Colorado’s most resilient: Top Scoring increases
In this article:
Sorry, no spring sports.
Sorry, no summer off-season.
Sorry, no camps or traveling.
Sorry, school gyms are closed. You need to rent other gyms.
Sorry, college coaches can’t attend your games.
Sorry, you need to wear a mask ... while on the court.
Sorry, your school season’s been cut.
Sorry, your season’s been cut again. That’s if your season is even approved.
Sorry, looks like it won’t be.
Good news, it’s approved! But, sorry, no fans. No parents, either.
And the mask mandate holds. You can catch your breath for thirty seconds per quarter.
Sorry, at any minute you could be quarantined for fourteen days. Many of you will be for reasons completely outside your control. Some of your seasons will end not with a playoff game but with a phone call from the school nurse. Even more of you will have to decide between attending your classes or the quarantine risk of in-person learning.
For the average kid, all of the above is too exhausting. Participation in basketball is down. It’s easier to quit and many did. For kids who love the game, all of the above is water off a duck. The loyalty and persistence of these kids have been tested again and again. And they’ve passed. EVERY. TIME. These athletes are playing for the love of the game. It’s in their blood. These are the kids to recruit. They’ll play without their friends in the stands, without family. They’ll play on pavement. I know a club playing in a leaking church gym because schools won’t let clubs in. Heck, they’ll literally play without air. If I’m building a collegiate program that values toughness and passion for the game; resiliency and powering through challenges, then give me a Colorado kid. Of Colorado’s top 50 scorers in all classes, here are some standouts who overcame challenges and made the biggest increases to their scoring production, in points-per-game, from the year before:Taylor Vandenburg - Longmont Christian - 14.7 to 22.4
Kali Siemers Kali Siemers 5'6" | CG Heritage Christian | 2022 State CO - Heritage Christian - 10.6 to 21.4
Kristen Vieselmeyer - Holyoke - 14.0 to 20.9
Amelia Solt
Amelia
Solt
5'4" | PG
Thompson Valley | 2022
State
CO
- Thompson Valley - 12.2 to 20.2
Sarah Kracht Sarah Kracht 5'6" | CG Meeker | 2022 State CO - Meeker - 13.2 to 20.1
Ellie Hartman Ellie Hartman 5'6" | CG St. Mary's | 2022 State CO - St. Mary’s - 7.4 to 19.8
Avery Hughes Avery Hughes 5'7" | PG Heritage Christian | 2023 State CO - Heritage Christian - 4.5 swinger to 19.3
Breanna Jefferson
Breanna
Jefferson
5'4" | CG
Vista PEAK | 2022
State
CO
- Vista Peak Prep - 9.6 to 18.7
Jayda Maves
Jayda
Maves
5'8" | SG
Green Mountain | 2023
State
CO
- Green Mountain - 8.7 to 18.0
Trista Marx - Limon - 10.2 to 17.8
Jenna Batka Jenna Batka 5'8" | CG Highland | 2023 State CO - Highland - 6.3 to 17.1
