District Preview: Three Ranked in Top-10 from 1-6A
Today, we take a quick look at District 1-6A. The basketball season officially started on October 31st, 2016 and we continue to look at each team/program.
Overview
In football this has been considered one of the toughest Districts in the classification. For one, like in football, they return the 2016 State Champion. Next, they return the player of the year in the New Mexico NMPreps.com Mr. Basketball award winner in Clay Patterson (Rio Rancho High School). Last, they return four players on our Top 10 players entering the season. Overall top-down this will be the toughest district in the state to win and could see all five teams dancing in March of the 16 that make the state tournament from 6A.
Predicted Finish
1. Rio Rancho Rams (Last Season: State Champs/19-12)
6A Pre-Season Ranking: #1
Why: Believe it or not the Rams didn't win the district last season. In fact they didn't even play for the championship. However, with five players returning from the Top 100 Player Rankings you have to like them this coming season. Clay Patterson and Juan Hurt make for one of the best backcourts however the front court will be one of the best with Joe Elmalhy, Derrick Reyes and Keyshawn Banks.
2. Cibola Cougars (Last Season: 23-6)
6A Pre-Season Ranking: #3
Why: In most cases the Cougars could argue as being the favorite in this district. However, it's hard to argue against the State Champions. Cibola returns Desmond Carpenter, one of the best point guards in the state, who also returns Cameron Dixon creating one of the best backcourts.Throw in Zach Baca and Brito to the depth.
3. Cleveland Storm (Last Season: 23-8)
6A Pre-Season Ranking: #5
Why: The Storm will have their second head coach in program history with former Rio Grande head coach Sean Jimenez taking over for Brian Smith. The Storm return some talent including Marcus Hill, Jayden Phillips and Adam Cook to create one of the best teams projected to take third in their district.
4. Volcano Vista Hawks (Last Season: 13-15)
6A Pre-Season Ranking: #6
Why: It's hard to imagine that one district would have four teams in the top six of one classification. This district is that could and with a talent like David Cormier, a 6-foot-6 stretch four this could be the surprise team of the year in 6A, not just 1-6A.
5. Piedra Vista Panthers (Last Season: 14-14) *5A
6A Pre-Season Ranking: NR
Why: The Panthers the newbie to 6A basketball will have a tall task, one that Santa Fe High School is glad to avoid this season. The Panthers also have a new head coach in former Bloomfield head coach Devon Manning this season and return a stud in Jarrett Graham (2018) who scored a team second best 13.6 points per game last season as a junior.
3 Questions to Shape the District
1. What New Coach Has Better Success? Sean Jimenez seems like the likely choice here for Cleveland but Devon Manning essentially has less of the pressure. Depends on what success you are looking for but for the Storm a Final Four or State Title game is the perceived destination. For Manning a state tournament bid is the goal and could be attained, they have talent.
2. Can Rio Rancho duplicate as a target? The Rams were somewhat of a roller coaster season in 2015/2016 before their run to a title. In fact they lost their last 5-games before the state tournament. They have the talent but it will be much tougher with a huge target on their back.
3. Will coach Rodriguez and Cibola Finally Get Over the Dreaded Hill? Many times we discuss the talent Cibola will have. Many times we buy in and say this is the year. Many times, most of the time, we were wrong on getting over the hill into the state title game. Will this be the year? I want to say yes. History wants to say no. My response is - Desmond Carpenter is a special talent. I like this kid a lot, good court awareness, but overall good character player. I might go against better judgement and say yes.
Preseason NMPreps.com All-District Team
(Ten Players)
1. Clay Patterson - Rio Rancho
2. Desomnd Carpenter - Cibola
3. David Cormier - Volcano Vista
4. Juan Hurt - Rio Rancho
5. Cameron Dixon - Cibola
6. Marcus Hill - Cleveland
7. Jayden Phillips - Cleveland
8. Derrick Reyes - Rio Rancho
9. Jarrett Graham - Piedra Vista
10. Zach Baca - Cibola
Today, we take a quick look at District 1-6A. The basketball season officially started on October 31st, 2016 and we continue to look at each team/program.
