Top 50 ever! Colorado High School Hoops

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The Best Colorado High School Basketball Players Ever!

by BAC STAFF
Disclaimer: The criteria for this list is based on your era, stats, team accomplishments, impact on the game, and hardware.
  • Chauncey Billups GW– 95 # 1 ambassador for Colorado Basketball. HS POY for 4 yrs. College Superstar and won an NBA – MVP – Colorado’s own… Mr. Parkhill, Mr. Colorado Basketball
  • Johnnie ReeceManual – 90 – won 3 state championships… maybe the best vision ever…. Could shoot from 30, dish dimes and win…  Arguably #1 player ever from Colorado.  Eight 50 pt games!  Averaged +30 two years straight!
  •  Rick Fisher – GW – 67 – great athlete… maybe the greatest athlete to come out of Colorado…first player that would dunk over players… 25 ppg in HS… All WAC @ CSU…drafted by Utah Stars, Played for the Utah Stars from 1971-1972.  Arguably the best player ever from Colorado.
  • (TIE) Ron Shavlick East – 56 – avg. 30 ppg in the 50’s…Played at N.C. State…Michael Christian– Mullen – 86 – was injured Sr. year… preseason 1st team All-American…went to Georgia Tech, but was always injured…
    Michael Christian, Mark Randall, Tom Chambers

     

  • Dennis Boone – Manual– 56… when you grow up and all you hear about how great a player is, then he must be great…. Fade away jump shot… played at Regis, nobody came knocking…
  • Chucky Sproilling – Manual – 88 – you could say “Chucky” and every person knew who you were talking about… a couple of state champs… most dominating scorer on great teams… got lost at St. Johns.. Should have stayed home… they would still be talking…
  • Tom Chambers Fairview -79 – played a year at Aurora Central, then onto Fairview and Utah… moved in, was not a native, but… great pro career… hold State tour. Record for points in a game.

