Colorado boys basketball begins its 87th season today without a definitive favorite team or clear-cut best player among big schools.
The suggestion box may stay that way through the March 15 title game in Boulder.
Of 63 schools in eight leagues, the Centennial’s depth, balance and traditional home-and-away series should again set it apart. As usual, Mullen (David Burns and Terrance Dent) will begin slowly, but, as coach Porter Cutrell said, what else is new when there’s new faces and football players changing seasons?
There are plenty of big games awaiting after the mandatory holiday break such as notable league matchups with Boulder (Mitch Fraser), Cherry Creek (6-foot-10 Trey Eckloff, signed with Colorado), Eaglecrest (junior Gage Wooten) and Smoky Hill (former coach Russ McKinstry has returned; Ryan Perry). Fairview, Grandview and Overland have the ability to keep it interesting.
In Colorado Springs, Doherty warrants consideration.
“We’ll be quick, athletic and able to shoot the ball,” veteran coach Dan McKiernan said of a team featuring junior guard Bryse Velaquez and senior forward V.J. Holmes.
Their city battles with the likes of Palmer (Boston College-bound Reggie Jackson) and Air Academy (Ron Burton and Brennan Price) will occur within a 10-team outlay that could prove improved from a season ago.
The Continental congress (of sorts) initially chaired by ThunderRidge (Zach Tiedgen) lacks overall speed but boasts plenty of height, muscle and know-how.
Other votes include Gateway (O’Rion Hughes) as a popular league challenger along with the news and notes of others, including potential for significant improvement at Douglas County and Rangeview; standard challenges from Arapahoe, Chaparral (Nick Pavlich), Heritage, Mountain Vista and Ponderosa; and new coaches at Highlands Ranch (Bob Caton), Littleton (Ray Van Heukelem) and Regis (Ken Shaw).
As for the city, East heads most folks’ list of top teams. The Thornton brothers, Demetrious and DaVaughn, and Jamiko Verner are among expected regulars for the 2006-07 5A champion Angels. “We could be pretty good by February,” said coach Rudy Carey, whose team will be without senior all-state forward Mookie Gilbert (academic issues) until at least the beginning of next semester. The half-5A, half-4A Denver Prep also has a more-inexperienced Montbello (Nate Nelson) and George Washington possibly challenging beyond the league.
Eight of the top 10 Front Range players from 2006-07 are returning. Vast improvement and league-wide progress is now assumed, not expected.
Poudre (Dallas Elmore, also signed with BC, and junior Anthony Crenshaw) has everyone’s attention with four returning starters from the past season’s 17-8 Sweet 16 team. Rocky Mountain’s up-tempo skill is led by Kaipo Sabas. Others such as Fort Collins (new coach Monte Alvarez), Legacy (Air Force appointee Trevor Noonan), Loveland (Collin Klein) and Monarch (Sabatino Chen) enter with considerable league hopes.
The knock on Jefferson County has been its fall from serious 5A contention, but competitive matchups are due within the league.
Arvada West (Richard Brown), Bear Creek (Preston Rayburn), a greener Chatfield, Columbine (new coach Jeff Wennberg), Green Mountain (Brian Hunt), Lakewood (Brent Aga) and Wheat Ridge (Ryan Routzon) have the top league aspirations.
Additional 5A-4A groups — four big-school teams in each — eyeing upper-end seeding for the 48-team playoff bracket: new-look Aurora Central (Caston Mabin) and Hinkley (Joey Elliott) among those in the Skyline; and Central (G.J.) with Clay Kame in the Southwestern.
Top 10
1. East
2. Doherty
3. ThunderRidge
4. Poudre
5. Palmer
6. Mullen
7. Rocky Mountain
8. Gateway
9. Wheat Ridge
10. Cherry Creek
5A boys to watch
David Burns, Mullen, 6-8, Sr.
Ron Burton, Air Academy, 5-9, Sr.
Sabatino Chen, Monarch 6-2, Sr.
Terrance Dent, Mullen, 6-2, Sr.
Trey Eckloff, Cherry Creek, right, 6-10, Sr.
Dallas Elmore, 6-5, Poudre, Sr.
Mitch Fraser, Boulder, 6-4, Sr.
Levi Harris, Coronado, 6-1, Sr.
John Harshman, Northglenn, 6-0, Sr.
V.J. Holmes, Doherty, 6-4, Sr.
O’Rion Hughes, Gateway, 6-2, Sr.
Reggie Jackson, Palmer, 6-3, Sr.
Clay Kame, Central (G.J.), 5-11, Jr.
Collin Klein, Loveland, 6-6, Sr.
Caston Mabin, Aurora Central, 6-5, Sr.
Kellan McLemore, Rangeview, 6-3, Sr.
Trevor Noonan, Legacy, 6-8, Sr.
Nick Pavlich, Chaparral, 6-2, Jr.
Brennan Price, Air Academy, 6-6, Sr.
Kaipo Sabas, Rocky Mountain, 6-0, Sr.
Demetrious Thornton, East, 6-4, Sr.
Zach Tiedgen, ThunderRidge, 6-5, Sr.
Bryse Velasquez, Doherty, 5-9, Sr.
Jamiko Verner, East, 5-10, Sr.
Gage Wooten, Eaglecrest, 6-4, Jr.
