Ball Fever: Coaches Poll Top 10

Welcome back, hoops fans! The Ball Fever crew is ready to dig in to our big school 6A and 5A boys hoops. This year we’ve been tasked with checking out the soon to be weekly published Seeding Index top squads as we know the March #MileHighMadness will be here before we know it.

To get things started off let’s take a look at how our Preseason Coaches Poll Top 10 squads are fairing and what’s on tap in big games this week!

Lets dive in: 
Monday 12/11
It seems only right that we start with 6A defending champ Denver East and legendary Coach Carey. The Angels were senior heavy last year and are now off to a 6-0 start thanks to juniors Maurice “Mo” Fulcher and Fabian Morris who are now “next man up” in taking the reins. The Angels were voted No. 9 by the Coaches in the preseason poll but going unbeaten in the Fossil Ridge and Fairview early in-state tournaments has put the state on notice that they will, once again, be a “big school” force! The Angels host Overland (1-2 overall) and Coach Fisher always has the Trailblazers ready to battle.

Coming in at No. 4 in the Preseason Coaches Poll rankings is Eaglecrest and they are another team led by stud juniors. Point guard Ladavian King leads the Raptors in almost every statistical category in their 4-0 start and is averaging 20 points per game during the Raptors 4-0 start. The Raptors host Doherty who will bring some ballers down from the CO Springs Monday night!

Tuesday 12/12 
Rock Canyon was voted in as No. 2 in the 6A Coaches Poll and have impressed early going 6-1 overall and the only loss coming in out-of-state Texas competition. The Jags are also unbeaten in in-state play and already have a five point win over preseason No. 10 Mountain Vista. The Jaguars have a road trip to Cherry Creek who will play tough at home and are 3-1 early in the season.

Air Academy was voted in at No. 5 in 5A but that may be short lived as they are off to a slow 2-4 start. This night gets no easier as they will host 6A squad Douglas County who is 4-2 early on.

We know there’s never a “one man show” in hoops and it takes a team effort but of Thompson Valley’s 61 points per game, senior guard Brady Kennison is averaging an absolute “monsta” #StatStuffin 32 points per game for the No. 6 ranked squad in 5A. Kennison takes his scoring barrage up against Northridge.

Don’t be fooled by preseason 6A No. 3 Smoky Hill’s 3-2 record. The two losses came in out-of-state Arizona tournament competition. The high-flying Buffaloes have not lost in the state yet and look to remain unbeaten against visiting Horizon. Smoky is averaging over 70 points per game and if “monsta” dunks are your thing: check them out! Here’s our friends at 9News Preps capturing the soaring Smoky players.

6A “Top 10 Alert”! We love top 10 match ups and you can bet the gym will be packed when No. 7 Regis hosts No. 5 Valor Christian in the private school battle. Both teams coming in at 5-1 thus far. Valor will have the task of slowing down “super soph” Eric Fiedler who is averaging 23 points per game. Regis will be happy to be home after three games in Arizona going 2-1 out of state!

5A Ponderosa is riding Noah Wilhelm’s 21 points, seven rebounds per game to a 5-1 start and look to keep the momentum rolling vs. Adams City.

A lot expected of 5A Vista Peak this year as they were voted in as No. 2 in our coaches poll. Vista Peak’s sole loss this season came by two points to No. 9 Mead. This night, Centaurus will have the task of trying to slow the Bison’s 75 point per game pace!

Defending champ Denver East, covered earlier, continue a busy early season schedule and look to remain unbeaten on a trip to Palmer (5-1 overall).

Dakota Ridge voted in at No. 8 in 5A looks to keep Columbine winless early in the season. Dakota Ridge may need a win in order to remain ranked as they’ve started off 3-3 so far this season.

5A “Top 10 Alert”! When you see senior point guard Maurice Austin don’t be fooled by his height of 5’8. The kid can flat fill up the stat sheet and is averaging a huge 28 points per game for 5A’s No. 10 Pueblo South. Not to be outdone, No. 4 Lewis Palmer’s Cohen Edmondson is at 22 points per outing and this will be one of our best match ups of the week.

