Embroiled in controversy for months, the Colorado men’s basketball program received some positive news Thursday when one of the state’s top seniors-to-be gave an oral commitment to play for CU beginning with the 2007-2008 season.
Aurora Central’s Stephen Franklin, a 6-foot-5 swingman, said he called CU assistant John Anderson to give his commitment.
Franklin averaged 18 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 4.8 steals as a junior for the 25-1 Trojans, who reached the quarterfinals of the Class 5A state tournament.
Franklin picked Colorado over Washington State and Santa Clara (Calif.). He is ranked third among the state’s juniors by CoHoopsTracker.com.
“I wanted to stay close to home so my family could watch me play,” Franklin said. “I like CU’s campus and the basketball organization. And I know CU is rebuilding, so there will be an opportunity to play early.”
Franklin said he is aware that Colorado coach Ricardo Patton will be entering into the final year of his contract this season. The coach also is being investigated by the university for failure to report in a timely manner a sexual-harassment allegation against a former basketball department employee.
Because Patton’s future remains unclear, Franklin said he might not sign during the early signing period in November.
“I might hold off until I know more about what will happen with Coach Patton’s contract situation,” Franklin said. “As of right now, all I really know now is that he is the coach at CU. The coaches were telling me that the contract could possibly be worked out.”
Franklin got to play last month against four incoming CU freshmen – 6-8 Jeremy Williams of Memphis, 6-6 Dale Vanwright of Houston, 6-5 Xavier Silas of Brewster (N.H.) Academy and 6-2 Dwight Thorne of Arlington, Texas – during the Joint Effort Colorado Hoops Festival at Metro State.
“They’re all good guys, and I know they’d be good teammates,” Franklin said. “They were so unselfish with the ball, it looked like they’d been playing together for a long time.”
Aurora Central coach Bob Caton called Franklin “an outstanding athlete” with a bright future. “I think a lot more college recruiters will notice Stephen this season,” he said.
Among the state’s current junior class, CoHoopsTracker.com rates Franklin behind only 6-9 Andrew Hooper of D’Evelyn and 6-1 Devin Aguilar of Mullen. Hooper has been offered a scholarship by Colorado. Aguilar may play football instead of basketball in college.
Franklin would become the first in-state player signed by CU since 2003, when 6-9 Marcus King-Stockton of Colorado Academy committed to the Buffs.
Tom Kensler can be reached at 303-820-5456 or tkensler@denverpost.com.
