The high school boys basketball season in Class 3A-1A is still in the early stages. Football is just barely in the rearview mirror, but that hasn’t stopped some hoop teams and some players to turn some heads and get noticed.

Player Props

Deshawn Fox, Manual: The 6-foot-5, 165-pound senior is lighting up the scoreboard for the 3A Thunderbolts. Through three games this season, Fox is averaging 26.7 points per game, 9.3 rebounds and 3 assists. A year ago, Fox played in 24 games, averaging 16.9 points per game.

Fox has helped Manual post a 2-1 record so far this season and he’s received plenty of help from fellow senior Marquell Marquez, who is averaging 19.3 ppg and 9.3 rebounds. Fox and company will try and keep things rolling when the Thunderbolts visit Kennedy (1-4) Thursday and Academy, Dec. 18 before exiting for the winter break and not returning to action until after the New Year.

Manual’s loss was a 71-67 setback to the DSST Mountiew Knights (6-1) on Dec. 11.

Cayden Quinn, Denver Waldorf: The sophomore has been an early star for 1A DW, averaging 17.5 points, 5.5 assists and 4.8 steals. With Quinn’s help, the Spartans have raced out to a 6-0 record. On Wednesday, Quinn scored 20 points in his team’s 63-22 trouncing of Gilpin County. Quinn will look to keep his and his team’s momentum going when the Spartans return from Christmas break ad take on Denver Academy of Torah (Jan. 9) and Bellview Christian (Jan. 11), a strong team in the top 10 of 1A.

Quick Rewind: The Vanguard School’s boys basketball team is considered a contender for the Class 3A state championship glory by season’s end. The Vanguard School squad proved how good it can be by edging a highly touted Salida squad 73-67 on Tuesday night in a battle of Top 10 Class 3A teams.

Upcoming Games to Watch

Crested Butte (3-1) at Simla (4-0), (Fri., 5:30 p.m., at the Simla Tournament): This is a great early season measuring stick for both teams. Crested Butte is a top 10 in 3A with just one loss on its record to Plateau Valley, while Simla is perfect so far this season – at least record-wide – at the school is seemingly always a 2A power. Both teams are averaging about 60 points a game and Simla are already has impressive wins over Peyton (63-48); Limon (54-41), Holyoke (64-45) and Merino (55-47).

Stratton (2-0) at Otis (2-2), (Fri., 7:30 p.m.): Stratton is considered a legitimate 1A contender for a state championship. The Eagles are being paced by senior shooting guard Cyler Notter, who is averaging 16.5 ppg and 7 rebounds. This game is a rematch as the Eagles edged Otis 55-52 on Dec. 7. In that win, Notter scored a team-high 15 points. Otis’ other loss was a 69-51 decision to a talented Peetz squad on Dec. 2.