Colorado boys basketball tips off a season of change

Until Monday evening, it had been more than eight months since prep boys basketball took center stage.

On that day last March, Denver East tied Manual (Denver) for the most state championships in the sport after claiming the Class 5A crown with a resounding victory over Fossil Ridge (Fort Collins). Sanford (2A) won its sixth overall title in the sport, while Holy Family (Broomfield) (3A) and Hi-Plains (Seibert) (1A) earned a third each. Pueblo East captured its first state title by overtaking the 4A field.

So what does the 2014-15 season have in store? Only time will tell, but teams are off and running in pursuit of that ever-elusive championship. Here are 10 things to keep an eye on headed into this winter:

1. Is this the year Overland (Aurora) emerges as the team to beat in the 5A field? The Trailblazers won 20 games a year ago and were one win away from the 5A title game, but couldn't find a way to slip past eventual champion Denver East. Overland graduated five seniors but returns a loaded lineup, including four of its five leading scorers. Seniors Austin Conway (Wyoming) and Ryan Swan (Air Force) have already made Division I commitments and junior De'Ron Davis averaged 15.0 points and 9.3 rebounds a year ago. With a front-court that goes 6-foot-9, 6-7 and 6-5, the Trailblazers could be among the toughest outs in the state.



2. Which teams will stand in the way? The preseason rankings have Regis Jesuit (Aurora), Denver East, Eaglecrest (Centennial) and ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch) in the top five. Regis Jesuit, which opens with Overland, brings back its top three scorers in Taylor Kallsen, Bryan Staerkel and Kip Boryla from a 20-win team. Denver East graduated eight seniors from its championship squad, but senior guard Brian Carey is among the state's best. Blend Avdili and Elijah Ross pace an Eaglecrest team that was in the Great Eight, and ThunderRidge lost only one senior. Individually, Chaparral (Parker) has Jake Holtzmann; Lincoln (Denver) returns Michael Sparks and adds former Denver West standout Alpha Diallo. Arvada West brings back Thomas Neff and Luke Neff in addition to Ralston Valley transfer Dallas Walton.

3. Is there a clear-cut favorite in 4A? It's too early to tell, but the classification looks as if it's up-for-grabs. None of the Final Four teams from a year ago begin the season ranked in the top five. Pueblo East graduated 10 from its title-winning squad, and runner-up Denver South said goodbye to its four leading scorers. Cheyenne Mountain (Colorado Springs) no longer has Ghassan Nheme and his 27.1 points per game; Sand Creek (Colorado Springs) graduated nine, including Dylan Clark, who averaged 19.9 points.

4. What teams/players will steal the headlines this season? Three of the top six teams in the rankings lost in the Great Eight – Thomas Jefferson (Denver), Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch) and D'Evelyn (Denver). No. 3 Lewis-Palmer fell in the second round, and No. 1 Longmont and No. 2 Pueblo South went down in the Sweet 16. Obviously preseason rankings are exactly that, but there are high expectations. Longmont brings back junior Justinian Jessup (13.6 ppg) and junior Kevin Mitchell; Pueblo South lost only three games a year ago, and three of the Colts' four-leading scorers were underclassmen. Lewis-Palmer (Monument) has two talented juniors in Charlie Hovasse and Jonathan Scott. Don't sleep on Holy Family either – the defending 3A state champs make the move to 4A this season.

5. Colorado Academy (Denver) leads a deep 3A field. There is no doubt that the Mustangs are hungry after coming up just short against Holy Family in the 2014 title game, and sensational junior Justin Bassey (20.3 points, 8.1 rebounds) leads a deep team. Senior Chris Kuelling knocked down 90 3-pointers a year ago, and Christian Hyatt averaged 14.5 points as a sophomore. All-state junior Jack Buckmelter is now at Denver East, though.

6. Don't count out the other contenders. Faith Christian (Arvada) brings back three players who averaged in double figures in Spencer Bazz, Gabe Hegarty and Grant Harkness, and the Eagles have eight seniors on a deep team. Samuel Howard averaged 17 points a game for Colorado Springs Christian (Colorado Springs) last winter, and Justin Engesser went for 13 a game as a freshman. Moffat County (Craig), Jefferson Academy (Broomfield) and 3A newcomer Lutheran (Parker) also figure to push for the top spot.

7. Sanford is primed for a 2A repeat. The Indians went 26-1 a year ago, topping Akron and Brady Baer by five points in the 2A state championship game. Only two seniors graduated from that squad, and 6-5 all-state junior Chance Canty leads the charge.



8. Ignacio won't go quietly. The Bobcats were undefeated last season before falling to Sanford in the state semifinals. Sharp-shooting Adison Jones and Wyatt Hayes were all-state as underclassmen. Simla's top three scorers (Cody Norris, Kyler Hamacher and Jason George) make the Cubs another contender along with Resurrection Christian (Loveland) and Akron.

9. A wide-open 1A field could be interesting. Last season Hi-Plains and Caliche (Iliff) took over the state tournament, with Hi-Plains earning a hard-fought title. But the Patriots graduated six seniors, and the other three members of the varsity were freshmen. Caliche moved up to 2A, leaving another void in the ranks.

10. Is McClave the answer? The Cardinals, ranked first in the preseason polls, defeated Hi-Plains in the regular season a year ago but were humbled by Caliche in the state semifinals. Still, with Taylor Geisinger, Gabe Longworth and TJ Trujillo returning, McClave is an early favorite. No. 2 Norwood graduated all-state guard Morgan Rummel and Cheyenne Wells is without Matt Sanders and his nearly 20 points per game, but both are expected to contend. Fleming and Holly are also in the top five.