  • LaVon Williams Manual-76 – dominating rebounder. State Champs in 76 which might be best State Tournament ever… 1st Team Parade All-American (only one in Colorado)…Played on Kentucky NCAA Champs in 78…
  • Craig Jackson Montebello – 84 – a 6-8 player that could shoot, dribble and pass… great HS player who has a state champ and state runner-up… UCLA tried to make him a power forward. Ouch!!
  • Sean OguirriEast – 2004 – put on a dominating show in state champ game… was head and shoulders above everyone that year… played at Wichita St. and Wyoming….
  • Harry HollinesManual– 64 – best pure shooter to play in the DPL…. All-American at Denver U.
  • Chuck Williams East – 64 – smooth guard… state champs sr. yr. All-Big 8 at CU…. Played in the NBA and was on All-Def. teams…
  • Gary Rhoades – West– 69 – highest scorer in DPL history, 30 ppg… All-WAC 2 yrs.….  Bad timing or would have been a pro player…
  • Reggie Jackson – Palmer-2007 – great player who played injured Sr. Yr.….. Goes on to great college career @ Boston College… big time player in NBA right now…
  • Mark Randall – Cherry Creek– 86 – all state for two years… great college career @ Kansas and goes on to play in the NBA
  • Pat GarrityLewis Palmer– 94 – a big player who does it all… play at Notre Dame and the NBA
  • Larry Farmer – Manual-69 – he open the doors to recruiting in Colorado by making it big at UCLA… had to talk his way there, then proved his value.. Played on 3 NCAA Championships…
  • Brooks ThompsonLittleton – 89 – a smooth scorer and big guard at 6-4… played at Okla. St. was an American basketball coach and retired player who played for the Orlando Magic, Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) guard from Texas A&M University and Oklahoma State University, he was selected by the Orlando Magic in the first round (27th overall) of the 1994 NBA Draft.
  • (TIE) Carl Ashley, Donnie Edwards, Horace Kearney– Manual – 66- I put these 3 together as one because they were all great and hard to separate.. Ashley, a smooth 6-6 who had the best corner jumper… Edwards who could get to the basket… Kearney, who could shake and bake… maybe best team ever… did not have a game closer than 10 pts…..State Champs – 66
  • Joe Barry Carroll – East– 76 – big man that kept getting better… All-American at Purdue and a long NBA career
  • Loren Lutz Alamosa– 75 – if Dean Smith and North Carolina come knocking, you must be good. At 6-4 he could do everything, before players that size starting doing everything.
  • Eddie Gill – Overland – 96 great high school player who got lost in the shuffle… had a great career at Weber St. and played in the NBA.
  • Matt Bouldin – Thunderidge – 2006 … could do it all… All-Colo. For 2 yrs.… one of the best all-around players to play… could pass as well as score… great Career at Gonzaga
  • Sherlock Holmes Mitchell– 80? – is there a better name… a lefty at 6-4 that was the talk of the state for many years… did not have a college career?? a legend
  • Dominque Collier East– 2014- 4 time All-State… great player on great teams… could have had better stats, but had a lot of scorers on his teams…
  • (TIE) Jeff Fosnes, Dave Logan – Wheat Ridge– 71… One problem, never won a state champs… Fosnes, All-American in HS, goes on to a great career @ Vanderbilt… Logan, well, maybe the greatest athlete (drafted in 3 sports) to come out of Colorado…
  • Jamal Coleman Mullen– 88 … all state 2 yrs.… had 11 dunks in one game… played all 5 positions in HS…started on Missouri teams that were ranked in the top in the nation…
  • Mark WilliamsSouth – 69 – led South to upset State Champ… played at Kansas and CSU… shooting range was when he walked in the gym
  • Pat Frink Wheat Ridge – 63 – led team to State Champs… Big 8 2 yrs. At CU… Played in NBA along the “Big O”… there were only 8 pro teams then…. Tracy JordanGW – 86′ CO Player of the in 86′ along with Mark Randall.  All-American in both basketball and football.
  • (TIE) Scott Wedman– Mullen– 70 – not a great HS player…not All-State, but watch out… got better in College with great coaching… becomes All-Big 8, and a great pro… Larry Bird said “best shooter I ever played with”… John Blair Lead Denver East to the state championship in 96.  Played college at Minnesota and Oregon St.   Current head coach for the Houston Rockets! John HodgesGW– Great leaper and scorer!  All-state in 83-84. State champion 82.  Played college ball in the PAC10.
  • (TIE) Chris Crosby – Chatfield – 96 … best big man shooter to ever play…at 6-8 was a shooting guard… great career at Washington State… Tremayne AnchrumMontbello– Could flat-out play! Lead the Warriors to state finals. Played college at USC.
  • Josh PerkinsRegis– averaged 25 pts, 7 ass, 7 rebs during senior year.
  • (TIE)Tom Hovasse – Widefield– 85 … leads team to State Champs… best player in State… voted Atlantic 10 player of the year- 2yrs and plays in NBA for a year or two…Glen Gondrezick- Boulder ‘73, UNLV
  • Josh Adams – Chaparral– 2012 – when a player makes the greatest play in the State Tournament History and leads his team to the State Championship, what else can you asks… Great Career at Wyoming and top 3 scorer in NCAA his Sr. Yr. … his hops are best ever 
  • Michael RuffinCherry Creek– 95 – great defensive player… role player who did that all the way into
  • Carlos DanielsFairview – 94 – great athlete… could score many ways inside… great college career at Washington State…  
  • (TIE) Gene EdwardsWasson– 83? – A legend in the springs… all-everything in HS… was going to Louisville, but ended up at Metro State…  Deron Davis Overland– Mr. Basketball as a junior and MVP of the 2015 state game.
  • Nick Fazekas Ralston Valley High School – Mr. Basketball-Colorado” for the 2002-03 season along with being a two-time 4A classification player of the year. As a senior he led the Mustangs to a 25-2 record and a state championship after an undefeated regular season and semi-finals appearance the previous year.
  • Tad Boyle– Greeley Central– 1980 – great player, but he played in the 4A, not the big class… Probably would have still dominated…goes on to Kansas…
  • Jim CreightonNorth – 68 – took North to State Tournament… All-Big 8 and played a year in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks…
  • Marty Clark (Mullen and Duke) and Josh Perkins (Regis and Gonzaga) both played their Seniors years out of state.
  • Brian Carey – Denver East – Averaged 25 pts per game senior year and won state as a junior 2014. Gatorade Player of the Year! Lead the state in scoring and assist his senior year.  4 final four appearances, 2 state appearances, one state title.
  • Matt Barnett – Douglas County – 94 – a big player at 6-8 who could handle and shoot like a guard… Allstate and great career at CSU….
  • Damon Ashley Manuel 89′, 6’9 forward with guard-like skills. Played college ball at Texas tech.
  • Blair WilsonWestminster – 2000! – A scoring machine… would put the ball in the basket from a lot of different ways…
  • Patrick SimpsonGW – 2001 – a big man that could do it all… Mr. Basketball and All-State 2 yrs. Good career at SMU.
  • Stan King – East – 2000 – great All-Around player who could do it all… Led East to State Champ Jr. Yr. Played at Dayton… would have been great to stay home and play…
  • Nick Mohr – Columbine – 97 – smooth guard with all the tools… led Columbine to State Champs, played at Colorado U 
  • Greg Barnes Columbine – 2001 – did not play Senior Year, passed away… as a Jr. was All-Colorado… could do it all…. Score, pass, rebound… would have been top 10….
  • Josh Scott Lewis Palmer – 2012… Dominating big man… led LP to state champ… great career at CU…

