5A’s Top-10 Teams Heading into the Week

<ol> <li> <h3><strong>Cherry Creek</strong></h3> </li> <li> <h3><strong>ThunderRidge</strong></h3> </li> <li> <h3><strong>Regis</strong></h3> </li> <li> <h3><strong>Chaparral</strong></h3> </li> <li> <h3><strong>Rangeview</strong></h3> </li> <li> <h3><strong>Mountain Vista</strong></h3> </li> <li> <h3><strong>Fossil Ridge</strong></h3> </li> <li> <h3><strong>Denver East</strong></h3> </li> <li> <h3><strong>Overland</strong></h3> </li> <li> <h3><strong>Chatfield</strong></h3> </li> </ol> <p>Creek is still the team to beat until someone stops them. The Bruins are 6-0 on the season, and the most awkward part about their scheduling is that all six wins are conference wins, which gets them on the right foot. [player_tooltip player_id="608058" first="Julian" last="Hammond"] is again on a scoring tear as he is up to 21 points a game, and that is while being in ease control. High IQ guard [player_tooltip player_id="770403" first="Myles" last="Purchase"] is at 15.2 points and 4.7 steals a game with standout sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="921104" first="Christian" last="Hammond"] showing that he is a player to be taken seriously at 10.8 points a game. Teams will have a tough time hanging with Cherry Creek.</p> <p>ThunderRidge has dropped in some rankings due to only having three games played on the season but those wins were convincing for me. The Grizzlies are a balanced team from top to bottom with excellent guard play in [player_tooltip player_id="916967" first="Garrett" last="Arnold"], [player_tooltip player_id="618859" first="Jackson" last="Brennan"] and David Simental with players like [player_tooltip player_id="972415" first="JJ" last="Williams"] and Joey Billelo on the wings playing equalizer and the best frontcourt duo in the state of [player_tooltip player_id="759280" first="Zach" last="Keller"] and [player_tooltip player_id="916957" first="Nolan" last="Marold"]. ThunderRidge will be tested this week so it will be interesting to see them answer the calling.</p> <p>Regis is the team that has had the biggest jump from one season to the next. The Raiders came on at the end of last season and surprised a few teams in the playoffs, but now they are the hunted. They have switched up their style of play and dominated early. [player_tooltip player_id="965744" first="Blakeley" last="Stoughton"] has been a darkhorse candidate for POY as he has his team winning, and he is the leading scorer at 18.7 points a game. He has had help from both senior guards [player_tooltip player_id="965741" first="Michael" last="Wolf"] (15.8 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="965745" first="Alonzo" last="Paul"] (12.3 ppg) with junior wing [player_tooltip player_id="965809" first="Kyle" last="Sandler"] putting up a massive stat line of 15.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists to go along with it. Regis is built for any playing style and will be a tough out come tournament time.</p> <p>Rangeview is at over 50 wins in a row, and it looks as if the streak will continue for at least two more games until they are up against their best competition that they have faced in years. The Raiders are battle-tested, and Shawn Palmer seems to have the recipe for success. What an incredible feat, and at 7-0 on the year, they are a team that plays for one another and knows what to expect on the court. [player_tooltip player_id="916972" first="Cade" last="Palmer"] is the team captain and leading scorer at 16.7 points a game but also has added to his game. He’s not only a sharpshooter but one of the better passers in the state at 6.7 assists a game. He has made it easier for players like [player_tooltip player_id="618892" first="Elijah" last="Thomas"] (10.4 ppg) and Devin Phillio (10.0 ppg) to score, with Bilal Cisse and Damajio Merritt also coming on as of late. Rangeview has built a powerhouse for the last five years, and this group is continuing on their winning ways.</p> <p>Mountain Vista just lost a close one in double OT to a Top-3 team in the state with their best player [player_tooltip player_id="759207" first="Ben" last="Bowen"] (18.3 ppg &amp; 6.2 apg) on the bench due to foul trouble. He was playing exceptionally well as he had 27 points before sitting it down and showed exactly why he is arguably the best player in the state. Junior standout [player_tooltip player_id="918911" first="Henry" last="Gamble"] has been one of the early surprises of the season as he is putting up 12.8 points a game and stepping up when needed. [player_tooltip player_id="1051098" first="Ty" last="Strawbridge"] (9.5 ppg) has also chipped in when needed and this Golden Eagles unit is built to bounceback. They fall just a bit but still are a top team in the state.</p> <p>Fossil Ridge very well has a chance to go undefeated this season and have consideration to be even higher on the rankings. The backcourt duo of [player_tooltip player_id="759281" first="Brock" last="Mishak"] (20.1 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="770404" first=" Tyce" last=" Baldwin"] (18.6 ppg) has been enough to carry the teams to victories as no backcourt they have faced has that kind of firepower and they can get going at the same time which is a scary sight to see. As long as they are both on, the Sabercats are going to be the team with the advantage, and they are only building more chemistry as the season progresses. Excited to see the finished product with this group.</p> <p>Denver East has shown that they can come together as a team and continue their winning ways even without their best player [player_tooltip player_id="770414" first="Boston" last="Stanton"] who is out due to an injury. But with them, it is the next man up and the player in the 2022 class that has had one of the biggest stock boosting seasons is true point [player_tooltip player_id="759275" first="Quis" last="Davis"]. Davis has played out of his mind to begin the season and is coming off of a season-high 28 points in a heated rivalry game that went into OT. Davis is at 17 points, 7.9 rebounds and 5.4 rebounds a game with players like [player_tooltip player_id="1020179" first="Michael" last="Jackson"], [player_tooltip player_id="770444" first="Tom" last="Connelly"] and Aguir Dawam all finding their footing and coming together. If they can continue contributing in the same ways with Boston back in the mix, this team has what it takes to be one of the state's Top-5 teams.</p> <p>Overland is a team that continues to find a way to get it done, which I attribute to top-not coaching as they are winning games and have not even been a complete team yet. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="1029174" first="Jameel" last="Wright"] has elevated his game in ways that not many expected as he is averaging 18.8 points a game but with [player_tooltip player_id="965781" first=" Marzouq" last=" Abdur-Razaaq"] banged up and missing games, they haven’t been able to see their full potential. Devarion Remy Wedgeworth-Brown has stepped up and filled his role and [player_tooltip player_id="918913" first="Victor" last="Harp"] has also been a welcomed addition. Overland will have to continue playing the right way and hope to get their big man back soon.</p> <p>Chatfield has been out of the Top-10 for far too long. They are 8-0 on the season or crying out loud and have some solid wins against some pretty talented teams to back it. This week they will be tested even more, and we will be able to see how this group really is. Chatfield is at 73.3 ppg and are led by 6’6 forward Chase Miller (15.3 ppg &amp; 8.5 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id="770411" first="Dylan" last="Carter"] (13.9 ppg). The duo makes up a solid-1-2 punch and read each other on the court. Those two do not force many shots, get others involved, and when they're on with [player_tooltip player_id="917017" first="Nate" last="Jacobson"] (9.0 ppg) providing scoring and leadership with Ethan Johnson (9.1 ppg) providing energy, then this is a tough team to beat. This will be a fun week for them, but no matter what happens, it is a team that needs to be recognized for its scorching-hot start.</p>