Ryan’s 6A Top 10

For my top 10 6A rankings, these are projections of where I expect these teams to be ranked by the end of the season. Many of the top teams in Colorado have already faced off, especially within this top 10.

1. ThunderRidge

ThunderRidge is on top because they have the best player in the state playing local high school basketball, junior guard Andrew Crawford Andrew Crawford 6'6" Thunderridge | 2024 CO . While this group only has one player returning who played major minutes last year this team is still the team to beat this year. Their only in-state loss has come from #2 ranked Fossil Ridge in a double OT thriller. They put up a great battle against Fossil Ridge led by the dynamic junior duo of Andrew Crawford Andrew Crawford 6'6" Thunderridge | 2024 CO and Charlie Spann Charlie Spann 6'6" | SF ThunderRidge | 2024 State CO , this team was also missing their third-best player 6’8 forward Tommy Wight Tommy Wight 6'8" | SF ThunderRidge | 2024 State CO . In a rematch, Tommy could very well be the difference maker due to his shooting and rebounding abilities. Ryan Doyle Ryan Doyle 6'4" | SG ThunderRidge | 2024 State CO and Ulysess Brown have been consistent contributors from the wing adding to this team’s depth.

2. Fossil Ridge

Fossil Ridge was the team to beat coming into the year as they were last year’s runner-ups and returning many players. The big reason Fossil Ridge is one of the top teams in the state is because of Nick Randall Nick Randall 6'7" | PF Fossil Ridge | 2023 State CO . Nick has been the most dominant player in the paint in Colorado, he uses exquisite footwork in the post where know has been able to match up with him. Wings Matthew Boldt Matthew Boldt 6'5" | SF Fossil Ridge | 2023 State CO and Colin Hayes Colin Hayes 6'4" | SF Fossil Ridge | 2023 State CO bring great length and versatility to the team. Domenic Leone Domenic Leone 6'3" | SG Fossil Ridge | 2023 State CO brings great energy to his team, making momentum-shifting plays. Their shooting guard Tyler Brown Tyler Brown 5'10" | SG Fossil Ridge | 2023 State CO is one of the best on-ball defenders in the state and a knockdown shooter off the catch. This team has a great starting five and three senior contributors, Drew Larson Drew Larson 6'6" | SF Fossil Ridge | 2023 State CO , Cooper McMillan, and Pryce Wyatt Pryce Wyatt 6'2" Fossil Ridge | 2023 CO who are great players to have on your bench, many would start at other 6A schools.

3. Mountain Vista

Mountain Vista is the only undefeated team left in my top 10 rankings. They have an early impressive win facing their rival Rock Canyon who is currently ranked #6. Mountain Vista is being led by the best guard, big man combo in the state, consisting of Radek Homer Radek Homer 6'1" | SG Mountain Vista | 2023 State CO and Caden Stevens Caden Stevens 6'8" | C Mountain Vista | 2023 CO . Caden is a versatile player on the offensive end, who can spread the floor and put the ball on the floor to beat slower bigs off of the dribble. On the defensive end, Caden has been one of the best shot blockers in the state averaging over 3 blocks per game. Radek is an athletic combo guard who does a great job creating for himself and others by getting downhill. They also have sophomore sharpshooter Cal Baskind Cal Baskind 5'11" | SG Mountain Vista | 2025 State CO who is one of the craftiest scorers in the state. This team also has good length on the wing represented by Zach Bowen Zach Bowen 6'6" | SF Mountain Vista | 2023 State CO who has looked more confident making and taking tough shots.

4. Smoky Hill

Smoky Hill is arguably the most talented squad in the state, and they are very young making them one of the most interesting teams in the state. While this team is young they are being led by senior Rickey Mitchell Rickey Mitchell 6'3" | CG Smoky Hill | 2023 State CO who is one of the best scorers in the state. Rickey is leading the state in scoring averaging just under 29 points per game. They also have two top 5 freshmen from the loaded 2026 class, Kai McGrew Kai McGrew 6'8" | PF Smoky Hill | 2026 State CO and Carter Basquez Carter Basquez 6'5" | CG Smoky Hill | 2026 State CO . In the three games Kai has played he has looked like the most dominant freshman in the state and it is not close. They also have scrappy point guard Lorenzo Contreras Lorenzo Contreras 5'8" | PG Smoky Hill | 2025 State CO who has been a major contributor for them.