Players with Great to Good Careers to Play in the NBA –

(not all players are listed that played in NBA)

Chauncey Billups – GW- 95 # 1 ambassador for Colorado Basketball.  HS POY for 4 yrs. College Super Star and win an NBA – MVP – Colorado’s own… Mr. Parkhill, Mr. Colorado Basketball

Tom Chambers  Fairview -79 – played a year at Aurora Central, then onto Fairview and Utah… moved in, was not a native, but… great pro career… hold State tour. Record for points in a game.

Reggie Jackson – Palmer-2007 – great player who played injured Sr. Yr. still led team to Tour.….. goes on to great college career @ Boston College… big time player in NBA right now…

Michael Ray Richardson- Manual-74- not a great HS player, 10 ppg, played on a team loaded with stars…but, maybe one of the best to play in the NBA….

Mark Randall – Cherry Creek– 86 –  all state for two years … great college career @ Kansas and goes on to play in the NBA

Scott Wedman- Mullen– 70 – not a great HS player…not All-State,but watch out… got better in College with great coaching… becomes All-Big 8, and a great pro… Larry Bird said “best shooter I ever played with”…

Chuck Williams – East – 64 –  smooth guard… state champs sr. yr.  All-Big 8 at CU…. Played in the NBA and was on All-Def. teams…

Michael Ruffin – Cherry Creek- 95 –  great defensive player… role player who did that all the way into a NBA career.. played defense and rebounded… a coaches dream

Joe Barry Carroll – East– 76 –  big man that kept getting better… All-American at Purdue and a long NBA career

Lou Amundson – Monarch- 2001 – another great year for HS basketball..played at UNLV, but made a career in pros for 10 plus rebounding and playing defense

Pat Frink – Wheat Ridge – 63 –  led team to State Champs… Big 8 2 yrs. At CU.. played in NBA along the “Big O”… there were only 8 pro teams then….

