The boys basketball season gets underway Tuesday and MaxPreps has a quick look at each classification:
Class 5A
Regis Jesuit, winner of last season’s big-school championship, graduated point guard R.J. Demps, an ultra-quick point guard who could penetrate and hit the three, plus almost every free throw, and Will Cobb, a small forward was a sticky defender and smart player.
Coach Ken Shaw, not given to hyperbole, believes the Raiders will be better this season. There is 6-foot-6 senior Bud Thomas, the player of the year, who does it all. There’s two huge frontliners in 6-6 Drew Dyer and 6-7 Ryan Winters, who came on strong late last season. Michael Clark saw plenty of time and will fill in for Demps.
Regis won the Great American Shootout tournament over the summer in Texas.
“I think all our other players have worked extremely hard since last year,” Shaw said. “This is probably the best group of guys I’ve ever coached.”
That is some statement from a coach with four state titles and closing in on 600 career victories. George Washington, the 2009 runner-up, Denver East and ThunderRidge all graduated All-Colorado players without any equal replacements in sight. Regis is a strong No. 1.
Arapahoe coach Dan Snyder could rival Shaw as the most organized coach in Colorado. The Warriors are a clear No. 2, with an excellent big man in Parker Semin, plus another top athlete in Tim Billingsley.
Palmer has three nice players in Andre and Terrel Brown and Domonique Wright, but the Terrors aren’t getting many votes from other coaches. Those belong to Rampart, which is led by Alex Koehler. Doherty’s Tyler Velasquez and Liberty’s Wes McKenzie are standouts down south.
Chatfield’s Steve Schimpeler is taking a leave of absence this season as Gary Anderson takes over a talented Chargers squad that includes 6-8 Trevor Wages and 6-2 Landon Vermeer. Keigan Peterson and Keegan Deignan star at Green Mountain, which is being coached by Derek VanTassel, who replaces Rudy Martin.
Lucas Kidane is the top player for Denver South, while Andre Marquez is the same for Eaglecrest. Up north, Austin Maag and Nate McAuliffe are back for Fort Collins.
5A players to watch
Richard Ascenzio, Denver North, 6-5, Sr.; Riley Grabau, Boulder, 6-0, Jr.; Alex Koehler, Rampart, 6-2, Sr.; Austin Maag, Fort Collins, 6-5, Sr.; Wes McKenzie, Liberty, 6-2, Sr.; Joey Ptasinski, Regis Jesuit, 6-2, Sr.; Parker Semin, Arapahoe, 6-5, Jr.; Bud Thomas, Regis Jesuit, 6-6, Sr.; Malcolm Thomas, Fountain-Fort Carson, 6-3, Sr.; Landon Vermeer, Chatfield, 6-2, Sr.; Trevor Wages, Chatfield, 6-8, Sr.
Class 4A
Golden ran teams ragged last season until running into Longmont in the state’s Sweet 16 round. Coach John Anderson is preparing his squad for another run at a state title, centered around guard Ryan Stokes.
A 6-1 senior, Stokes was second team All-State and first team All-Jefferson County League. He’s joined by 6-5 junior Trevor Evanson and 5-11 junior Keaton Dille. The Demons, 18-7 last season, are a run-and-gun team, which makes them exhausting to play, but fun to watch.
“We hope to defend our league title with an up-tempo style,” Anderson said. “Defense and transition will be the strengths of the team. Our goal is to win league and make a run in the state tourney.”
Longmont had a 20-win season and also is back for more, with its two leading scorers from last season. The Trojans lost to eventual champion Sierra, but brings back 6-4 senior forward Syd Donaldson and 6-3 junior point guard Cade Kloster.
Lewis-Palmer might have to play the waiting game this season. The Rangers, ranked second in the preseason, have an accomplished talent in senior Kyle Engelhardt. He averaged 20.7 points per game, was picked second-team all-state and was the league player of the year.
But coach Russ McKinstry has two transfers who must sit for 11 games: Josh Scott, a 6-8 player from Discovery Canyon; and Kurt Cona, a 6-2 player from Air Academy. Point guard Seth Cavera also is out until February with a broken wrist. So, even with four returning starters back from a third-place team, the Rangers won’t be at full strength for a while.
Broomfield, ranked fifth, has two significant seniors in 6-6 Nick Halliday and 6-foot Aric Kaiser.
Last season, Sierra came back from an 18-point halftime deficit to win the state title. The Stallions were led by Kamryn Williams and Jahmall Fountain, who are now seniors.
