Preseason Rankings: No. 2 Rio Rancho Rams
The 2015-2016 season has officially started and today we start our countdown of the top 50 programs in New Mexico Big School Division (6A-4A).
More: Preseason Rankings Home: 50-1 | Rankings 72-51 | Preseason Preview Page
The Rio Rancho Rams are coming off one of their most successful years under head coach Wally Salata, a 23-9 season that resulted in a Final Four showing.
Overview: Head coach Wally Salata is coming off one of his most successful years as a head coach and reaching his first Final Four. The Rams lose a top player in Brady Patterson who was one of the best players in the state but the Rams welcome back a roster loaded with young talent. One player who caught our eye during the Final Four run was a 6-3 wing/forward by the name of Jeremy Snider (2017) who could basically do it all from rebounding, to bringing up the ball and also hitting mid-range jumpers. He's not flashy but someone who does a lot of the little things.
Last Season
Record: 23-9, 7-4
Home Record: 9-3
Away Record: 7-4
Neutral Record: 7-2
Post Season: Final Four; Lost to Hobbs (99-76)
Points per game: 75.45 (2339)
Points against: 65.67 (2036)
Realistic Prediction: Well if a No. 2 ranking overall and in 6A isn't an indicator of how high we are on the Rio Rancho Rams this season, I don't know what is. Head coach Wally Salata has put his style on the Rams program and this will be one of his deepest teams. The Rams are a 20-win team and State Title contender in our predictions.
Biggest Questions: The team has one senior, will the juniors be able to take it all? They have experience but do they have enough experience?
Percentage we would pick them
District Champ: 99%
Playoff Team: 100%
Elite Eight: 100%
Final Four: 98%
Title Game: 95%
Returning Players: Snider was mentioned but they have a trio that could go toe to toe with any team out there. Two players we really like in this backcourt are Clay Patterson and Juan Hurt. Patterson is super quick and the ability to manage a game. Hurt is the PG that can penetrate and dish. This team was fun to watch this summer, I made sure to watch them a couple times.
Roster
Javier Deleon (2016)
Clay Patterson (2017)
Jeremy Snider (2017)
Juan Hurt (2017)
Anthony Armijo (2017)
Joe Elmalhy (2018)
Von Dalton (2019)
The 2015-2016 season has officially started and today we start our countdown of the top 50 programs in New Mexico Big School Division (6A-4A).
More: Preseason Rankings Home: 50-1 | Rankings 72-51 | Preseason Preview Page
The Rio Rancho Rams are coming off one of their most successful years under head coach Wally Salata, a 23-9 season that resulted in a Final Four showing.
Overview: Head coach Wally Salata is coming off one of his most successful years as a head coach and reaching his first Final Four. The Rams lose a top player in Brady Patterson who was one of the best players in the state but the Rams welcome back a roster loaded with young talent. One player who caught our eye during the Final Four run was a 6-3 wing/forward by the name of Jeremy Snider (2017) who could basically do it all from rebounding, to bringing up the ball and also hitting mid-range jumpers. He's not flashy but someone who does a lot of the little things.
Last Season
Record: 23-9, 7-4
Home Record: 9-3
Away Record: 7-4
Neutral Record: 7-2
Post Season: Final Four; Lost to Hobbs (99-76)
Points per game: 75.45 (2339)
Points against: 65.67 (2036)
Realistic Prediction: Well if a No. 2 ranking overall and in 6A isn't an indicator of how high we are on the Rio Rancho Rams this season, I don't know what is. Head coach Wally Salata has put his style on the Rams program and this will be one of his deepest teams. The Rams are a 20-win team and State Title contender in our predictions.
Biggest Questions: The team has one senior, will the juniors be able to take it all? They have experience but do they have enough experience?
Percentage we would pick them
District Champ: 99%
Playoff Team: 100%
Elite Eight: 100%
Final Four: 98%
Title Game: 95%
Returning Players: Snider was mentioned but they have a trio that could go toe to toe with any team out there. Two players we really like in this backcourt are Clay Patterson and Juan Hurt. Patterson is super quick and the ability to manage a game. Hurt is the PG that can penetrate and dish. This team was fun to watch this summer, I made sure to watch them a couple times.
Roster
Javier Deleon (2016)
Clay Patterson (2017)
Jeremy Snider (2017)
Juan Hurt (2017)
Anthony Armijo (2017)
Joe Elmalhy (2018)
Von Dalton (2019)