5. Rock Canyon

Rock Canyon is a deep squad that can run with any team in the state. This year they are being led by Upper Iowa commit Gavin Hershberger Gavin Hershberger 5'11" Rock Canyon | 2023 CO . Gavin is a floor general who does a good job being a leader by example by making an impact on both ends of the floor. His classmate Aidan Peck Aidan Peck 6'7" | SG Rock Canyon | 2023 CO is a big wing who can do a bit of everything on the floor. Mac Terry Mac Terry 6'4" | SG Rock Canyon | 2024 State CO and Kasen Lehman Kasen Lehman 6'3" Rock Canyon | 2025 CO have been reliable shooters who have also been looking solid on the defensive end. Mac is a good passer for his size who does a great job buying into his role on the team. Juniors Reid Finch Reid Finch 6'6" | PF Rock Canyon | 2024 State CO and Nolan Kliewer Nolan Kliewer 6'7" | PF Rock Canyon | 2024 State CO bring good height down low for the squad.

6. Fort Collins

Fort Collins is a team that many may not have expected to be a top team coming into the season but has a trio who have led them to a good start to the season. Leading the way is Carrol College commit Luke Wagstaff Luke Wagstaff 6'8" Fort Collins | 2023 CO . Luke is a solid 6’8 big man down low who uses good footwork, his broad frame, and a soft touch to dominate down low. Junior guard Jayce King Jayce King 6'0" Fort Collins | 2024 CO has stepped up into a big role, he is an athletic point guard who has been shooting with solid efficiency from three-point land. Rounding out the trio is big forward Jamar Mitchell Jamar Mitchell 6'6" | SF Fort Collins | 2023 State CO who is a good third-scoring option who can play from the perimeter or the post.

7. Valor Christian

Valor Christian may not have the record of a top 10 team but they have the wins and depth that most definitely make them a top 10 team. Early this season they took down Fossil Ridge, a huge win for them. Shortly after they had a close loss to Smoky Hill and then another loss to Regis Jesuit. In the loss to Regis Jesuit, they were missing their star sophomore point guard Cole Scherer Cole Scherer 6'1" | PG Valor Christian | 2025 State CO . Cole has been the most impressive player for Valor leading the team in scoring and assists, he makes getting to the rim look easy and at the rim, he is an impressive finisher who can make tough shots with both hands. This team starts four guards and plays a spread-out offense that fits their personnel very well. Hunter Guiles Hunter Guiles 6'2" Valor Christian | 2023 CO is a microwave scorer who once he is hot can be hard to stop. His classmate Archer VanSickle Archer VanSickle 6'4" | CG Valor Christian | 2023 State CO is another microwave scorer who has a smooth jumper and solid size for a shooting guard. Eli Kim Eli Kim 5'10" | PG Valor Christian | 2024 State CO is a quick guard who often guards opposing teams’ top guards as he is a good on-ball defender, he is another guy who can spread the floor and put the ball in the bucket. Clark Hodge and Ryan Dixon Ryan Dixon 6'5" | PF Valor Christian | 2024 State CO have done a good job playing down low and sometimes creating the teams’ offense out of the high post.

8. Ralston Valley

Ralston Valley is a team being led by the number one sophomore in the state Tanner Braketa Tanner Braketa 6'1" | PG Ralston Valley | 2025 State CO . Tanner is one of, if not the best shooters in the state, he can score on or off of the dribble. One of their losses was the first game of the season when they were missing Jackson Hansen Jackson Hansen 5'9" | CG Ralston Valley | 2024 State CO and a few other football players who were coming off of a deep run in the football playoffs. Jackson does a great job being the second option on the team and taking pressure off of Tanner, which can be seen when they rematched Douglas County (their first loss of the season) and won by just under 20 points. This team may not have the depth of other teams in the top 10 but they have one of the deadliest offensive backcourts in the state.

9. Denver East

Denver East is a program being led by the most winniest coach of all time in Colorado high school basketball history Rudy Carey. This year East is led by the senior duo of Daundre Samuels Daundre Samuels 6'3" | CG Denver East | 2023 State CO and Austin Mohr Austin Mohr 6'3" | SG Denver East | 2023 State CO . Daundre is one of the top guards in the state who is an absolute stat sheet stuffer. He does a good job using his long arms to disrupt passing lanes and start fastbreaks. Austin last year played the spot up shooter role and this year has an expanded role where he is able to have the ball in his hands more often. This senior duo and help from scrappy guard Sam Scott Sam Scott 5'10" | SG Denver East | 2023 State CO make them an intriguing team to watch out for

10. Vista Ridge

Vista Ridge is another team being led by a senior duo, who may be the best team from the Springs this year. Leading the team is combo-guard Tyson Monck Tyson Monck 6'3" | SG Vista Ridge | 2023 CO who has solid size and an ability to hit tough jumpers. Tyson leads the team in points, assists, and rebounds, leading the team by example. Playing next to him is Caleb Kelley Caleb Kelley 6'4" | SG Vista Ridge | 2023 CO a lengthy shooter who can spread the floor with his jumper which is hard to guard due to his high release. This another team who does not have the deepest team but a good senior duo that can help them make a good run.

Honoarble Mentions – Fountain-Fort Carson, Broomfield, Highlands Ranch, Legacy, Eaglecrest