Second-place Pueblo South was led by Tyrell Williams and Kivon Cartwright, also both seniors this season. The Colts are now coached by Marvin Brown, taking over from Dave Lockett, who led Pueblo South for 20 seasons.
4A players to watch
Mon’Darrius Benson, Mitchell, 5-8, Sr.; Kivon Cartwright, Pueblo South, Sr.; B.C. Dawson, Fossil Ridge, 6-5, Sr.; Sydney Donaldson, Longmont, 6-3, Sr.; Jahmall Fountain, Sierra, Sr.; Jordan Gregory, Pueblo East, Jr.; Nick Halliday, Broomfield, 6-6, Sr.; LaShawn Hamilton, Mitchell, 6-7, Sr.; Chris Hansen, Fossil Ridge, 6-3, Jr.; Aaron Reyes, Sterling, Jr.; Ray Riley, Thomas Jefferson, 5-10, Sr.; Billy Sprague, Thomas Jefferson, 6-1, Sr.; Ryan Stokes, Golden, 6-1, Sr.; Tyrell Williams, Pueblo South, 6-3, Sr.; Kamryn Williams, Sierra, 6-4, Sr.
Class 3A
A pessimist would look at all the challenges facing the Faith Christian basketball team and think the Eagles will struggle this season.
Faith Christian lost its best player, plus an inside game centered around two others. The Eagles have a few basketball players delayed by the conclusion of the football season. Faith Christian will be on the road for games until two months from now. Plus, star guard Riley Grabau transferred to Boulder High.
“It’s a difficult thing,” Hasz said. “Riley’s loss certainly changes things, at least at the start. He’s one of the better players we’ve ever had in the program. He’s a very good shooter, creates well and sees the court well.”
Faith Christian, therefore, loses four players from its 3A championship team, but Hasz said there’s a strong senior core of five talented players. They are 6-2 Joel Hegarty, 6-6 Hayden Loudenslager, 6-0 Micah Twedell, 6-3 Deron Rindels and 6-5 Chris Brekke.
Hasz added that the Eagles again have a strong junior class.
As for the football team, it’s not unusual for Faith Christian (or Mullen or ThunderRidge) to have to wait out the adjustment.
“It’s something we’re relatively used to,” Hasz said. “Even if they went to the championship, they’ve been very good. I want them to have a full experience.”
In the final case of making lemonade from lemons, Hasz said the Glenwood Springs tournament and other road trips will help bond the team tighter.
“It will be the second week of January before we have a home game. I enjoy the challenge of going to somebody else’s gym. I won’t miss the hours on the bus, though.”
A couple other coaches are revved up about this season. Aspen’s Steve Ketchum knows he has a group that can push its way straight to the state title, and Kent Denver’s Todd Schayes will be even more thrilled to find the Sun Devils clock in as the preseason No. 5.
Aspen, ranked second in the preseason, made it to the quarterfinals last season, its second straight Elite Eight appearance. Point guard Matthew Holmes, a 6-1 senior is a first-team all-state player who also was the league player of the year. His averages show off his versatility: 15 points per game, five assists, five rebounds and four steals.
It’s much more than just Holmes for Aspen. Andrew Papenfus is a 6-6 shooting guard, a three-point threat and also first-team all-league. Zack Babich is a 6-5 leaper who hit his stride late last season. Nick Codd is vastly improved, and Walker Moriarty, the defensive ace, is expected back for the second half of the season after injury rehabilitation.
The Skiers went 24-3 last season, the all-time best for the school, and four starters are back. No wonder Ketchum is so enthusiastic.
Schayes also thinks the Sun Devils will be competitive, although graduation losses were heavy. This season, Kent Denver will count on Matt Brittan, a 6-2 senior, plus juniors Dylan Finer and Jared Smith. Schayes has 65 players in the program, so he said numbers are the Sun Devils’ strength.
Rye coach Jim Hale has a standout in Matthew Holmes, the league’s player of the year as a junior. Jefferson Academy comes in at No. 4, with a good starting five, led by seniors Jared Jenkins and Tommy Olson.
3A players to watch
James Bove, Salida, 6-1, Sr.; Nate Engesser, Colorado Springs Christian, So.; Brent Harder, 6-5, St. Mary’s, Sr.; Joel Hegarty, Faith Christian, 6-2, Sr.; Matthew Holmes, Aspen, 6-1, Sr.; Josh Morgan, Buena Vista, 6-1, Sr.; Joel Rhoades, Yuma, 5-9, Sr.; Taylor Shaffer, Pagosa Springs, Sr.; Kolby Wahlert, Brush, 5-10, Jr.; Chase Webb, Erie, 6-0, Jr.; Jaden Winger, Yuma, 5-9, Jr.
