Preseason Preview: Continental League
We are continuing our preview of the 2016-17 Colorado high school basketball season today with a look at the Continental League. Today: The predicted order of finish. Tomorrow: Preseason all-league teams. 1. Rock Canyon (Last season: 20-5, 8-2 in league,…
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Continue ReadingWe are continuing our preview of the 2016-17 Colorado high school basketball season today with a look at the Continental League. Today: The predicted order of finish. Tomorrow: Preseason all-league teams.
1. Rock Canyon (Last season: 20-5, 8-2 in league, tied for third)
The Jaguars will miss a couple key glue pieces from a season ago. Isaac Hirsch was a do-everything player who was dependable and a strong leader. Noah Beck became an accomplished outside shooter who could also handle the ball. And Payton Berman was a strong ball-handler who could defend well. But the fact is, the Jaguars have the league’s best player in Sam Masten, who is one of the state’s best players. The team has also added one of the state’s top 2018 point guards in Tyson Gilbert, who transferred from Highlands Ranch. Blake Williams, a 6-4 junior wing with good athleticism and shooting ability, should step into a bigger role on the wing, and senior J.T. Bley has steadily improved as the team’s big man. And Rock Canyon, with one of the league’s best coaches in a group full of them in Kent Gram, should have a lot of role players who are coached to play their part.
2. ThunderRidge (21-4, 9-1, tied for first)
Like clockwork, the Grizzlies appear to be primed for another run as one of the state’s top teams. They must replace big man Clay Verk, a versatile, 6-8 forward who is now playing for Division I Stetson, as well as Austin Mueller, now at Wyoming. But coach Joe Ortiz has plenty to work with, including Kaison Hammonds, our No. 3 player in the 2018 class, who has already received a scholarship offer from the University of Denver. The 6-3 guard averaged 8.4 points and 4.0 assists as a sophomore, and he’s a player who is as comfortable facilitating as he is scoring. Corey Seng, a 6-4 senior, can stretch the floor with his outside shooting and is a fantastic perimeter defender. And Ortiz’s pipeline is such that new faces should be ready to step in and play their roles this season. Sophomore Bailey Verk and junior guard Casey Fowler could be among that group.
3. Regis Jesuit (22-4, 9-1, tied for first)
The Raiders could be younger than they’ve been in quite some time under veteran coach Ken Shaw, but they are certainly talented. Sam Bannec, a 6-3 guard, could be one of the state’s biggest surprises this season. He does a little bit of everything on the court. Strong midrange, sees the court well, has good athleticism. Guards Elijah Martinez, Payton Egloff and Jamil Safieddine bring depth and versatility. They Raiders also have a strong senior backcourt leader in Connor Hobbs. But the biggest addition may be 6-9 Samba Kane, who this summer from Senegal and turned heads already at a national camp in California. He’s versatile and athletic and pretty polished already.
4. Mountain Vista (16-9, 5-5, tied for fifth)
The Golden Eagles will have one of the state’s best inside-outside combinations in 6-0 point guard Isaac Essien and 6-8 forward Jake Belknapp. Essien can really push the tempo and led big schools in assists last season. He’s great at penetrating and finding the open man, which is often Belknapp. Connor Staib, a 6-3, is a great complementary players, 6-5 Akiel Aries could be a strong sparkplug and 6-9 R.J. Wohlleber, a junior, could be ready to step into a bigger role.
5. Chaparral (9-16, 5-5, tied for fifth)
The best players on the Wolverines last season — and, yes, they were a talented bunch — were all freshmen. As good as Ronnie DeGray, Bryce Matthews and Joseph Dalton were, growing pains were natural. This season, Chaparral won’t have any fear. DeGray, who is nearing 6-7 and coming off a fantastic offseason, will be a matchup problem for just about any team. Freshman point guard Kobe Sanders built chemistry with DeGray, Matthews and Dalton while playing up with the Billups Elite 15U squad this spring and summer. And Chaparral added talented guard JoVon Nelson, who played last season with the Far Northeast Warriors. There are a lot of nice pieces here, and if they click, Chaparral could end much higher than this prediction, which is being made while still being cautious about the team’s youth.
6. Douglas County (8-16, 2-8, tied for eighth)
The Huskies are approaching the season with big optimism after making big strides the last couple of seasons. Sophomore Davon Walker is one of the state’s top young point guards, backcourt teammate T.J. Boykins, another sophomore, is coming strong summer and will contribute and junior Cam’ron Dunfee, who has transferred in from Texas, has turned heads during summer and fall workouts. The Huskies also have a strong senior leader in Solomon Stark, and this group is hungry to win.
7. Legend (19-6, 8-2, tied for third)
No team in the league has to replace as much as the Titans, who lose all five of their starters from a season ago. But coach Kevin Boley should have a lot to like about his group. Blake Fields, a senior who was a reliable sixth man last season, has worked tirelessly to prepare for his chance to be a key cog. Caleb Tamminga, a 6-3 sophomore, can score the basketball in different ways, junior Brody McCord brings athleticism and freshman Cameron LeVan should be ready to play point guard right away. Junior Noah Lewis, a newcomer, is a strong 3-point threat.
8. Highlands Ranch (11-14, 4-6, sixth)
The loss of the team’s two top scorers from last season — the aforementioned Gilbert and do-it-all forward Jack Fiddler — will be tough to replace. But the Falcons have some nice pieces in their second year under coach Mike Gibbs. Senior McKale Williams, a 6-1 guard, will be one of the league’s top defenders and is coming off a big summer with Colorado Connect. Junior Brendan Sullivan, a 6-5 guard, averaged 9.4 points and 6.3 rebounds as a sophomore. And senior Holten Sparling should be a key piece after averaging 7.1 points per game last year.
9. Ponderosa (10-13, 2-8, tied for eighth)
The Mustangs should be more comfortable in their second year under veteran coach Steve Ketchum, whose team showed progress as the season went on a year ago. Derek Hansen, a 6-0 guard, should be a solid senior leader after averaging 10.4 points per game. The 6-3 Peyton Ingalls is a versatile player who rebounds it well, and senior Andrew Mays could be an X-factor after a nice summer.
10. Heritage (7-17, 2-8, tied for eighth)
Heritage will certainly feel the loss of Jack Peck, who was one of the best players in the league last season, but the Eagles also have some good talent coming back. Look for seniors Walker Andrew (9.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game last season) and John Carlson (7.5 and 5.2) to be a tough duo. Junior Matthew Lawrence is also a player who has put major work into his game in the offseason with Colorado Chaos and could be primed for a big role.
11. Castle View (5-19, 1-9, 11th)
Chase Hettinger, a 6-3 guard, was one of the top performing freshmen in the state last season. He averaged 7.5 points per game, and his club coaches have raved about his performance during the offseason. He was also the most outstanding player of last weekend’s Rocky Mountain Fall Showcase sophomore game, where he scored 28 points.