MileHigh Prep Report Class 3A 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 3A
| Rank | Team | Notes |
| #1 | Yuma Defending State Champions | Yuma is your defending State Champions and will be looking to defend the crown. Yuma will have a few holes to fill losing 2 of their top 5 scorers from last season. Yuma will look to Brody Sheffield (18.6 ppg) and Jonathan Thomson (12.5 ppg) to be leaders. Coach Sheffield will have his team ready to defend their title. |
| #2 | Salida Lost in the Elite 8 to Forge Christian | Salida reached the Elite 8 last season falling to #1 Forge Christian by 9. Salida returns 4 of their top 5 scorers from last season and last season was for most their first varsity action. Ryan Osness (17.7 ppg), Kason Westphal (15.1 ppg), and Dylan Grant (7.5 ppg) will all be back to help Salida make a deeper run. |
| #3 | Forge Christian Lost in the Final 4 to Yuma | Forge Christian was the #1 overall seed last season before being upset by Yuma in the Final 4. Forge Christian will be reloading and looking for the State Title. Forge Christian does lose their #3 scorer from last season. Forge Christian will return Owen Hovis (16.4 ppg), Levi Clark (12.0 ppg), and Jakan Sederwall (9.3 ppg). |
| #4 | Resurrection Christian Defending State Champions Class 4A | Resurrection Christian is the Class 4A Defending State Champions and they drop into Class 3A this season. Resurrection Christian does lose a few key pieces from last years team including their #2 scorer and #1 rebound and #4 scorer and #2 rebounder. Resurrection Christian will return their top scorer Ty Yoder (13.1 ppg) and Cade Crutcher (11.2 ppg). Depth must step up for Rez Christian as they look to make an immediate impact. |
| #5 | Strasburg Lost in the Sweet 16 to Highland | Strasburg fell in the regional round to Highland last season and will be looking to reload and push for a deeper run this season. Strasburg will lose their #2 and #3 scorers from last season but do return their top scorer Tyce Bollers (18.8 ppg). Look for Nick Glatfelter (7.5 ppg) and Cade Hemphill (6.7 ppg) to have a bigger role this season. |
| #6 | Banning Lewis Lost in the Final 4 to Vanguard | Banning Lewis had an incredible run last as the #10 seed making it to the Final Four. Banning Lewis will look to build off last season and make another deep run this year. Banning Lewis will have a few holes to fill losing their #2 and #4 scorers from a year ago. Trey Oden (15.6 ppg) is back as the top scorer and Kobe Welch (7.9 ppg) is also back along with top rebounder Jordan Jones (7.9 RPG) |
| #7 | Centauri Lost in the Elite 8 to Yuma | Centauri fell in the Elite 8 to Yuma by just 1 point and they will look once again to make another deep playoff run. Centauri will have a few key pieces to replace but look for their tough defense once again to be a big factor. Carson Bagwell (12.0 ppg), Troy Sowards (8.2 ppg), and Jace Haslett (7.0 ppg) all return for the Falcons. |
| #8 | Vanguard Runner Ups | Vanguard was your runner up a year ago falling by 1 to Yuma in the State Championship game. Vanguard will be a major contender yet again but will have to replace their #1 and #2 scorers from a season ago. JJ Wetters (12.0 ppg) and Matty Dessalegn (11.5 ppg) will be the leaders as Vanguard look to repeat a deep playoff run. |
| #9 | Highland Lost in the Elite 8 to Vanguard | Highland fell in the Elite 8 to Vanguard by just 1 point. Highland will have some big holes to fill losing 3 of their top 5 scorers but do return key pieces in #1 scorer Sawyer Morgan (17.3 ppg) and #4 scorer Brogan Palmer (7.7 ppg). Depth must step up for the Huskies as they look to make another deep run this year. |
| #10 | Peyton Lost in the Sweet 16 to Salida | Peyton found success last season playing a sophomore heavy team and have built their foundation for the next few years. Peyton will look to those juniors now to be leaders in this season. Michael Peery (18.8 ppg), Gabriel Gatti (9.3 ppg), and Bryce Love (8.1 ppg) are all back for the Panthers as they look to build off last season’s success. |
| #11 | Stargate School Lost in Sweet 16 to Forge Christian | Stargate School reached the Sweet 16 before falling to Forge Christian. Stargate School returns plenty of key pieces but will have to replace their #1 scorer from a year ago. Connor Rusch (14.0 ppg), Hunter Roark (12.6 ppg), and Camden Cottrell (7.5) are all back for Stargate School but depth will have to step up this season. |
| #12 | Windsor Charter Lost in the Sweet 16 to Highland | Windsor Charter fell in the Sweet 16 to Yuma by 6 points. Windsor Charter will look to make a deeper push this season and they return 7 of their top 8 scorers from a year ago. Kellen Ball (15.1 ppg) and Andrew Schams (14.9 ppg) both return for Windsor Charter as they look to eclipse what they did last season. |
| #13 | Buena Vista Lost in the First Round to Stargate School | Buena Vista made the State Tournament last season finding success and being the #17 seed going into Class 3A. Buena Vista will have plenty of talent back to make a deeper push this season but depth must step up. Julian Lopez-Olsen (13.1 ppg), Kaden Schell (11.8 ppg), and Hudson Wingo (9.7 ppg) are all back for Buena Vista. |
| #14 | Lyons | |
| #15 | Monte Vista | |
| Teams to Watch for: | C.S Christian, Bayfield, Lake County, Wiggins, Platte Valley, Roaring Fork, Clear Creek, SkyView Academy, Cedaredge, Wray, Ignacio, Rye, Fountain Valley, North Fork, Manual, |
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