Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

4A Boys’ Basketball Power Rankings

Prep Sports Now

The "Black and Blue" division is back at it in basketball

Steve Silver and Ray Brewer discuss the dominance of the Northwest League's basketball teams and announce some major football recruiting news.

Expanded coverage

With league play weeding out the weak from the strong in Southern Nevada 4A basketball, it's time for the first Las Vegas Sun power rankings of the year.

There are a few things you need to know before we get started:

1. The rankings will update every Monday, from now through the end of the season.

2. I have no ties to any of the schools, so if you think I'm favoring one of the teams, it's probably because they bribed me. Note to all fans, coaches, players and parents: My ethical standards have been lowered by harsh economic times and there are ways to get your team to the top of the list.

3. I'm only kidding about No. 2 -- kind of.

4. While having a great record will not hurt a team's chances to move up the list, it is not the only measure of success. Schedule strength, winning big games and playing in a tough division all factor in. Beating weaker opponents while losing to better ones is a good way to hang out at the bottom.

5. Finally, as much as I'd like to consider myself an expert, I know many of you see as many games as I do, so please don't forget the comment box toward the bottom of the screen. Everyone loves to hear how wrong they are.

1. Cheyenne (15-2, 6-0 Northwest Division)

Men among boys. After watching the Desert Shields whoop, with emphasis on the whoop, Palo Verde last Saturday, it is clear Cheyenne is the team to beat. Kansas-bound Elijah Johnson and Demetric "receiving offers from Division I schools as I write this" Williams are the real deal. This team is good and they know it.

2. Palo Verde (13-3, 5-1 Northwest Division)

The Panthers won't have to wait long for a second chance at the Desert Shields, hosting their second league meeting on Friday. I expect a closer game, and I do not expect Palo Verde's leading scorer, Moses Morgan, to lay another goose egg in the first half. Morgan is a hungry player and will use the first contest as motivation.

3. Eldorado (16-5, 5-0 Northeast Division)

The Sun Devils may be the most athletic team in the state and head coach Mike Uzan is not wasting that edge. Eldorado runs a full-court press all game long. They like pushing the tempo off turnovers and swarming the offensive glass. Their five senior starters, and two super sophomores off the bench, are in great shape.

4. Sierra Vista (17-4, 5-1 Southwest Division)

With an asterisk. For those who haven't heard, the Mountain Lions' game against Bonanza on Jan. 23 was suspended in the fourth quarter due to a bench-clearing brawl involving, among others, senior guard Ray Tapusoa. More details on this to come as the story unfolds, but if players are suspended, playoff-bound Sierra Vista could take a major hit.

5. Bishop Gorman (15-4, 7-1 Southwest Division)

The Gaels are overloaded with talent, which may be their weakness. Winning half their games by as many as 15 to 30 points, Bishop Gorman has had two harsh reminders that it IS possible for them to lose: a 78-76 loss to Green Valley High in December and an 86-82 loss at Sierra Vista two weeks ago. The second half of league play should tell us whether that was enough to prevent the Gaels from overlooking the opposition.

6. Desert Pines (15-5, 5-0 Northeast Division)

Desert Pines can score a lot of points but they give a lot of them back on the other end. The Jaguars receive great guard play from seniors Pierre Jackson and Reggie Shaw. What the Jaguars are missing is a gritty player inside to contest shots down low. But they have learned to survive without one. A win over Eldorado this week would be the biggest of the season.

7. Centennial (12-9, 3-3 Northwest Division)

Really? Yes, and here's why. Centennial finds ways to win close games over tough opponents. They did it against Eldorado (56-53), Sierra Vista (51-49) and Desert Pines (79-78). That's more big wins than most teams ranked above them. They were also a shot away from beating No. 1 Cheyenne, losing that game 65-63. The Bulldogs have a go-to guy in senior Matt Holley and a lot of leadership on the floor that carries them further than their talent alone would.

8. Durango (11-6, 6-1 Southwest Division)

Durango is the textbook example of a team of role players. They have a dynamic scorer in senior Marcus Falley, a solid big man in Kris Bennett, an outside shooter in Dario Jokic and a capable ball handler in sophomore Greg Gentry. The Trailblazers don't have a shining strength, but no real visible weakness either. If they can escape league play with a big win over either Bishop Gorman or Sierra Vista and steal a high seed, they'll be dangerous in the playoffs.

9. Foothill (13-6, 6-0 Southeast Division)

And you thought I forgot you. Although the Falcons have been perfect in league play, they have been below average out of it, losing to Cheyenne, Canyon Springs and Bishop Gorman by a combined 48 points. But Foothill has a versatile guard in Evan Roquemore, a returning starter from last year's Sunrise Regional championship team. Also, guard Kadeem Minor has been hot from the outside all year. The Southeast is the weakest league, but if the Falcons stay perfect, they'll get their respect eventually.

10. Legacy (11-6, 5-1 Northwest Division)

Although Legacy is the third-best team in the Northwest standings, they get knocked to the bottom despite beating Centennial 65-64 in double overtime Jan. 5. Samuel Johnson has played a big part in Legacy's early success, as he leads the team in scoring and has shown an incredible ability to get to the free throw line. The team has the chance to prove themselves with one of the harder schedules in the state, including two games against Palo Verde and rematches with Centennial and Cheyenne still on the calendar.

Outside, Looking In:

Mojave (10-6, 2-3 Northwest Division)

Incredibly athletic and aggressive...now if they could just learn to shoot a bit better...

Silverado (17-4, 5-1 Southeast Division)

Win a big game. Win a big game. Win a big game.

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