The third Colorado Preps Coaches and Media rankings will be released Monday, coming after only two new teams climbed into the top 10 in Class 6A, 5A, 4A this past week.

The 6A top 10 had only slight movement in the poll’s second week, as ThunderRidge and Valor Christian remained No. 1 and 2, while Smoky Hill rose three spots into third.

In 5A, Palmer stayed No. 1, with Windsor moving in, and Montrose out. And Lutheran took the top spot from Resurrection Christian in 4A, while Aspen rose to No. 10, and Denver West dropped out.

In this week’s look-in on big-school boys’ basketball, let’s take a look at a few possible candidates who could be on the rise in Week 3’s rankings.

Class 6A

UR Regis Jesuit (first out of top 10 this past week): The Raiders (10-4) have won four of their last five, beating Arapahoe and 5A No. 5 Ponderosa this past week.

Whether or not they win at 6A No. 7 Rock Canyon Friday night, they are a prime candidate for the top 10.

Two of their three in-state losses came to 6A top-10 teams, with a six-point loss to No. 2 Valor Christian in early December, and an eight-point loss at No. 9 Chaparral a week ago.

The other came in overtime to Grandview before winter break.

Eric Fiedler leads RJ with 20.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. He’s shot 50% or better from the field in nine of his team’s 14 games.

No. 3 Smoky Hill: The Buffaloes (11-3) have made a strong case to be either the No. 1 or 2-ranked team with their resumé through 14 games.

Smoky Hill still hasn’t lost to a team inside the state, touting wins over No. 2 Valor Christian and No. 6 Eaglecrest over the last 10 days.

Kevin Sylla (14.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG) had 24 points and seven rebounds in a win at Pueblo South Saturday, then the Buffaloes beat the Raptors by 17 on Wednesday.

They’re home against Cherokee Trail Friday.

Class 5A

No. 10 Windsor: The Wizards (9-4) moved into the top 10 this past week. But they probably won’t be stuck at No. 10 in Week 3.

Madden Smiley scored 22 on 7-for-11 shooting Wednesday as Windsor beat No. 3 Silver Creek by 37. Smiley, a sophomore, has proven to be one of the best underclassmen, averaging 16.8 points on 51% shooting this winter.

For Windsor, three of its four losses are to 6A teams and the other is to No. 2 Vista PEAK Prep. The Wizards are home against Centaurus Friday night.

UR Dakota Ridge (no votes last week): The Eagles (9-4) have won five straight since an 11-point loss to No. 2 Vista PEAK Prep on Jan. 3.

Led by Ethan Berninger during that span, they beat 6A Denver East and 5A No. 7 Golden.

Berninger, a junior, has made a strong case to be on the all-state team, averaging nearly 24 points per game on 48% shooting. In the loss to the Bison two weeks ago, he put up a career-high 37, his third game this winter with more than 30 points.

The Eagles are home against Evergreen Friday.

Class 4A

No. 7 Riverdale Ridge: The Ravens (10-1) have won eight straight. In their most recent win, they beat Northridge 85-46 behind Marcus Hinh’s school-record 10 3-pointers.

The Ravens, whose lone loss of the season came to No. 1 Palmer on Dec. 2, have opened 2024 with double-digit wins over Thompson Valley, Frederick, Mountain View and Northridge.

With a 7-0 record in the Longs Peak League, they’re a game up on Thompson Valley and Severance, the latter of whom they face next week.

They’re home against Roosevelt Saturday.

No. 10 Aspen: The Skiers have won seven in a row behind a defense allowing just 41.1 PPG.

Tommy Franceschi (10.5 PPG, 5.6 RPG) leads a balanced scoring attack. Henry Hurd (7.9 PPG) and Giovanni Seeman (8.0) each had 13 points in a 45-41 win over Steamboat Springs Tuesday.

Aspen is at Delta Friday.