Great Expectations

This year, the basketball team requires a new leader, and according to sophomore Luc Stanley, that leader is senior forward Joel Decker. It’s not just one player, though. The biggest difference this year is that there is a lot more chemistry with this year's team, and they feel a lot more at ease with one another.

The varsity team has depth, even after the core of Stanley, Riley Allen, Harrison Dority, and Joel Decker; the bench also is fairly deep with pieces such as Mason Nutter and Ryan Mihm. This year’s graduating class of Nathan Skinner, Ryan Mihm, Joel Decker, and Milan Kellogg offer veteran leadership and are the first class since 2019-20 to have a full four seasons of basketball.

There are more games in a basketball season at Denver Academy than any other sport, twenty to be exact. The season opens on December 3 on the road at STEM School in Highlands Ranch. The home opener is a week later, on December 10 against Twin Peaks Charter Academy at 7:00 PM. The usual rivalry games are back, with Cripple Creek at home on the 16th of December and Front Range Christian on January 21, also at home. In a somewhat unique turn for basketball, there are many Saturday games this year, including a doubleheader on December 7, and a trip to Clear Creek on January 11. 

Other big games include Bishop Machbeuf on the road at the end of the season, and Heritage Christian at home on January 31.

There are high expectations for this team. They were fun and exciting to watch last year, and the student section began showing up in full force toward the end of the year, especially for the playoff game against Front Range Christian. This year, they hope to improve to a nine or ten-win team and make a run at the state tournament. 

If any team can meet the lofty expectations set by themselves, it is this one. The drive and hunger are there, but they need to win the games they are supposed to and play the powerhouses closer, looking for a moment of weakness they can exploit.