5A Jeffco League Update
The 5A Jefferson County League has a few of the elite pure shooters in Colorado, along with two of the tallest players around. Individual star power hasn’t been hard to find. That individual prowess, along with some balanced attacks, has…
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Continue ReadingThe 5A Jefferson County League has a few of the elite pure shooters in Colorado, along with two of the tallest players around. Individual star power hasn’t been hard to find. That individual prowess, along with some balanced attacks, has fueled some winning teams.
Below is a look at some of the trends and players making noise in the Jeffco at the halfway point of league play.
Chargers firmly in top-10
While several of the Jeffco teams have star power, and certainly upperclassmen like Dallas Walton, Luke Neff, and Kolton Peterson have proven their worth as some of the state’s elite players again this season, Chatfield has taken command of the league with a 7-0 record. In fact, the Chargers have won 14 of 16 games with their only losses coming at the hands of 5A powers ThunderRidge and Denver East on the road. They are a contender for a deep playoff run, because of their balance and chemistry. Joe Miks (13 ppg), Cameron Pearson (11.1 ppg), Joshua Frenette (9.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg), Riley Welch (9.3 ppg, 3.9 apg) and Mike Vrabel (9.1 ppg) are a seasoned bunch. With playmakers and shooters alike, Chatfield appears in the mix for not only a league crown, but a No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the state tournament. They defeated the likes of George Washington, Lincoln, Mountain Vista, Palmer and Boulder in the non-conference.
Lakewood a major factor
Chatfield isn’t the only team that has built a resume beyond just league victories. The Lakewood Tigers, with one of the more underrated junior tandems in Colorado in Peterson (elite scorer state-wide) and 6-foot-7 Jacob Storey (17.6 ppg), took out Legend and Mountain Vista in back-to-back games in December. And, while Lakewood has been a bit up-and-down thus far with a 3-4 record in the Jeffco, 9-7 overall, those two victories over Continental powers proved the Tigers can’t be taken lightly come tourney time. A season ago, with five sophomores as their leading scorers, Lakewood was one of the last teams to sneak into the playoffs as a No. 12 seed, but they took advantage of the opportunity with an upset of a No. 5 seed in Monarch. The Tigers certainly have some bite to them.
Skyscrapers hard to miss
As rare as it is, this conference features two 6-foot-11 or taller players. Ralston Valley’s Antonio Capley, just a shade under 7-feet tall, is among the state’s leaders in rebounds and blocks per game at 12.7 and 3.1. He’s also averaging 14.7 points. In a recent win over Pomona, Capley went for 20 points and 19 rebounds. His size, defensive pedigree, and work on the glass gives him a lot of potential for the next level. Dallas Walton, a 7-footer for Arvada West, has been equally dominant while averaging 16.3 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.8 blocks. What’s even more impressive is that Walton is doing all this after returning from two knee injuries that kept him out of basketball for nearly two years. The Arvada West standout, whose team is in the mix for the league crown while in third place at 5-2, has three Division I offers with a lot of interest from others. Walton complements one of the best sharpshooters in Colorado history in Luke Neff and versatile wing Will Wittman.
Senior-laden Eagles in second
Dakota Ridge, led by two top-100 seniors in Tyler McFarland and Devante Jones, boast eight fourth-year players as their eight leading scorers. And they’ve heated up of late with seven wins in eight contests with their only loss at home against Chatfield. Curi Yutzy’s group is 6-1 in the Jeffco and in great position to contend for their second league championship in a row. This isn’t unusual, Dakota Ridge has been one of the best programs in the Jeffco the last couple of seasons, but a 22-3 record last year and the graduation of a few key pieces left some question marks. The Eagles play at Chatfield on Feb. 10 in a game that could decide who finishes first. This is a good veteran squad.
Under-The-Radar Risers
Names like Neff, Walton, Capley, and Peterson are well-known. This is a look at some other players who might not have had much notoriety heading into the season but are helping their teams in big ways.
Danny Williams, 6-1 senior, Pomona
Williams is averaging a near double-double of 16.5 points and 9.4 rebounds. He’s also shooting 54 percent from the field. The Panthers are 0-7 in the league, but still could have an outside chance at sneaking into the 5A tournament with a 5-10 overall record thus far. Williams had 32 points in a win over Thornton, 28 in a victory over Arvada, and 25 in a win over Prairie View.
Dallas Bailey, 6-3 junior wing, Lakewood
Bailey tends to get overshadowed by Peterson and Storey, but he’s a talented player in his own right. With an athletic frame, the junior contributes for the Tigers in a number of facets. He’s averaging 10.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.9 steals and 0.8 blocks. Bailey is a top-50 prospect in the 2017 class.
Cale Ferrin, 6-4 senior forward, Dakota Ridge
Ferrin is a physical player in the paint averaging 8.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.5 steals. Also a talented free safety in the fall for a 4A football team that finished with a 9-2 record, the senior has been one of the top basketball players for one of the best teams in the Jeffco.
League Scoring Leaders
- Kolton Peterson 21.5
- Jacob Storey 17.6
- Danny Williams 16.5
- Dallas Walton 16.3
- Antonio Capley 14.7
League Standings
Chatfield 7-0, 14-2 overall
Dakota Ridge 6-1, 10-5
Arvada West 5-2, 10-5
Ralston Valley 3-4, 7-9
Lakewood 3-4, 9-7
Columbine 2-5, 5-11
Bear Creek 2-5, 6-10
Pomona 0-7, 5-10