Prairie, Cheraw, Front Range Baptist, Caliche, Briggsdale, Nucla, Hi-Plains, Denver Jewish Day, Idalia, Eads, Genoa-Hugo, Fleming, |
MileHigh Prep Report 