Class of 2024 Standouts – 5A
Happy Independence Day, Colorado! There’s nothing more American than seeing kids succeed in the game America invented. Our series on top freshmen scorers from the 2021 CHSAA season continues with 5A: Caitlin Kramer Caitlin Kramer 6'3" | SF Air Acadamy…
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Continue ReadingHappy Independence Day, Colorado! There’s nothing more American than seeing kids succeed in the game America invented. Our series on top freshmen scorers from the 2021 CHSAA season continues with 5A:
Caitlin Kramer Caitlin Kramer 6'3" | SF Air Acadamy | 2024 State CO – Air Academy – 15.5 PPG
- The loss of Kylee Blacksten Kylee Blacksten 6'3" | SG Air Academy | 2020 State CO (1062 career points at Air Academy, CU Boulder recruit) and well-respected coach, Phil Roiko, plus the jump to 5A means Air Academy was in for a rough season, right? Not with the arrival of 6’2″ Caitlin Kramer Caitlin Kramer 6'3" | SF Air Acadamy | 2024 State CO . Kramer led the ten-win Cadets in points, rebounds (7.5 RPG), blocks (1.2 BPG), steals (2.9 SPG), AND a category that vaults her into impossible-matchup status, three-point percentage (34%). I had to pull up some video on this standout and was immediately impressed by her versatility. She can handle the ball, guard the perimeter, finish left, and does enough to prove she’ll be a highly recruited prospect in the class of ’24.
Nevaeh Millard Nevaeh Millard 5'7" | CG Denver South | 2024 State CO – Denver South – 14.4 PPG
- While the phenom graduate, Timiya Guevara Timiya Guevara 5'4" | PG Denver South | 2021 State CO (2021, 5’3″), occupied the headlines, Denver South returns a ton of talent led by the dynamic 5’7″ Nevaeh Millard Nevaeh Millard 5'7" | CG Denver South | 2024 State CO . She found her groove midseason with four straight games scoring in the 20s, was an outside threat at 41% behind the arc, and did even more damage around the rim scoring 216 points on just 165 shots. Her 5.5 steals per game place her 2nd in 5A behind only her teammate Briasia Johnson Briasia Johnson 5'4" | CG Denver South | 2023 State CO (2023, 5’4″) with 5.7 SPG. Millard is clearly very athletic so when Denver South coach, Wayne McDonald, credits her work ethic as her biggest attribute, it’ll be fun to see what such a hard working athletic guard can accomplish.
Emily Huxtable Emily Huxtable 5'6" | PG Rampart | 2024 State CO – Rampart – 12.4 PPG
- A short, nine game season had to be frustrating for the Rams but they showed they have some talent to build around. Three freshmen contributed with 5’10” Cailyn Jones at 4.1 PPG, 5’7″ Kaylee Cambra at 5.8 PPG, and the 5’6″ Huxtable leading the team in scoring and steals (3.1 SPG). She finished big, dropping 24 points in the Rams’ last game against Vista Ridge and ended the season a solid 31% behind the arc. The Rams are in for a better year in 2022 as they develop this core of risers.
Elizabeth Gentry Elizabeth Gentry 6'2" | PF Arapahoe | 2024 State CO – Columbine – 10.8 PPG
- The first time I saw Elizabeth Gentry Elizabeth Gentry 6'2" | PF Arapahoe | 2024 State CO in the gym I thought she was a junior … in college. Frail and hesitant like most freshmen, Gentry is not. She is a force on both ends of the floor. She posts up and seals hard, draws help, and plays unselfishly. She even has handles you would not expect from a 6’3″ freshman. An effective shooter out to mid-range (140 points on just 119 shots), Gentry has been working hard this summer to deepen that range which is going to leave Jeffco 5A coaches with some tough decisions on how to guard this strong, talented, and versatile prospect.
Sara Chicco – Rocky Mountain – 8.5 PPG
- Sometimes a consistently good program just needs one more star to do things it’s never done. Rocky Mountain found success this year with a balanced offense and had a freshman emerge as the team’s most efficient scorer. Sara Chicco made waves in huge program wins by dropping 20 points against Horizon and scoring 15 in Rocky Mountain’s first ever win over Broomfield. At 5’10” with a quick release and 33% 3-point shooting, Chicco draws a hard close out and compliments that well with outstanding court vision to drive and dish. Her coach, Justin Vallejo, is excited about her coachability and work ethic.
Hana Belibi – Regis Jesuit – 8.0 PPG
- Flexing the muscle in the class of 2024 is Regis Jesuit standout, Hana Belibi (5’11”). While Belibi is solid as a scorer, it’s her leadership as an energy-giver that ignites her teammates and makes the Raiders better. She is clearly a high character prospect as multiple teammates have told me about her positive spirit and contagious laugh. Belibi is a defensive force who led the team in rebounds with 5.9 per game. For her to step out and hit two threes to help Regis upset Grandview, this Belibi is built for a big stage and is in no one’s shadow.
Brooke Gomez Brooke Gomez 5'8" | CG Westminster | 2024 State CO – Westminster – 8.0 PPG
- Westminster played fast last season and their floor general, Brooke Gomez Brooke Gomez 5'8" | CG Westminster | 2024 State CO , had a hand in nearly every play for the Wolves. A 5’8″ point guard who can heist 8.8 rebounds a game is not anyone I’d take lightly. And as strong as she is, Gomez is an even better passer, finishing 4th in all of 5A in assists per game with 4.8. She even found time to lead her team in steals with 3.6 per game.
Ashley Alvarez Ashley Alvarez 5'7" | SF Westminster | 2024 State CO – Westminster – 8.0 PPG
- New Wolves coach, Dante Ramos, has to be excited about taking over a roster with this type of talent. Alvarez takes her 5’7″ frame into the land of giants without fear, fighting for 7.0 rebounds and grabbing 1.5 steals a game. She hit double digits four times for the Wolves and had a workhorse evening against Vista Peak Prep with 18 rebounds. She adds grit to a hard-to-play Wolves team and is complimented with yet another Westminster ’24 standout, 5’6″ shooter Mia Sanchez (6.9 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.9 SPG).