Updated 4A Top-10 heading into the week
In this article:
Mead Windsor Lewis-Palmer Erie Pueblo Central Evergreen Montrose Longmont Pueblo South Green Mountain Everyone else is in a dog fight and battling it out each night, and then there is Mead, who is in the driver’s seat and playing well.…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue Reading- Mead
- Windsor
- Lewis-Palmer
- Erie
- Pueblo Central
- Evergreen
- Montrose
- Longmont
- Pueblo South
- Green Mountain
Everyone else is in a dog fight and battling it out each night, and then there is Mead, who is in the driver’s seat and playing well. The Mavericks are led by sharpshooting guard Elijah Knudsen Elijah Knudsen 5'10" | CG Mead | 2022 State CO (17.2 ppg), who is strapped and ready to go. He and Nick Basson Nick Basson 6'2" | SG Mead | 2023 State CO (11.2 ppg) have the shooting part down, which leaves James Shiers James Shiers 7'1" | C Mead | 2022 State CO (14.5 ppg & 9.8 rpg) to clean up the boards and control the paint. Mead is looking ahead to a matchup with Windsor for a game they will certainly be tested in.
Windsor just took a shocking loss to Erie earlier this week as it appeared that they were in a look ahead moment. They maybe should’ve dropped in the rankings, but this is still a loaded team that has the opportunity to bounce-back. The response will be crucial, and they have quite the chance this week. The Wizards have a senior trio of Ben Hageman Ben Hageman 6'3" | PF Windsor | 2021 State CO (19.7 ppg), Jaden Kennis Jaden Kennis 6'3" | SG Windsor | 2021 State CO (19.5 ppg), and Kobe Greene (14.3 ppg) that are leading the charge. They read each other well and challenge themselves on both ends of the floor. This is the week where they either respond or fall.
Lewis-Palmer was the team I was highest on heading into the season. They are a solid bunch and have one of the most complete units. They’ll be better once they get their best player back but have found a way to maintain in the meantime. Colin Westfall Colin Westfall 6'1" | SG Lewis-Palmer | 2021 State CO (16.0 ppg) has been the teams leading scorer and go-to option, but they also have big man Eddie Speller Jr. (15.4 ppg), who has done it all. Noah Ragsdale Noah Ragsdale 5'11" | PG Lewis-Palmer | 2021 State CO has opened up the floor and ran the unit at times, with Brady Jones (11.6 ppg) doing what has been needed as well. The Rangers are a fun team to watch.
Erie has the biggest upset in 4A right now, as they beat Windsor earlier in the week. If not for their early loss to Silver Creek and this Erie team would still be undefeated and discussed more. Seniors Kevin Loy (15.2 ppg) and Jordan Nguyen (12.4 ppg), and Cole Rademacher have provided leadership for the squad while being productive scorers as well, while junior wing Kayan Hargrave (13.4 ppg) has been the player that the Tigers have relied on late in games. Erie is in a crucial stretch of games where they have an opportunity to prove themselves as one of the top teams in the state.
Pueblo Central is 8-1 on the season and is only rising. They dominate teams with one of the better 1-2 punches in all of 4A in Senior wing Adonis Reynolds (17.6 ppg) and talented 6’7 sophomore big man Kadyn Betts Kadyn Betts 6'7" | PF Huntington Prep | 2023 #90 Nation CO . Both players score when they want and can attack the rim. They secure boards, go right up with it, and is aggressive throughout the entire game. Opposing teams have no answer on the duo and with them playing this way, seem to always have a chance. They are playing great right now.
Evergreen is 7-1 on the season, and with 6’5 standout wing Griffin Lauritano Griffin Lauritano 6'4" | SF Evergreen | 2021 State CO playing at such a high level at 16.5 points and 7.9 rebounds a game, it isn’t easy to catch this team slipping. Evergreen has an identity and plays THEIR brand of basketball, and it has been successful to start the year. Jackson Mott is at 13.6 points a game and compliments Lauritano’s game. When they are both going, this is a tough team to beat and make Evergreen an outstanding team. They remain in the Top-10 with an opportunity to rise.
Montrose is punished a bit for not being seen play as often but has something special up there. It is a talented bunch that plays well off of one another, and with junior Luke Hutto Luke Hutto 6'3" | SF Montrose | 2022 State CO putting together another stellar season, the wins continue piling in. Hutto is at 14.7 points and 8.7 rebounds a game and has had plenty of help with Trey Reese Trey Reese 6'2" | SF Montrose | 2022 State CO (10.5 ppg) and Fletcher Cheezum (10.3 ppg) contributing in scoring. With other teammates starring in their role and knowing exactly what is expected of them, they become an even more dangerous team to beat and prepare for.
Longmont was also upset earlier in the week by Holy Family, which dropped them in the rankings. The Trojans saw what it was like when you overlook an opponent and do not come out on your A-game as Holy Family had a gameplan against them and executed. Standout senior Eddie Kurjak Eddie Kurjak 6'8" | PF Longmont | 2021 State CO will have to get the troops back out and ready to turn things around as he is their emotional leader and player the team rallies behind. Keegan Patterson has also been playing extremely well, so it will be on those two to right the ship.
It has been the Tarrance Austin Tarrance Austin 5'10" | PG Pueblo South | 2022 State CO show for Pueblo South as the junior is at 23.5 points a game with 5.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists to go along with it. He’s done it all for the Colts and then some. Alongside him is a talented young duo of Maurice Austin (10.3 ppg) and Ray J. Aragon (15.0 ppg) that have stepped up and made them a lethal team on both ends of the floor that understands how to win. It is a great balance with this Pueblo South squad, and they honestly have what it takes to win it all.
Green Mountain is one of the hottest teams in 4A right now, and with how they have looked recently, you can put them in a game with anybody and expect a dog fight. Mike Puccio has them over there playing some inspired ball, and Austin Peterson Austin Peterson 6'2" | CG Green Mountain | 2021 State CO has pulled them over the hump with his play. Peterson is on a tear as he is averaging 21.7 points a game in their last four contests and doing everything he can to lead to wins. Corbin Jantzer (9.8 ppg) and Allen Ortiz (5.4 rpg) have filled in and done all of the dirty work. This is a team that looks like it is peaking, so watch out.