From Class 5A to 1A, boys to girls and the Denver area to the mountains and plains of Colorado, the annual Nuggets-sponsored high school all-star basketball games – The Show – will have an array of talent and feature the state’s best players.
Set for April 15, the games will sandwich the Nuggets’ game against the Sacramento Kings at the Pepsi Center. The girls will tip off at 3:30 p.m. – the NBA game is set for 7:05 p.m. – and the boys will play as soon as possible after the Nuggets’ game, at about 9:30 p.m.
The top 20 players for both boys and girls will be headed by prominent prep coaches and will have two practices at the Nuggets’ practice facility at the Pepsi Center next month.
Included will be stalwarts who led their teams to state titles as well as several multisport stars headed to play in college.
The games have fun written all over them.
“Without a doubt,” ThunderRidge’s Matt Bouldin said Monday at a news conference to introduce the players. “I’m so tight with this bunch of guys. We play on a regular basis. It will be fun to come down here to play.”
Bouldin, who played in three consecutive 5A championship games, led big schools in scoring (25.4 points per game) this season and is bound for Gonzaga, also liked the fact “that it’s not every day you get to play on a pro court.”
It also appealed to 1A McClave’s Mallory Cline, a senior who was part of the school’s three consecutive state championships and state-record, 75- game winning streak.
“It was a blast,” she said. “I’m looking forward to playing here. I didn’t play club basketball or anything, and it will be something different for me.”
The last hurrahs as high school players include final opportunities for some to play one more time for their coaches. Cline fits into that category as McClave’s Dick Peecher will guide the Blue team for girls.
“I’m really glad he’ll be here,” said Cline, who will play next season for Wyoming.
Ticket packages that include the NBA game are on sale. Call 303-405-1212.
Blue team, boys
The players are Pierre Allen, Thomas Jefferson; Devon Beitzel, Centaurus; Brent Cass, Pawnee; Dallas Elmore, Poudre; Ray Hall, Mullen; Levi Knutson, Arapahoe; Tyson Liggett, Limon; Jake Nielson, Grandview; Nate Rohnert, Chaparral; and Donnell Wells, East. The coach is Porter Cutrell of Mullen.
White team, boys
The players are Curtis Ashe, Sierra; Matt Bouldin, ThunderRidge; Will Figures, Smoky Hill; Elgin Fitzgerald, Palmer; Stephen Franklin, Aurora Central; Jacob Houghton, Rocky Mountain; Trevor Oliver, Gateway; Grant Parker, Cherry Creek; Sam Phippen, Durango; and Robby Pride, Kent Denver. The coach is Bruce Dick of Rocky Mountain.
Blue team, girls
The players are Mallory Cline, McClave; Laura Haugen, Poudre; Meghan Heimstra, Silver Creek; Stephanie Hejde, Rocky Mountain; Chelsea Lyles, Harrison; Katie Mihalco, Regis; Blakelee Midyett, Golden; Lindsey Moller, Longmont; Aija Putnina, Regis; and Ali Thorderson, Highlands Ranch. The coach is Dick Peecher of McClave.
White team, girls
The players are Alison Cheney, Platte Valley; Megan Cherry, Durango; Kelsey Gourdin, Heritage; Jayna Hartig, ThunderRidge; Lauren Holm, Dakota Ridge; Dana Iverson, Fort Collins; Raysha Ritter, Grand Junction; Allison Rosel, Doherty; Justine Sandersfeld, Limon; and Emily Stockman, Doherty. The coach is Craig Mortensen of Moffat County.
Melissa Jones, Legacy; Jaclyn Thoman, Highlands Ranch; Hannah Tuomi, Horizon; and Katie Calderwood, Broomfield; were selected for The Show but will be unable to play.
Neil H. Devlin can be reached at 303-820-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com.