Class 2A
Perhaps Lutheran-Parker doesn't have the tradition of other schools who made the final eight of the state tournament last year. The Lions haven’t been around long enough to match others, but they set some historical marks last season.
Coach John Adam noted the Lions were district and regional champions, and advanced to the Elite Eight, all firsts for the school. The team, while going 17-9, ripped through 11 consecutive wins, another school-best, and finished sixth at the state tournament.
Lutheran-Parker is ranked sixth in the MaxPreps preseason poll. Adam noted that the Lions are serious about preparing for such rigorous competition at state while in the regular season.
“Our tough non-league schedule against six 3A teams should prepare us for another run deep in the playoffs,” he said. “The state experience from last year will be invaluable this season and our length (all starters 6-1 to 6-7) will be a big asset. The kids have worked very hard and we look forward to a great season.”
Andrew Bowers, a 6-7 junior is back. He is the leading scorer (10.7 per game) and rebounder (7.2) returning on a team that graduated two standouts. Bo Millberger and Zach Loptien are two other returning starters on a young Lions team, which has only one senior.
Colorado Springs School ended last season as the No. 1 team, and the Kodiaks are keeping that honor for now. DeLovell Earls, 2A player of the year last season, is returning, along with fellow All-Stater Andre Brown. Holyoke, which finished second, has first-teamer Kyle Carper, plus Ryan Baumgartner.
Meeker, No. 3 last season, also has a pair of good seniors in Mitch Jacob (13.5 points per game) and Dakota Rowlett (13.5). Colton Brown, Tyrel Gerloff and Brock Campbell all garnered some sort of all-league honor, so look for coach Klark Kindler and the Cowboys to be right back in the title hunt.
While those scoring numbers for the above players are balanced, Alexander Dawson has a bona-fide basket-filler in senior Matt Hart, who not only scored 17 points a game, but also averaged 2.1 steals.
2A players to watch
Ryan Baumgartner, Holyoke, 5-9, Sr.; Andrew Bowers, Lutheran-Parker, 6-7, Jr.; Andre Brown, Colorado Springs School, 6-1, Sr.; Matt Brown, Limon, Sr.; Kyle Carper, Holyoke, 6-3, Sr.; Chris Dailey, Colorado Springs School, 6-0, Sr.; DeLovell Earls, Colorado Springs School, 6-5, Sr.; Alex Herrera, Ignacio, 6-8, Sr.; Mitch Jacob, Meeker, 6-1 Sr.; Patrick Phelan, Rangely, 5-10, Sr.; Zach Young, Kiowa, 5-11, Sr.
Class A
Now that preseason rankings are in for Colorado’s smallest classification, it’s clear that coaches believe in the talent of eastern plains teams. Undefeated champion Caliche was displaced by Otis as No. 1 heading into this season.
The one non-flatland oddity in the poll is Crested Butte, which comes in at No. 3. Another ski town (see Aspen in Class 3A) will have a good basketball team. The Titans placed second last season with a superb 26-1 record, although the loss was a 69-45 margin to the Buffaloes in the finals.
Now, coach Robin Loyed would like the Titans to take one more step, but there are huge holes to fill.
“Crested Butte lost 95 percent of its offense to graduation, including the 1A Player of the Year, John Wright, and another all-stater, Robbie Holleran,” Loyed said. “However, two starters return (juniors Jake Grogg and Henry Linehan), along with two others (Sky Egelhoff and Anton Peck) who were in the eight-man rotation and saw significant playing time. Crested Butte will be competitive.”
Otis, which finished fourth behind Granada last season, brings back senior Karson Kuntz, while Taylor Reed of Eads also belongs to another top-five team. Close behind in the poll are Karval (led by Brett Stone), Ouray (Chris Blansett), Idalia (Adam Marostica), Creede (John Whitmore) and defending champion Caliche (Corey Stumpf).
1A players to watch
Chris Blansett, Ouray, Sr.; Chris Bremner, Shining Mountain, 5-9, Sr.; Karson Kuntz, Otis, Sr.; Adam Marostica, Idalia, Jr.; Josh Mitchell, Cornerstone Christian, 6-4, Sr.; Taylor Reed, Eads, Sr.; Rafe Schroder, South Baca, 6-1, Sr.; Brett Stone, Karval, 6-0, Sr.; Corey Stumpf, Caliche, Sr.; John Whitmore, Creede, Jr.