Pat Garrity – Lewis Palmer- 94 – a big player who does it all… play at Notre Dame and the NBA

Kaniel Dickens Denver East High school (born July 21, 1978) is a 203 cm-tall American professional basketball player who was selected by the Utah Jazz in the 2nd round (50th pick) in the 2000 NBA Draft. In August 2009 he signed a contract with the French Pro A team SLUC Nancy.[1] For the 2011 NZL NBL season, Dickens played for the Southland Sharks

Grant Gondrezich– After attending high school in his hometown, 6’5″ Gondrezick played college basketball at Pepperdine University in the mid-1980s. He led the team in scoring during the 1983–84 season with a 13.7 points per game average,[1] and was redshirted in the following year.

In 1986, Gondrezick was drafted by the Phoenix Suns with the 77th pick of the NBA Draft. He spent two seasons in the National Basketball Association, one apiece with the Suns and Los Angeles Clippers, averaging five points, two rebounds and one assist per game.

Players who played in Final Four –

LaVon Williams Manual-76 – dominating rebounder. State Champs in 76 which might be best State Tournament ever.. 1st Team Parade All-American (only one in Colorado)..Played on Kentucky NCAA Champs in 78…

Larry Farmer – Manual-69 – he open the doors to recruiting in Colorado by making it big at UCLA… had to talk his way there, then proved his value.. played on 3 NCAA Championships…

Mark Randall – Cherry Creek– 86 –  all state for two years… great college career @ Kansas and goes on to play in the NBA

Mark Williams – South – 69 –  led South to upset State Champ… played at Kansas and CSU… shooting range was when he walked in the gym

Joe Barry Carroll – East– 76 –  big man that kept getting better… All-American at Purdue and a long NBA career

Marty Clark – Mullen – 90 – played Sr. year out of state or would have been player of the year…part time starter for Duke on 3 final fours and 2 NCAA Championships..Colorado is his home..

Rich Tate – East -62 – all state in HS in 3 sports.. started on Utah team that lost to Texas Western in Semi’s in 1966 – the Year of  the Movie “Glory Road”.

Players by Decades –  60’s

Rick Fisher – GW – 67 – great athlete… maybe the greatest athlete to come out of Colorado…first player that would dunk over players… 25 ppg in HS… All WAC @ CSU…drafted by Utah Stars, but got injured and never played in pros…

Larry Farmer – Manual-69 – he open the doors to recruiting in Colorado by making it big at UCLA… had to talk his way there, then proved his value.. played on 3 NCAA Championships…

Pat Frink – Wheat Ridge – 63 –  led team to State Champs… Big 8 2 yrs. At CU.. played in NBA along the “Big O”… there were only 8 pro teams then….

Gary Rhoades – West– 69 –  highest scorer in DPL history, 30 ppg…  All-Wac 2 yrs….  Bad timing or would have been a pro player..

Terrry Snider – Pueblo Central- 67 leading scorer in the State. Best shooter to come out of Pueblo. Played at Kansas St.  

Harry Hollines– Manual- 64 – best pure shooter to play in the DPL…. All-American at Denver U.

Carl Ashley, Donnie Edwards, Horace Kearney- Manual – 66- I put these 3 together as one because they were all great and hard to separate.. Ashley, a smooth 6-6 who had the best corner jumper.. Edwards who could get to the basket.. Kearney, who could shake and bake.. maybe best team ever… did not have a game closer than 10 pts…..State Champs – 66

Chuck Williams – East – 64 –  smooth guard… state champs sr. yr.  All-Big 8 at CU…. Played in the NBA and was on All-Def. teams…

J.R. Craig – East – 64 – the best rebounder to ever play in the state.. he was 6-3… avg. 20 reb. In JC at Northeastern and led them to National Finals… a legend…

Mark Williams – South – 69 –  led South to upset State Champ… played at Kansas and CSU… shooting range was when he walked in the gym

Roy Wilson – T.Jefferson- 67 – a pure point guard who made everyone on his team better… led team to State Champs… would pass or score if need be.. played at Wyoming..

Jim Creighton – North – 68 – took North to State Tournament… All-Big 8 and played a year in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks..

