Season Preview: Denver Prep League (5A/4A)

With the 2019-20 girls basketball season closer than you might think, let’s take a look back/forward at how things shook out and what to look forward to in each of Colorado’s conferences. Here’s a snapshot of the Denver Prep League. &nbsp; <span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #3366ff;"><strong>How it all shook out in ’18-19</strong></span> Last season’s league title went to the Denver East Angels, but just barely. The Angels went 17-8 overall and posted an unbeaten 9-0 record in league play with a 52-46 win over Denver South standing as possibly the biggest difference-maker along the way. &nbsp; <span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #3366ff;"><strong>Which playoff team advanced the farthest?</strong></span> The answer here is, again, Denver East. After winning the regular-season title, the Angels entered the 5A state tournament with a first-round bye and then beat Fruita Monument in the second round before falling to a powerful, Final 4-bound Regis Jesuit team in the Sweet 16. &nbsp; <span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #3366ff;"><strong>A few returning players to watch</strong></span> <strong>Timiya Guevara, 2021, 5-3, G, Denver South</strong> After leading the league in scoring with 21.0 points per game, Bonds returns as one of the more versatile players in the conference and poised for a big-time ’19-20 campaign. As a sophomore, the undersized guard also averaged 6.1 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 4.3 steals per game while shooting 40 percent from 3-point range and scoring double figures in all 25 of the Rebels’ games. &nbsp; <strong>Tosjanae Bonds, 2020, 5-5, G, Far Northeast Warriors</strong> Credited with an incredible 7.7 steals per game, Bonds was also third in the conference with 17.8 points per game. She scored 20 or more points seven times and also averaged 5.9 rebounds a night. &nbsp; <strong>Maya Whiteside, 2021, 5-11, SG/SF, George Washington</strong> Whiteside had one heck of a sophomore season last winter. The young captain averaged 16.0 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals, and figures to be one of the top players in the league following an exciting breakout campaign in ’18-19. &nbsp; <strong>Anisa Turner, 2022, 5-4, G, George Washington</strong> A season-high 26 points against Denver West on Feb. 4 highlighted a winter throughout which Turner averaged 13 points a game, as well as 2.9 rebounds and 2.3 steals. Keep an eye on Turner this season, as she looks like a lock for an even bigger breakout performance. &nbsp; <strong>Carly Dilworth, 2020, 5-6, SG/PG, Denver South</strong> Averaging 12.3 points a game, Dilworth came within one point of a 30-point night against Kennedy on Jan. 29. She’ll form a deadly one-two punch with Guevara – last year’s league leader in points – and after shooting 50 percent (75 for 151) from 3 –point range, has some interesting upside a one of the top returning deep-ball threats in the league. &nbsp; <strong>Malia Heien, 2022, 5-8, G/F, Northfield</strong> Among the handful of freshmen who led her team in scoring last season, Heien, who is also a track and field athlete, got off to a running start in her prep basketball career. She averaged 12.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.9 steals. A solid rebounding squad, Northfield returns all but two players from last year’s roster including Joyclyn Reed-Starr (2020) and Giavonna Meeks (2022). &nbsp; <strong>Mia Trevino, 2022, 5-1, PG/SG, Denver West</strong> Capable of putting up the points in bunches, as well as doing all the other things you’d want from a guard, Trevino averaged 11.9 points, 2.2 assists, 2.1 rebounds and 2.5 steals a game last season. Oh, and she was just a freshman. &nbsp; <span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #3366ff;"><strong>A quick, early look to ’19-20</strong></span> Reigning league champion Denver East graduated its top scorer from last season but returns a bunch of solid players – Lilly Cleveland (2020, 8.2 ppg), Lily Najmulski (2022, 6.5 ppg), Jordynn Conner (2021, 6.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg) and Stella Rollo (2020, 5.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg) – from a well-balanced ’18-19 squad. That’s probably enough to make the Angels the early favorites. But there are other teams like Denver South and George Washington that were young last season and have some serious talent coming back. The Denver Prep League will be one to watch in terms of intrigue both during the regular season and beyond.