5 way-too-early 2020-21 POY candidates in the 5A Front Range League

The 5A Front Range League ended a dozen wins and no losses for Fossil Ridge, good for tops in the final standings. It saw Fairview’s [player_tooltip player_id="115769" first="Isabelle" last="Munson"] take home the league’s player of the year honors. Now that the 2019-20 season is a wrap, let’s fast forward to next winter. And let’s take a dip into the resumes of a few players who could push their teams to the front of the pack in 2020-21, and just maybe, earn the coveted “top performer in the league” moniker. Last week, we looked at five players from the Tri-Valley League who could emerge as player of the year candidates in 20-21. Today, we focus on the FRL. &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="116773" first="Brooke" last="Bohlender"], 2021, PF, Poudre</strong> Bohlender averaged 13.8 points per game, good for fourth-best in the conference and only behind Broomfield’s [player_tooltip player_id="95128" first="Courtney" last="Wristen"] among projected 2020-21 returnees. The junior along with sophomore Bela Voglund (10.5 PPG) carried the Impalas offense last winter, netting more than half of their team’s 40.6 points per game. Overall, Bohlender is an intriguing two-way player who also led the team in 20-21 in rebounds (7.1), blocks (one) and was tied for steals (2.3). Another year in maturation for Bohlender and Voglund should bode well for Poudre, which went 9-14 and missed the postseason. If the standout junior can lead the Impalas to an improved record and perhaps the postseason as a senior, she should garner attention among the top players in the league. [caption id="attachment_136801" align="alignright" width="300"] [player_tooltip player_id="116813" first="Abbie" last="Gillach"][/caption]<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="116813" first="Abbie" last="Gillach"], 2021, PG, Boulder</strong> The Boulder point guard has the tools you’d hope to see in your offensive architect — a sweet handle, a soft touch, a silky drive in the lane. How she’ll sharpen her arsenal for next winter will be an interesting follow. In 2019-20, the Panthers struggled. They went 6-17 overall and did not win a game inside league play. But the 5-5 point guard did pop. Fearless from deep, or at the rim, she averaged 10.8 points per game. She’s currently ranked 85^th among juniors in the state by Prep Girls Hoops. &nbsp; [caption id="attachment_136938" align="alignright" width="300"] [player_tooltip player_id="117726" first="Emily" last="Johnson"][/caption]<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="117726" first="Emily" last="Johnson"], 2021, C, Fort Collins</strong> Where will she go from here? That’ll be the question surrounding the sophomore after she led the league in shooting percent among players with at least 100 attempts. Johnson hit 94 of her 171 attempts (55 percent) and scored 11.2 points per game to go along with 9.7 rebounds. She recorded double-doubles in seven games, and in a non-conference affair against D’Evelyn, she tallied 24 rebounds with 10 offensive boards. Efficient, dominant — it’s something that very well may turn Johnson into a POY candidate sooner rather than later. &nbsp; [caption id="attachment_150998" align="alignright" width="300"] [player_tooltip player_id="117721" first="Kailey" last="Page"][/caption]<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="117721" first="Kailey" last="Page"], 2022, PF, Fairview</strong> Page should be in line for an influx in offensive production next winter as the Knights graduate reigning POY Munson and her 20.7 PPG. Even as a sophomore, Page proved an excellent playmaker with the ball in or out of her hands. She’s a gifted athlete and has a grasp of the high school game few other sophomores in the state do. Last year, she averaged 10.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks. Oh, and there’s this: Page is the younger sister of former Fairview star Jalen Page, who won the league’s POY honors this past season before committing to the University of Northern Colorado. &nbsp; [caption id="attachment_136809" align="alignright" width="300"] [player_tooltip player_id="95128" first="Courtney" last="Wristen"][/caption]<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="95128" first="Courtney" last="Wristen"], 2021, F/C, Broomfield</strong> No doubt, there’s interest for the talented 6-foot-2 junior among schools across the country. Last week, she took to Twitter to express her gratitude after receiving an offer from Division-I Wyoming. The Cowboys won’t be alone in the race to land the Eagles’ star. Last year, Written averaged a near double-double with more than 14 points and nine rebounds per game. She’s improved in nearly every statistical category in each of her three seasons, including her field goal percentage, which rose to 44 percent as a junior (and that’s despite being the focal point of opposing defenses). Her free throw percentage rose, too, from 59 percent as a sophomore to 68 percent. The Eagles, a 14 seed in the 5A state playoffs, reached the tournament’s Sweet 16 before bowing out to No. 3 Regis Jesuit.