Rich Tate – East -62 – all state in HS in 2 sports.. started on Utah team that lost to Texas Western in Semi’s in 1966 – the Year of  the Movie “Glory Road”. Played in NFL.

Tom Robinson – Regis – 64 – best athlete to come out of Catholic League. Played Football and Basketball at CSU…

Hans Coleman – Annunciation – 63 – think of Dr. J. and that was Hans… was finger rolling in East Denver in the 60’s….  

Players by Decades –  70’s

Tom Chambers  Fairview -79 – played a year at Aurora Central, then onto Fairview and Utah… moved in, was not a native, but… great pro career… hold State tour. Record for points in a game.

LaVon Williams Manual-76 – dominating rebounder. State Champs in 76 which might be best State Tournament ever.. 1st Team Parade All-American (only one in Colorado)..Played on Kentucky NCAA Champs in 78…

Jeff Fosnes, Dave Logan, Steve Cribari – Wheat Ridge– 71.. this three would rival any.. one problem, never won a state champs… Fosnes,All-American in HS, goes on to a great career @ Vanderbilt… Logan, well, maybe the greatest athlete (drafted in 3 sports) to come out of Colorado… Cribari, was probably the best all around  basketball player of the 3…

Michael Ray Richardson- Manual-74- not a great HS player, 10 ppg, played on a team loaded with stars…but, maybe one of the best to play in the NBA…

Scott Wedman- Mullen– 70 – not a great HS player…not All-State,but watch out… got better in College with great coaching… becomes All-Big 8, and a great pro… Larry Bird said “best shooter I ever played with”…

Loren Lutz – Alamosa- 75 –  if Dean Smith and North Carolina come knocking, you must be good..at 6-4 he could do everything, before players that size starting doing everything.

Joe Barry Carroll – East– 76 –  big man that kept getting better… All-American at Purdue and a long NBA career

Mike Jackson – Aurora Central-79 –  led Central to semi’s …. Great career at Wyoming.. played in NCAA Tournament…

Players by Decades –  80’s

Chucky Sproilling – Manual – 88 – you could say “Chucky” and every person knew who you were talking about… a couple of state champs… most dominating scorer on great teams… got lost at St. Johns.. Should have stayed home… they would still be talking…

Sam Batey Jr. –  GW – 82 – pure shooter with un real range… led GW to State Championship

Craig Jackson – Montebello – 84 – a 6-8 player that could shoot, dribble and pass… great HS player who has a state champ and state runner-up… UCLA tried to make him a power forward. Ouch!!

Mark Randall – Cherry Creek– 86 –  all state for two years… great college career @ Kansas and goes on to play in the NBA

Jamal Coleman – Mullen- 88 … all state 2 yrs.… had 11 dunks in one game… played all 5 positions in hs…started on Missouri teams that were ranked in the top in the nation…

Tad Boyle- Greeley Central– 1980 –  great player, but he played in the 4A, not the big class.. probably would have still dominated…goes onto Kansas…did I mentioned he is a Coach

Terry Taylor Jr. – Rangeview -86– his teams would have won state in any division, but they played in the 4A… Mr. Basketball and went onto a great career @ Stanford, played in NCAA Tour.

Tom Hovasse – Widefield– 85 … leads team to State Champs… best player in State… voted Atlantic 10 player of the year- 2yrs and plays in NBA for a year or two…

Michael Christian- Mullen – 86 – was injured Sr. year… pre season 1st team All-American…went to Georgia Tech, but was always injured…

Gene Edwards – Wasson- 83 ? – a legend in the springs… all-everything in HS… was going to Louisville, but ended up at Metro State…

Sherlock Holmes- Mitchell- 80 ? –  is there a better name… a lefty at 6-4 that was the talk of the state for many years… did not have a college career ?? a legend  

Brooks Thompson – Littleton – 89 –  a smooth scorer and big guard at 6-4… played at Okla. St.

