Continental League Preview w/ Predictions
With the high school season just around the corner it’s time for us to take a look as some of the conferences across the state. Second in line is the Continental league which is one of the toughest to predict as these teams are very close and anybody can win the conference. Here is a look at the Continental league complete with a prediction of how things will possibly shake out.
Conference Commentary
Favorite: Chaparral
Chaparral lost one of the top overall players in the state and the worst part was, it wasn’t to graduation. Ronnie DeGray III is going to spend his Senior year at the Woodstock Academy in Connecticut and his presence will truly be missed, but that only opens up more opportunity for the next guy up and Chap has plenty of them. This is a loaded team that has what it takes to win state regardless. They have two of the best guards in the state in Kobe Sanders and Joseph Dalton who get it done in a variety of ways and the offense will surely run through. They also have a great combo guard in Tanner Giles who is coming off of a strong summer and Bryce Matthews manning the middle. They have one of the best perimeter defenders in Tizell Lewis and this has the makings of one of the most complete teams in the state ready to prove themselves.
Should Compete: Douglas County, , Regis Castle View, Thunder ridge, Legend
Douglas County will give teams fits this upcoming year and it wouldn’t surprise me if they won the Continental league. Yes, Earl Boykins’ team lost six seniors last year, but they had one of the best junior classes in the state and they’re all a year better, a year wiser and looking to make noise this Senior year. Point guard TJ Boykins had one of the most impressive summers there was. He is an ultimate competitor and will get this Douglas County team to new heights this year. Alongside him is Quincy Burland who should be one of the best shooters in the state. He can hurt a team in a variety of ways and one of the most underrated guys that is coming off of a summer that he turned plenty of heads is Brendan Temple. Temple will be one of the standout players in the conference and with team success can be a dark horse Mr. Basketball candidate. Expect this team to compete as a favorite and surprise a team or two in the playoffs.
Castle View has the MVP of the summer in Chase Hettinger. He is my choice for Most Improved Player which is scary because I fully expect him to be a Mr. Basketball candidate. He has just gotten that much better; Castle View isn’t a basketball powerhouse just yet but this year should take the state by storm as they have a top three player in the state leading the way with a very stout team around him.
Rebuilding: Rock Canyon
The team lost two of the best players in the state in Tyson Gilbert and Sam Masten so it’s only right for them to go into a rebuilding stage. In fact, they lost more than six seniors due to graduation and will have maybe the youngest team in the state this upcoming year. Taking a look at their roster the only player that played major minutes that remain is Jaylen Eikenberg. He is one of the best players in the conference and is making one of the biggest jumps in the state in our updated state rankings. He will be asked to do it all on the offensive and defensive end. They have a great coach in Kent Grams and with a young under the radar player like Grant Figueroa set to play more minutes I expect this team to compete nightly but take a huge step back due to youth.
18-19 Conference Predictions
Chaparral
Douglas County
Regis Jesuit
Castle View
Legend
Thunder Ridge
Mountain Vista
Rock Canyon
Highlands Ranch
Ponderosa
Heritage