4A Jeffco Preview: Valor-Golden battle
The Class 4A Jeffco League was one of the most entertaining leagues to watch last season, with three of its 10 teams marching all the way to the Great 8. With new coaches in new places, and some of the…
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Continue ReadingThe Class 4A Jeffco League was one of the most entertaining leagues to watch last season, with three of its 10 teams marching all the way to the Great 8. With new coaches in new places, and some of the classification's top players doing battle nightly, the Jeffco again promises to provide great moments. Here's our forecast of how the league could shake out.
VALOR CHRISTIAN
Last season: 20-6 overall, 13-2 in league.
After 17 seasons as the coach at D’Evelyn, Troy Pachner takes over for an Eagles program that just may be ready to soar.
While being sure to express his fondness for his time at D’Evelyn, Pachner says he is brimming with excitement for his new team as it begins a new season with high expectations. The Eagles have a monster junior class, led by Class 4A player of the year candidate Jalen Sanders.
Sanders is one of the top juniors in the state, who scores it, rebounds, blocks shots and plays with passion on both ends. Pachner raves about the 6-foot-5 Sanders’ versatility that allows him to play multiple positions on the court. Dylan McCaffrey is currently preoccupied trying to lead the school to a football title as its quarterback, but at 6-foot-5 with athleticism and versatility, he’ll make a great impact on the court when he arrives.
Kayle Knuckles (pictured) is a 6-foot-6 junior forward who continues to blossom as he gains experience – he only began playing basketball a few years ago. And Austin Remus, who played sparingly as a sophomore last season, has great life to his game – sees the floor well, handles in traffic, gets teammates involved, and he has a work ethic that has impressed Valor coaches.
Junior Josh Randle is among the players who should add solid depth as well. Yes, the Eagles lost their leading scorer in Khameron Davis, but there are a lot of nice pieces on this team, and if a few new faces can emerge to go along with some of the established veterans, the Eagles could have the look of a team that could push for a state title.
GOLDEN
Last season: 22-4 overall, 14-1 in league
Like Valor Christian, Golden came agonizingly close to a trip to the Final Four last season, losing to eventual state champion Air Academy 45-41 in the Great 8.
The Demons play with great balance and coach John Anderson uses a deep bench that melds well together. Golden loses its top scorer from last season in Ryan Thistlewood (13.4 points per game), but returns a number of players who gained valuable experience last year.
Among those is 6-foot-5 senior wing/forward Ryan Blodgett, who averaged 11.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game and is coming off a strong summer with the Next Level club team. The Demons have great size that could give team fits.
D’EVELYN
Last season: 17-9 overall, 11-4 in league
The team that Pachner left is now coached by Dan Zinn, who inherits a good amount of returning talent from a team that made a deep playoff run last season.
Grant Witherspoon, who averaged 20 points and 5.4 rebounds per game last season, will be tough to replace, but Cameron Brown (8.1 points per game last season), Charlie Davis (6.6) and Owen Burke (5.8) are among the returning seniors who were valuable contributors during the Great 8 run of a season ago. Each played at least 19 minutes per game. Depth was a strength for the Jaguars last season. Look for that to continue this year.
CONIFER
Last season: 13-10 overall, 5-10 in league
The Lobos are another deep team that has a lot of young talent returning after and up-and-down season last year. Jack Studer, a 6-foot-3 guard who is a three-sport star, played in all 23 games last season and averaged 11.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
Nate Ferguson, Robert Burnett and Steve Moe also add to what could be one of the league’s tougher senior classes.
EVERGREEN
Last season: 15-9 overall, 9-6 in league
The Cougars must replace their top two scorers from last season, including Nathan Haas, who averaged 19 points per game last season. Brady Bokelman and Alex Aafeldt will be among the seniors Evergreen will turn to as it aims to stay on a winning path.
WHEAT RIDGE
Last season: 15-9 overall, 8-7 in league
Tommy Dowd has a habit of taking a group of hard-working, scrappy player and turning them into a team that is a tough out night in and night out. Vedin Kozic, he of the 19.3 points per game last season, will be difficult to replace, but the Farmers play balanced. Whether they will have the talent to rise to the top of the league remains to be seen, but count on this team stealing wins and making life difficult for opponents.
GREEN MOUNTAIN
Last season: 8-15 overall, 5-10 in league
The Rams have one of the best seniors in Colorado in 6-foot-3 wing Austin Fritts, a highly athletic leaper who also appears to have developed a knockdown 3-point shot if his consistent performance at the Colorado Elite Camp last month was any indication.
Fritts averaged 17.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game last season. Senior guard Alec Stowell (9.2 ppg) can also score in bunches. The question is whether they will develop enough producers around them to compete at the top of the league.
STANDLEY LAKE
Last season: 9-14 overall, 7-8 in league
The Gators lose three of their top four scorers from last season. Versatile 5-foot-10 senior guard Eric Turner will have a chance to be a go-to force after averaging 8.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game last season.
LITTLETON
Last season: 5-18 overall, 3-12 in league
The Lions will be rebuilding. They have a good piece in 5-foot-11 junior guard Sam Kail.
ARVADA
Last season: 5-18 overall, 0-15 in league
Chris Maestas, a 5-foot-10 senior guard, is the team’s top returning scorer. He averaged 8.2 points per game last season to go with 2.6 rebounds.