The 2014-15 boys basketball players of the year, by class. From left: Miles Caldon, Sanford (2A); Justin Bassey, Colorado Academy (3A); De’Ron Davis, Overland (5A); Justinian Jessup, Longmont (4A); Bryan Ortiz, Holly (1A).

The 2014-15 all-state boys basketball teams are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.

These teams were created following a lengthy process which included nominations from leagues, and then a week-long vote of coaches.

A specific player of the year vote was held in each class, as was a vote for coach of the year.

Use the menu below to navigate to the class of your choosing.

Go to: 5A | 4A | 3A | 2A | 1A

[divider]

Class 5A

Player of the year: De’Ron Davis, Overland

Coach of the year: Danny Fisher, Overland

[divider]

Class 4A

Player of the year: Justinian Jessup, Longmont

Coach of the year: Barry Clark, Air Academy

[divider]

Class 3A

Player of the year: Justin Bassey, Colorado Academy

Coach of the year: Mark Engesser, Colorado Springs Christian

[divider]

Class 2A

Player of the year: Miles Caldon, Sanford

Coach of the year: Rhett Larsen, Sanford

[divider]

Class 1A

Player of the year: Bryan Ortiz, Holly

Coach of the year: Tom Hessler, Fleming

LOVELAND — No. 3 seed Jim Elliot Christian had an obvious advantage against No. 6 South Baca in the Class 1A boys basketball state tournament.

The Warriors had a few inches on the Patriots at every position, allowing them to pass over the top, dominate the glass, protect their own rim, and cruise to the 1A state semifinals with a 67-55 Great 8 victory at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland.

Tanner Smith of Jim Elliot Christian boys basketball. (Brock Laue/CHSAANow.com)

The Patriots struggled with matchups, but then again, who hasn’t struggled guarding Tanner Smith this season?

The 6-foot-1 senior guard, the only 1A player to be named to Colorado’s all-star game, The Show, was a magician with the ball while throwing fancy passes to his post players and getting into the lane at will to score.

The captain of the Warriors, Smith was averaging 18.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 6 assists, 4.1 steals, and 2.5 blocks entering Thursday. He stuffed the stat sheet again on the biggest stage, much to the delight of a large Jim Elliot fan section who made the drive north from Englewood, finishing with 22 points and 10 rebounds.

Of course, in a game Jim Elliot led throughout and mostly controlled, Smith got plenty of help from thick forwards Connor Bogner (23 points) and Brennan Moore (18).

Built more like football players, sophomore Bogner and his senior brother Matt, along with senior Moore, look poised to battle in the trenches.

“We’re a lot more physical this year, especially Connor and Brennan Moore,” Smith said. “They are deceptive. They aren’t super athletic guys or super tall or anything, but they just get the ball inside, take their time, they are strong with it, and they finish their layups. That’s what you need to do.”

Jim Elliot, which opened its doors in 1999, is enjoying a dream season. They set a program record with 21 wins, with a now 22-2 mark, and they reached the state tournament for the first time after coming close in recent years.

“We had been to regionals the two years before,” Smith said. “We wanted to get here and enjoy it.”

The Warriors get the chance to continue their best run ever with a Final 4 showdown scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Friday evening.

South Baca (18-4) was led by Matthew Crane’s 16 points.

[divider]

(1) Sangre de Cristo 63 (8) Peetz 27

The Thunderbirds cruised to a 24-0 record by handling the Bulldogs in a game that was never close.

They won it all in 2001, their lone state championship in boys hoops.

[divider]

(2) Holly 64 (7) Prairie 50

The Wildcats scorched the nets early and won easily over the Mustangs as Yaniel Vidal scored 24 points. Bryan Ortiz and Tristan Nelson chipped in 10 each.

This is Holly’s third straight appearance in the state tournament, but first in the Final 4 in recent years.

[divider]

(5) Fleming 54 (4) Ouray 31

The Wildcats handled the Trojans thanks to a balanced scoring effort from Alex Vandenbark (10 points), Joey Stahley (9), Blake Meredith (8), and Cameron Henry (7).

Fleming only has one senior on the roster.

Thomas Jefferson remained in the No. 3 spot in the 4A poll. (Pam Wagner)

Unbeatens Arapahoe and Grand Junction have joined this week’s CHSAANow.com boys basketball rankings in 5A.

The Warriors (3-0) are No. 9, while Grand Junction (5-0) is No. 10. Highlands Ranch, last week’s No. 5, and Chaparral, last week’s No. 10, both dropped out this week.

Elsewhere, Denver East maintained its grip on the top spot, and Fossil Ridge continued its climb up the poll. The SaberCats are No. 2 this week, moving up two spots from No. 4. Fossil Ridge went 3-0 last week, including a 66-48 win over Highlands Ranch.

Overland fell one spot to No. 3, and is followed by No. 4 Mountain Vista and No. 5 Regis Jesuit. Mountain Vista moved up from eighth; Regis up from No 6.

Eaglecrest is sixth in this week’s 5A poll, Legend is seventh and Rangeview fell five spots to eighth.

In addition to Denver East, the other four No. 1 teams remained the same this week: Valor Christian (4A), Holy Family (3A), Sanford (2A) and Caliche (1A).

The 4A poll added Air Academy at No. 10 this week. That ranking also saw Thompson Valley jump from fifth to second following wins over three 5A teams. Thomas Jefferson is third.

Complete rankings for all classes are below.

[divider]

CHSAANow.com Boys Basketball Polls

Voted upon by coaches and media members around the state. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.

Coaches and media members looking to vote should email rcasey@chsaa.org.

Go to: 5A | 4A | 3A | 2A | 1A

(Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com)

Rangeview and Fossil Ridge both made big jumps in this week’s CHSAANow.com 5A boys basketball poll.

Rangeview, ranked fifth last week, is up to No. 3 following a 2-0 week. Included was a 74-70 win over then-No. 9 Chaparral.

Fossil Ridge, meanwhile, went from sixth to fourth after going 3-0 last week. The standout win was a 58-51 win over then-No. 3 Eaglecrest.

The 5A ranking continued to be led by Denver East, which has also started 3-0 at the Great Western Shootout in Utah. Overland remained in the No. 2 spot despite going 1-2 at the same tournament.

Highlands Ranch rounds out the 5A top 5.

The other No. 1 teams also stayed the same this week: Valor Christian (4A), Holy Family (3A), Sanford (2A) and Caliche (1A).

Complete rankings for all classes are below.

[divider]

CHSAANow.com Boys Basketball Polls

Voted upon by coaches and media members around the state. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.

Coaches and media members looking to vote should email rcasey@chsaa.org.

Go to: 5A | 4A | 3A | 2A | 1A