Class 5A Preview: Highlands Ranch
2014: 9-16 overall, 2-8 in Continental, 10th place in conference, No. 10 seed in Class 5A state tournament, fell to Rangeview 66-45 in second round
Top 100 players: Jack Fiddler (No. 81 in 2016), Alex Mickus (No. 32 in 2017), McKale Williams (No. 69 in 2017), Tyson Gilbert (No. 11 in 2018).
Key Returners: Fiddler, Mickus, Williams (transferred in), Gilbert, Brendan Sullivan
Key Losses: Ryley Stewart (Fullerton College), Patrick Sullivan (Adams State), Keith Coleman Jr.
Outlook: For a team that graduated 85 percent of their scoring, not to mention one of the winningest coaches in Colorado history in Bob Caton, who retired, Highlands Ranch knows this season will be a process.
A 9-16 record, 2-8 in the Continental League was certainly a down season for the Falcons, but the cupboard isn’t bare.
Gilbert, who performed well at the Rocky Mountain Fall Showcase’s sophomore game last weekend, is quick and a capable scorer from the point guard position.
Mickus, 6-foot-7 and a high-academic talent, improved tremendously over the summer. He will step into a major role doing work on the boards, hitting mid-range shots, and using his footwork in the paint effectively. He’s growing into a presence.
And Fiddler, coming off a monstrous performance at the Rocky Mountain Fall Showcase’s senior game with an RMFS record for three-pointers with eight, looks like he could step into Stewart and Sullivan’s role as an outside threat and solid scorer.
Brendan Sullivan, the co-MVP of the sophomore at RMFS, is a big sophomore guard who, along with Gilbert, can grow into a starring role soon. On top of that, McKale Williams has transferred in from Rangeview, giving the Falcons yet another solid backcourt mate.
Mike Gibbs takes over the reigns for Ranch. He built a rising program at Ponderosa. While the season will have its challenges, especially while competing in arguably the best league in the state right now, the Falcons do have a senior leader in Fiddler and plenty of youthful firepower. Reasons for optimism aren’t hard to find.