It took seven years for Valor Christian to win its second state title in boys’ basketball. That’s not very long.
But guard Cole Scherer is doing what he can to trim the wait on No. 3 anyway.
The 6-foot-2 Eastern Washington commit and the state’s reigning Gatorade Player of the Year led the Eagles past crosstown-rival ThunderRidge in last year’s 6A final. And now he’s leading the state in scoring through the first month of the 2024-25 season, averaging 29.1 points per game.
In this week’s look-in on 6A-4A boys’ hoops, let’s dive into a few early standouts from each classification.
Class 6A
What happened last season: Valor Christian ended the season on a 17-game winning streak, beating ThunderRidge 52-40 in the 6A finals. Scherer was named CHSAA’s 6A player of the year.
So far this season …
Scherer, Valor Christian: The combo guard has been pouring in the points through his first six games.
Before the holiday break, the senior had a career-high 48 points as the Eagles (5-1) redeemed their opening-season loss to Mountain Vista with an 84-80 win on Dec. 21 over it.
His previous high in points was 33 — which he hit twice during his MVP run last winter.
Rangeview: MaxPreps’ No. 1 team in Colorado is now 8-0.
The Raiders won all three of their games at the Aztec Christmas Tournament in Arizona before the holiday break, including a 12-point win over Sahuaro — Arizona’s 10th-ranked team.
Four players for the Raiders are averaging double-digit points, including senior Ladavian King (14 PPG), who is shooting 43% from behind the arc.
They are at Aurora Central on Tuesday.
Ralston Valley: The Mustangs (6-0) have opened the season with six straight wins.
Four of those wins were by double digits, while three of them saw senior guard Tanner Braketa, who leads the team with 17.8 points per game, score at least 20.
On Friday, the Mustangs — ranked fourth in state by MaxPreps — will travel to face No. 2 Chaparral (7-1). The Wolverines are led by standout sophomore Christian Williams (19.4 PPG), who has scored at least 21 points in five of eight games so far this winter.
Class 5A
What happened last season: Mesa Ridge beat Windsor to win its second title in as many years. Pueblo South Maurice Austin was named CHSAA’s 5A player of the year.
So far this season …
Discovery Canyon: Already, there are no undefeated teams remaining in the classification.
The Thunder, though, have perhaps been its hottest team. They’re won a 5A-best seven straight since falling to Pueblo South by a point in their opener.
Mesa Ridge: The Grizzlies (6-1) have started the season much like the Thunder, who they’ll play on Tuesday.
They two-time defending champs won six straight before the holiday break, a nice streak after they began the season with a three-point loss to 6A Liberty.
Returning 5A first teamer Bryce Riehl is averaging 21.3 points per game for them. He scored a career-high 38 on 10-of-15 shooting in an 81-67 win over Vista Ridge on Dec. 10.
Clayton Jones, Thornton: The senior is averaging 5A-best 27 points to go along with 11.4 rebounds through seven games for the Trojans (3-4).
The 6-foot-3 forward has five double-doubles, which is fifth-best in the state. He scored at least 30 in three of them.
Class 4A
What happened last season: Resurrection Christian beat Kent Denver in the 4A finals. Kent Denver’s Caleb Fay was named CHSAA’s 4A player of the year.
So far this season …
Peak to Peak: Senior Elijah Eschmeyer, the twin brother of Stanford women’s basketball commit Alexandra Eschmeyer, is averaging 13.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks in four games with stats for the unbeaten Pumas (5-0).
After a slow scoring start to his season, Eschmeyer had 24 points and six boards in a 13-point win over Basalt on Dec. 14. He followed it up with 14 points, four rebounds and six blocks in a 57-50 win over Holy Family a week later.
The Pumas host Aspen (6-1) on Friday.
Fay, Kent Denver: The 6-5 junior leads the classification at 26.6 points per game.
He had a career-high 47 points to go along with nine rebounds, four steals and four blocks in a 77-76 win over Mullen on Dec. 13. He surrounded it with 35 points and another 30 in wins over DSST: Montview on Dec. 7 and DSST: Conservatory Green on Dec. 19.
Kent Denver’s lone loss through the first month of the season came to 6A No. 1 Rangeview on Dec. 14. Next, it faces Arapahoe at the Titan-Raptor Classic at Legend High School on Friday.
Denver West: The Cowboys (7-0) went into the break undefeated, with six of their seven wins coming by double figures.
They’re again led by 6-4 Jeremiah Parker (17.3 PPG and 11 RPG), who has recorded a double in each of the team’s seven games. It comes after he had the third-most double-doubles last season with 20.
The Cowboys started 10-0 last year, eventually reaching the postseason. Next up, they will host Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Early College on Tuesday.
