5A’s Top-10 Teams headed into Week 2

<h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>5A Rankings: Week of 2/1</strong></span></h3> <ol> <li>Cherry Creek</li> <li>ThunderRidge</li> <li>Regis</li> <li>Mountain Vista</li> <li>George Washington</li> <li>Rangeview</li> <li>Chaparral</li> <li>Valor Christian</li> <li>Overland</li> <li>Eaglecrest</li> </ol> <p><strong>Creek</strong> came into the season as the top team in the state and moved to 3-0 on the year. They have three players; [player_tooltip player_id="608058" first="Julian" last="Hammond"] (23.5 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="770403" first="Myles" last="Purchase"] (14.0 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="921104" first="Christian" last="Hammond"] (13.5 ppg) scoring in double figures with a team that has bought in.</p> <p><strong>T-Ridge</strong> has the best frontcourt in the entire state in [player_tooltip player_id="916957" first="Nolan" last="Marold"] (13.0 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id="759280" first="Zach" last="Keller"] (12.0 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="918919" first="Joey" last="Bilello"] (8.0 ppg) with guards [player_tooltip player_id="618859" first="Jackson" last="Brennan"] (10.0 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="916967" first="Garrett" last="Arnold"] (11.0 apg) manning the backcourt. The Grizzlies can score with the best of them but also can grind it out and win games. They are one of the few teams that can score in the halfcort. This is a deep team that knows how to win games.</p> <p><strong>Regis</strong> is playing FAST!! That’s not a sight that opposing teams wanted to see to begin the year. They are 2-0 and are a deep team with players we raved about all summer long leading the way. A backcourt that consists of [player_tooltip player_id="965745" first="Alonzo" last="Paul"] and [player_tooltip player_id="965741" first="Michael" last="Wolf"] with [player_tooltip player_id="965744" first="Blakeley" last="Stoughton"] and [player_tooltip player_id="965809" first="Kyle" last="Sandler"] on the wing is as dangerous as it gets. Once they get back [player_tooltip player_id="965747" first="Ty" last="Bergman"] they will be one of the deepest teams in the state.</p> <p><strong>Mountain Vista</strong> has arguably the best player in the state in [player_tooltip player_id="759207" first="Ben" last="Bowen"] leading the charge at 21.6 points, six rebounds and six assists with junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="918911" first="Henry" last="Gamble"] also chipping in 13.5 points a game. This team might not be the deepest, but every player on the team is on the same page and wants to win, and with wins over two teams in everyone’s Top-10 on a back-to-back, there might not be a hotter team in the state.</p> <p><strong>George Washington</strong> has run over everyone that has stood in their way. The Patriots are deep with [player_tooltip player_id="770413" first="Jarmell" last="Johnson"] beginning the season on a tear as a top scorer in the state and the twin towers, [player_tooltip player_id="916990" first="Fred" last="Edmonds"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1050935" first="Garrett" last="Brown"] manning the middle. With a player like [player_tooltip player_id="770417" first="Eddie" last="McPhee"] mixing it up and guards [player_tooltip player_id="916978" first="Darrian" last="Hammons"] and [player_tooltip player_id="770429" first="Cheick" last="Kouyate"] pushing and controlling the pace, this becomes a very tough team.</p> <p><strong>Rangeview</strong> has done what they’ve been doing for a decade now. Win, win, win – no matter what. Things have gotten chippy, and it may look a bit different for the Raiders, but they have continued to push and find a way. Rangeview, again, has a team that fights and buys in. [player_tooltip player_id="916972" first="Cade" last="Palmer"] has elevated to the next level and is averaging 20.0 points and four assists a game. Devin Phillio (12.3 ppg, 9.0 rpg) has been the surprise standout for the team. He an [player_tooltip player_id="618892" first="Elijah" last="Thomas"] (9.7 ppg) have offered assistance and delivered in the clutch.</p> <p><strong>Chaparral</strong> is a well-coached team that has a great blend of size and guard play. Transfers [player_tooltip player_id="759289" first="Luke" last="Williams"] (16.5 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="965763" first="Braden" last="Boley"] (11.5 ppg and 7.0 rpg) have been exactly what the Wolverines needed heading into the year. With Junior big man Joel Speckman (17.0 ppg and 10.5 rpg) looking like one of the best players in the state beginning the season as he has, I am unsure how this team gets beat anytime soon.</p> <p><strong>Valor</strong> had a bump in the road with their loss to Mountain Vista but still has what it takes to surprise teams moving forward. The Eagles are led by Senior do-it-all guard [player_tooltip player_id="770409" first="Amondo" last="Miller"] (23.5 ppg and 9.0 rpg) who has stepped up and is looking for fellow seniors [player_tooltip player_id="759248" first="AJ" last="Kula"] and DJ Burrage to also find their groove. Once they do, this will be a tough team to beat.</p> <p><strong>Overland</strong> has struggled to begin seasons, but sitting at 3-0 on the year, that may be a thing of the past. Overland has a young and talented bunch that gets after it. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="1029174" first="Jameel" last="Wright"] had a stellar summer and brought it into the season. In two games, Wright is averaging 21 points a game. His younger brother, [player_tooltip player_id="965781" first="Marzouq" last="Abdur-Razaaq"], is a Top-3 player in the 2023 class and is off to an excellent start to his first season on varsity. Marzouq is averaging 15.7 points and 6.7 rebounds a game and already has a career-high 32-point performance under his belt. Consistency and getting others like Remy Wedgeworth, [player_tooltip player_id="918913" first="Victor" last="Harp"] and Kai Ilela to continue doing their part will be key for the Trailblazers.</p> <p><strong>Eaglecrest</strong> is a team that we have not been able to see quite yet with Covid shutting the team down. But, this week is where they return to play. The Raptors have a three-headed assault with [player_tooltip player_id="916953" first="Ty" last="Robinson"], [player_tooltip player_id="965740" first="Adrian" last="Price"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1047502" first="Jayden" last="Washington"] leading the way so they should be ready for anyone.</p>