Finally, we get a look at our 5A preseason No. 1 Mesa Ridge out of Colorado Springs. They are off to a hot 5-1 start with their sole loss coming to ranked Pueblo South. Senior “stat-stuffin” guard Tevin 19 points, five steals, and one block per game. Mesa takes on Pine Creek Tuesday.

Wednesday 12/13 
Ok, we got the 5A in and now time for our 6A preseason No. 1 ThunderRidge. The Grizzlies boast the likely top prospect in CU Boulder commit senior Andrew Crawford and if he wasn’t enough you also must account for his running Charlie Spann who leads the Grizz at 16 points per game. Overland, who averages 70 as a team, will try to push the tempo vs. our states No. 1 ranked squad. The Grizzlies are 6-2 in an early busy schedule but the two losses came out of state in Texas Tournament competition.

On a slow night in the Top 10 rankings Thompson Valley hits the floor again on the road at Roosevelt.

Thursday 12/14 
Mountain Vista is in as 6A preseason No. 10. They are 3-1 early on looking like they belong as their sole loss came to No. 2 Rock Canyon by five points. Defense will be tested this night as they face a Fairview squad who is averaging 70 points per outing in their five games.

More out of state Tournament action!  This time, Eaglecrest, 6A’s No. 4-ranked team, is headed to face North Thurston (Washington). Both teams unbeaten and N. Thurston will try to slow the Raptors’ 85 point per game pace.

Denver East continues their busy week and face 3-1 Legend in their 3rd contest in 4 days!

5A “Top 5 Alert”! Our first look at No. 3 Windsor, which will get a tough test when they visit No. 2 Vista Peak. Windsor sits at 3-2 with one of those losses coming by one point to hot 6A Denver East. “Super soph” Madden Smiley is leading the way for Windsor in the scoring department and team leader Johnny Reed (Black Hills State commit) make a tough duo for the Wizards!

More local tournament action and our first peek at 5A No. 9 Mead who will tangle with Grand Junction. The Mavericks sole loss comes to ranked Lewis Palmer but they also boast a tight two-point win over No. 2 Vista Peak.

5A’s No. 1 Mesa Ridge will be back in action again this week and play host to The Classical Academy down in the Springs at 7:30 p.m. TCA will need a lot from senior Jordan Wenger who’s giving them 18 points per game.

Friday 12/15 
Elizabeth, only averaging 48 points per game, may find it tough to keep pace with 5A’s No. 7 Ponderosa, which is averaging 70 points per outing.

No. 2 Rock Canyon will tangle with Overland and throughout the years the Trailblazers schedule the toughest non conference schedule of anyone. The Jags are being led by junior Kasen Lehman and will try to slow Overland’s 70 point pace.

Saturday 12/16 
The East Angels will sleep well next weekend after a gauntlet of games this week. They close out against Mullen and this should be a fun pace with Mustang senior Jordan Leslie leading his squad in every statistical category and Mullen averaging 75 points per session.

Won’t be easy for 5A’s No. 1 Mesa Ridge as it pays a visit to 5-1 Falcon Saturday afternoon. The Falcons, being led by Tyler Cox’s 16 points per outing, will try and defend their home court.

Our states top squad is next up to take the show on the road. No. 1 ThunderRidge is headed to Texas and start out against United Longhorns out of Laredo.

5A’s No. 2 Vista Peak will end the week vs. Eagle Ridge Academy. The Bison should not look past Eagle Ridge who’s coming in led by a “FRESHMAN ALERT” in 6’8 Aiden Wanrow who is leading ERA on every stat line early in the season.

Well, folks! That puts a wrap on our early look at the Preseason Coaches Poll Top 10. Get out and support these awesome athletes. It’s getting cold out there…but remember, it’s always 72 & Sunny in the gym! #BallFever