Keith Abeyta – Lincoln – 87 – led DPL in scoring, going for 30 ppg… a 6-5 shooter with great range… played at CSU

Robert Coyne– West- 86- two time All-State… led West to schools 2nd state tournament… played at Kansas….

Tracy Jordan– GW-86 – led GW to State Championship…. All time leading scorer at Northeastern JC…

Players by Decades –  90’s

Chauncey Billups – GW- 95 # 1 ambassador for Colorado Basketball.  HS POY for 4 yrs. College Super Star and win an NBA – MVP – Colorado’s own… Mr. Parkhill, Mr. Colorado Basketball

Johnnie Reece – Manual – 90 – won 3 state championships… maybe best player, but did not have the college or pro career…. Could shoot from 30, dish dimes and win…

Chris Crosby – Chatfield – 96 … best big man shooter to ever play…at 6-8 was a shooting guard.. great career at Washington State…

Carlos Daniels – Fairview – 94 – great athlete… could score many ways inside… great college career at Washington State..

Michael Ruffin – Cherry Creek- 95 –  great defensive player… role player who did that all the way into a NBA career.. played defense and rebounded… a coaches dream

Pat Garrity – Lewis Palmer- 94 – a big player who does it all… play at Notre Dame and the NBA

Matt Barnett – Douglas County – 94 – a big player at 6-8 who could handle and shoot like a guard.. all-state and great career at CSU..  

Nick Mohr – Columbine – 97 – smooth guard with all the tools… led Columbine to State Champs, played at Colorado U.

Eddie Gill – Overland – 96 – great h.s. player who got lost in the shuffle… had a great career at Weber St. and played in the NBA.  

Players by Decades –  2000 – 2015

Josh Adams – Chaparral– 2012 – when a player makes the greatest play in the State Tournament History and leads his team to the State Championship, what else can you asks… Great Career at Wyoming with a year to go… his hops are best ever…

Reggie Jackson – Palmer-2007 – great player who played injured Sr. Yr….. goes on to great college career @ Boston College… big time player in NBA right now…

Josh Scott – Lewis Palmer – 2012 .. dominating big man… led LP to state champ… great career at CU…

Jimmy Bartolotta, Heritage-2005.. led Heritage to State Champs- 2-time All-State, played at MIT- was ESPN Academic All-American 2 yrs., Division III National Player of the Year

Dominque Collier – East– 2014- 4 time All-State… great player on great teams… could have had better stats, but had a lot of scorers on his teams…

Greg Barnes – Columbine – 2001 – did not play Senior Year, passed away… as a Jr. was All-Colorado… could do it all…. Score, pass, rebound… would have been top 10 ….

Sean Oguirri – East – 2004 – put on a dominating show in state champ game… was head and shoulders above everyone that year… played at Whicita St. and Wyoming….

Blair Wilson – Westminster – 2000 ?  – a scoring machine… would put the ball in the basket from a lot of different ways..

Patrick Simpson – GW – 2001 – a big man that could do it all.. Mr. Basketball and All-State 2 yrs. Good career at SMU

Stephen Franklin– Aurora Central – 2007 –  started all four years with a record of 75-3 his last 3 yrs… All State 2 yrs… great defensive player… played in NCAA tournament with Texas@SA

Lou Amundson – Monarch- 2001 – another great year for HS basketball..played at UNLV, but made a career in pros for 10 plus rebounding and playing defense

Stan King – East – 2000 – great All-Around player who could do it all.. Led East to State Champ Jr. Yr.

Played at Dayton… would have been great to stay home and play…

Rodney Billups- GW- 2001 – smoother than smooth… a pure point guard with the best vision of any player to set foot in Colorado… great career at D.U.

Brett Olson – Highlands Ranch – 2011 – Gator Aid Player of the year… All-State and led Ranch to highest finest in schools history.. in record book at D.U. for points, assists, ft %, 3- pt.  

*Lots of research and hard-work has been put into this list of great players.  This list will continue to update as our resources and knowledge base of these players increases.

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