Outplaying Expectations: 4A Teams Moving Up
Happy New Year! Let’s look at some overachievers from 4A so far in this young season. Here are some programs that have stood out over and above the Graduation Adjusted Rankings (GAR). The GAR are an index factoring two things:…
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Continue ReadingHappy New Year! Let’s look at some overachievers from 4A so far in this young season. Here are some programs that have stood out over and above the Graduation Adjusted Rankings (GAR). The GAR are an index factoring two things: Where did a team finish last year? And how much scoring did they graduate?
1 | Green Mountain |
2 | Windsor |
3 | George Washington |
4 | Palmer Ridge |
5 | The Classical Academy |
6 | Holy Family |
7 | Canon City |
8 | Thompson Valley |
9 | Mullen |
10 | Mead |
4A CHSAA Rankings through four weeks (Click Here):
1 | Mullen |
2 | Windsor |
3 | Green Mountain |
4 | George Washington |
5 | Mead |
6 | Holy Family |
7 | Northridge |
8 | Berthoud |
9 | Thompson Valley |
10 | Skyview |
Mullen – GAR 9 up to #1
- Everyone knows Mullen (7-2) is an anomaly in the GAR just like they were in the RPI for years, once winning state as the 14-seed. With Kilah Freelon Kilah Freelon 6'0" | PF Mullen | 2022 State CO ‘s limited role last year and now bursting into the limelight, the Mustangs have had no trouble filling the void of graduating 57% of their scoring. Freelon (15.3 PPG, 2.9 SPG), Imani Perez Imani Perez 6'3" | PF Mullen | 2022 State CO (6.7 PPG, 7.8 RPG), and the incredible inside/outside threat of Gracie Gallegos Gracie Gallegos 6'1" | SF Mullen | 2022 State CO (18.7 PPG, 48% 3-point shooting) on the court at the same time is chess to public schools’ checkers. Click here for a prior piece on Colorado’s most efficient scorers. Mullen plays out of place in 4A for one last year before the re-alignment next year to the new 6A class.
Mead – GAR 10 up to #5
- Already deep, athletic, long, and quick with experienced leaders and young risers, Mead (6-1) now has a landmark victory (65-62 win over Chaparral) to give further credibility to their rise. With Maddox Boston (5’11” senior, 11.3 PPG, 3.7 SPG) leading the team in points and steals, Kyra Haan Kyra Haan 5'7" | CG Mead | 2023 State CO (5’7″ junior, 10.3 PPG, 4.9 RPG) and superathlete Jackie Stephenson Jackie Stephenson 5'10" | PF Mead | 2022 CO (5’11” senior, 6.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG) leading in rebounds, Charlotte Brennan Charlotte Brennan 5'6" | CG Mead | 2023 State CO (5’6″ junior, 11.1 PPG, 2.7 APG) leading in assists, and Edie Morrow Edie Morrow 5'10" | SF Mead | 2022 State CO (6’0″ senior, 9.1 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.3 SPG) adding leadership and doing a lot of everything, these Mavericks have a formula for success and can beat almost anyone in 4A.
Northridge – GAR 13 up to #7
- This experienced group led by two seniors and two juniors has a similar balance as Mead. One leads in steals (5’8″ senior Seneya Martinez Seneya Martinez 5'8" | SG Northridge | 2022 State CO – 9.6 PPG, 5.0 SPG), one in assists (5’5″ junior Katy Jo Werner – 8.6 PPG, 3.1 APG), one in rebounds (5’8″ senior Karly Beck Karly Beck 5'8" | SG Northridge | 2023 State CO – 8.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG), and one in points (5’10” senior Makenna Shaffer Makenna Shaffer 5'10" | CG Northridge | 2023 AZ – 12.3 PPG, 5.9 RPG). The 8-0 thieving Grizzlies, with their 26 steals a game, have played a good schedule (wins over Broomfield and Palmer Ridge) that becomes a great schedule when they take on Roosevelt, Thompson Valley, and Skyview in the next two weeks.
Skyview – GAR unranked (team wasn’t allowed to play last year) up to #10
- Skyview’s school district, Mapleton Public Schools, didn’t allow the Wolverines to play last season. Now back together, this team, led in scoring by five seniors, is playing as hungry as you’d expect a team that was forced to sit a year. Of those seniors, one stands out enough to give the Wolverines (9-0, best win a 60-33 victory over Ponderosa) a very real chance at a long playoff run. Mikylah Espinosa Mikylah Espinosa 5'8" | PG Skyview | 2022 State CO (20.2 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 5.6 APG, and an eye-popping 8.6 SPG) is quick and talented enough to take Skyview nearly all the way this year (shoot for a public school championship after Mullen). The point guard has already logged a triple-double and came darn close to an almost unheard of quadruple-double (19 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, 11 steals). Add in Alexa Peraza Alexa Peraza 5'3" | CG Skyview | 2022 State CO (8.6 PPG), Marina Boltz Marina Boltz 5'5" | PG Skyview | 2022 State CO (6.6 PPG), Emma Long (6.3 PPG), and Jennifer Jaramillo Jennifer Jaramillo 6'1" | C Skyview | 2022 State CO (6.0 PPG, featured here), and Skyview is deeply talented.
Durango – GAR unranked up to #15
- This well-coached team is more than just Mason Rowland Mason Rowland 5'8" | CG Durango | 2023 State CO . Be aware of junior Riley Campbell (6.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.8 APG) and her versatility adding handles and rebounding to the Demons’ lineup. Rowland’s 21.4 PPG are no early season statistical outlier. This team is eleven games in. It’s really hard to pressure her into mistakes because of the way she plays off of two feet near the basket where she can step through, kick, or with her athleticism just shoot over smaller guards. I’m so much more bald than I’d otherwise be from the stress of coaching against her twice in three years. Senior Sydney Flores Sydney Flores 5'11" | PF Durango | 2022 State CO (8.1 PPG) is a composed and true post player with outstanding footwork. She’s a handful and makes Durango (8-3) a very complete team.