5A/4A Colorado Springs Metro League Preview w/ predictions

<p>With the high school season just around the corner, it’s time for us to take a look at some of the top conferences across the state. Second up is the Colorado Springs Metro league which is a tough one to predict with a team that should stand out and the rest that will compete to make a name for themselves. Here is a look at the Colorado Springs Metro league complete with a prediction of how things will possibly shake out.</p> <p><strong>Conference Commentary</strong></p> <p><strong>Favorite</strong>: <strong>Doherty </strong></p> <p>When you have one of the tallest and most talented Division I signees in the state that is a rim protector and soars for rebounds the way that <strong>Lucas Moerman </strong>does it is going to be hard-pressed to find a more talented team. He uses his 6’10 frame to dominate on both ends of the court. He averaged a double-double last year of 12.9 points and 11.6 rebounds while also recording 3.4 blocks a game. Alongside him is a strong supporting cast that is ready to prove that they are ready to surprise the state. <strong>Schaefer Reichart </strong>is back and showed that he is still capable of taking over games this past summer, he is still knocking down plenty of shots and with guards like <strong>AJ Guiao </strong>(who should emerge as a surprise standout this season) and <strong>Trey Carter</strong> also ready to score in bunches this should be a team that should be having coliseum aspirations. It is my pick to lead the conference and win a few playoff games as well. Big year upcoming.</p> <p><strong>Should Compete: Fountain-Fort Carson, Pine Creek, Coronado </strong></p> <p><strong>Dark-horse standouts: </strong></p> <p><strong>Fountain-Fort Carson</strong> is a team that I feel could make some noise as long as someone else helps one of the most lethal and capable scorers from the guard spot in <strong>Keyshawn Maltbia</strong>. Maltbia is one of the most intelligent players the state has to offer both on the court and off of it. He put up 17.6 points a game and also 6.7 rebounds to go along with it as a point guard. He is a do-it-all guard that can score with the best of them and with young players such as <strong>Michael Shannon, Treshawn Taylor, and Isacc Berrier</strong> ready to step up as upperclassmen then they could make some noise despite losing a big part of their team due to graduation.</p> <p><strong>Pine Creek</strong> also stood out as a team that could possibly make some noise. One of the biggest standouts for the summer was <strong>Peyton Westfall</strong> as I am pretty sure that he not only went to every single event this summer but happened to be one of the top scorers at every single event. He had one of the most impressive summers of any player in the state as he showed that he is not only a shooter with an incredible shooting stroke but can get to the rim and get others involved as well. Pine Creek will have one of the older teams in the state which can go a long way as they have other solid contributors in <strong>Max Lofy, Cameron Horton, Kenny Pham </strong>(8.2 ppg, 2.8 apg) and my pick for another player that will splash on the scene in <strong>Kedarian Maul </strong>(6.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg) all ready to help make solid contributions that lead to more wins. Watch out for the Eagles to make some noise.</p> <p><strong>Conference Predictions</strong></p> <p>1) Doherty</p> <p>2) Pine Creek</p> <p>3) Fountain-Fort Carson</p> <p>4) Coronado</p> <p>5) Palmer</p> <p>6) Liberty</p> <p>7) Rampart</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>