With its home gymnasium under construction, the Rangeview boys basketball team has had a nomadic summer.

The Raiders — the only Aurora area program to make it to the semifinals in Class 6A for the last two seasons — have gone from Greeley to Mesa, Arizona (for the Section 7 tournament) and finally to the Colorado Live Showcase, which wrapped up May 29 at Northfield High School.

Coach Shawn Palmer’s Rangeview team lost by six points to Rowland Hall from Utah in its opener and then topped Chaparral and Cherokee Trail to close it out.

“Games are games and it’s good to have some over the summer, especially with a new group like this,” Palmer said. “You’re putting yourselves in situations and the results don’t matter. You want to win, but it is more learning how to be in close games and how to play different types of teams.

“We get them for this little window in June, wear the heck out of them and then let them go in July to play on club teams or on their own. It’s been a challenging summer, but I’m not complaining.”

The Colorado Live Showcase offers the opportunity for programs to build cohesion, but the event — sanctioned by the Colorado High School Activities Association — is mostly intended to give players a chance to be seen by college coaches while playing with their respective schools in the June live period as opposed to private clubs or in an AAU setting at other times.

Rangeview had one player in particular with a lot of eyes on him in senior-to-be Archie Weatherspoon V, who has been a key part of a team that has gone 49-5 over the past two seasons and come up one win shy of playing for a title both times. Weatherspoon V is 61-17 in his career.

Weatherspoon V earned one of the two most valuable player honors given out in each game as he displayed the type of aggressive play the Raiders will need from him. That is mostly because he won’t have the other half of the team’s outstanding tandem from last season in Marceles Duncan, who was a 6A All-State first team performer as a sophomore.

The 6-foot-5 Duncan — who just turned 16 years old — announced via social media in April that he would not return to Rangeview and instead is headed to Spire Academy in Geneva, Ohio. He’ll be coached there by Kevin Boyle, recognized as one of the country’s top prep coaches who coached NBA All-Star Kyrie Irving and other well-known pros.

Duncan just picked up an offer from perennial power Kansas and Palmer said he’s heard from NBA scouts already seeking to find out more about the potential of his game.

“We knew that going to a prep school was a strong possibility and his family has been pretty open about it,” Palmer said. “He could have left last year, but he really wanted to stay and win a state championship with his teammates. We got close (losing to Ralston Valley in the semifinals). I have nothing but good feelings for him and I enjoyed coaching him when I was able. We wish him the best and we’ll always be a support system for him like we are with all our kids who leave.”

Duncan was on hand at Colorado Live, but he did not play with Rangeview. He participated on one of the Showcase Individual teams.

The Raiders turned over a new leaf without Duncan as well as key graduated seniors Aiden Perez and Anthony Andrew, which will give the team a definitely different looking for the upcoming season.

Rangeview will rely heavily on Weatherspoon V — who Palmer calls a “treat to coach — fellow senior-to-be Conrad Marshall Jr. along with junior-t0-be Dario Washington and a host of young players. One of those is Weatherspoon V’s younger brother, Ashton, who is a highly regarded incoming freshman.

“It’s going to be a fun group, we just don’t have the expectations we’ve had the last couple of years,” Palmer said. “I kindof like that, too. Maybe we’ll be able to surprise some people.”

A local team with a good mix of experience and intriguing young talent is Overland, which has turned the page on the bench to Demetris Love. A former assistant, Love moved to the top spot with the departure of Danny Fisher, who led the program to two state championships during a 14-year tenure.

The Trailblazers opened the Colorado Live competition with a 61-45 victory over Doherty June 26 with juniors-to-be Darian Proctor and Demetrius Lambert earning recognition as the game’s top players.

“I feel really good and really excited about this group,” Love said. “They play extremely hard. We’re still working on finding an offensive identity, but I have playmakers. I really, really liked where we were at defensively.”

Love said the Overland players got back to work towards the new season immediately after a playoff loss last season — in which the Trailblazers went 12-12 — and he’s been working on improving the team’s overall fitness. He also hopes to bring back Overland’s long-standing toughness.

The presence of veterans such as seniors-to-be Palmer Bass and Matias Devan gives him a significant level of comfort.

“Palmer and Matias have been at Overland for forever, it seems like and having them makes me sleep well at night,” Love said. “Their leadership, their commitment to the county and to Overland is undeniable. It definitely helps me and makes my job a lot easier.”

Having up-and-coming talents like Proctor in the point guard role and Lambert — who has show an ability to score in multiple ways against tough opponents — also helps. The Trailblazers finished off the tournament with a two-point loss to Chatfield and an eight-point win over Regis Groff.

Aurora Central, Cherokee Trail, Eaglecrest, Grandview, Regis Jesuit, Smoky Hill and Vista PEAK Prep also were in action.

There were some local matchups between teams that have seen each other regularly in the past or will certainly meet in the upcoming winter season, which begins in December.

Grandview and Smoky Hill clashed on the opening day and coach Ray Valdez’s Buffaloes managed to close in the final minute, but coach Ryan Turk’s Wolves held on for a 38-36 win. Grandview, which played without junior-to-be Ismael Kabongo, who broke his wrist at the Metro State tournament, was led in that contest by senior-to-be Obi Morris and junior-to-be Elijah Valencia.

The Wolves went 3-0, as did Regis Jesuit, Eaglecrest went 2-0, while the Buffaloes were 1-2, the same record as Cherokee Trail, which won a bracket of the Section 7 tournament previously.

The Colorado Live girls events happened previously at Northfield June 18-20.

Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at [email protected]. Twitter/X: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports

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