Overview
In football this has been considered one of the toughest Districts in the classification. For one, like in football, they return the 2016 State Champion. Next, they return the player of the year in the New Mexico NMPreps.com Mr. Basketball award winner in Clay Patterson (Rio Rancho High School). Last, they return four players on our Top 10 players entering the season. Overall top-down this will be the toughest district in the state to win and could see all five teams dancing in March of the 16 that make the state tournament from 6A.
Predicted Finish
1. Rio Rancho Rams (Last Season: State Champs/19-12)
6A Pre-Season Ranking: #1
Why: Believe it or not the Rams didn't win the district last season. In fact they didn't even play for the championship. However, with five players returning from the Top 100 Player Rankings you have to like them this coming season. Clay Patterson and Juan Hurt make for one of the best backcourts however the front court will be one of the best with Joe Elmalhy, Derrick Reyes and Keyshawn Banks.
2. Cibola Cougars (Last Season: 23-6)
6A Pre-Season Ranking: #3
Why: In most cases the Cougars could argue as being the favorite in this district. However, it's hard to argue against the State Champions. Cibola returns Desmond Carpenter, one of the best point guards in the state, who also returns Cameron Dixon creating one of the best backcourts.Throw in Zach Baca and Brito to the depth.
3. Cleveland Storm (Last Season: 23-8)
6A Pre-Season Ranking: #5
Why: The Storm will have their second head coach in program history with former Rio Grande head coach Sean Jimenez taking over for Brian Smith. The Storm return some talent including Marcus Hill, Jayden Phillips and Adam Cook to create one of the best teams projected to take third in their district.
4. Volcano Vista Hawks (Last Season: 13-15)
6A Pre-Season Ranking: #6
Why: It's hard to imagine that one district would have four teams in the top six of one classification. This district is that could and with a talent like David Cormier, a 6-foot-6 stretch four this could be the surprise team of the year in 6A, not just 1-6A.
5. Piedra Vista Panthers (Last Season: 14-14) *5A
6A Pre-Season Ranking: NR
Why: The Panthers the newbie to 6A basketball will have a tall task, one that Santa Fe High School is glad to avoid this season. The Panthers also have a new head coach in former Bloomfield head coach Devon Manning this season and return a stud in Jarrett Graham (2018) who scored a team second best 13.6 points per game last season as a junior.
3 Questions to Shape the District
1. What New Coach Has Better Success? Sean Jimenez seems like the likely choice here for Cleveland but Devon Manning essentially has less of the pressure. Depends on what success you are looking for but for the Storm a Final Four or State Title game is the perceived destination. For Manning a state tournament bid is the goal and could be attained, they have talent.
2. Can Rio Rancho duplicate as a target? The Rams were somewhat of a roller coaster season in 2015/2016 before their run to a title. In fact they lost their last 5-games before the state tournament. They have the talent but it will be much tougher with a huge target on their back.
3. Will coach Rodriguez and Cibola Finally Get Over the Dreaded Hill? Many times we discuss the talent Cibola will have. Many times we buy in and say this is the year. Many times, most of the time, we were wrong on getting over the hill into the state title game. Will this be the year? I want to say yes. History wants to say no. My response is - Desmond Carpenter is a special talent. I like this kid a lot, good court awareness, but overall good character player. I might go against better judgement and say yes.
Preseason NMPreps.com All-District Team
(Ten Players)
1. Clay Patterson - Rio Rancho
2. Desomnd Carpenter - Cibola
3. David Cormier - Volcano Vista
4. Juan Hurt - Rio Rancho
5. Cameron Dixon - Cibola
6. Marcus Hill - Cleveland
7. Jayden Phillips - Cleveland
8. Derrick Reyes - Rio Rancho
9. Jarrett Graham - Piedra Vista
10. Zach Baca - Cibola
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