Aurora Central’s Stephen Franklin, who passed on signing with the University of Colorado basketball team in November, committed orally to Colorado State on Tuesday night.
According to Aurora Central coach Bob Caton, Franklin, a 6-foot-5 guard, attended the Rams game in Fort Collins against Texas Christian on Tuesday night and decided to make it his college destination.
“I think it’s great,” said Caton, a Rams player from 1968-71. “The coaching change (at CU) kind of swayed him away.”
Franklin is the fourth-leading scorer in Class 5A at 21.3 points per game. The Trojans are 22-0, the only undefeated team in 5A, and will finish their regular season Friday against Aurora-rival Hinkley.
Caton said Franklin will sign with the Rams during the next available period, in April.
Steroid testing
On Wednesday, New Jersey became the first state to institute a statewide steroid-testing policy for high school athletes. The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association’s executive committee voted unanimously to adopt the policy and “will serve as a model plan for other (states),” said Robert F. Kanaby, executive director of the National Federation of State High School Associations.
However, there are no plans for Colorado to join New Jersey, according to Bert Borgmann, assistant commissioner of the Colorado High School Activities Association.
New Jersey’s is expected to be for state-championship events only, Borgmann said, and was driven by its state legislature.
He also cited the considerable costs and array of specific-testing formulas.
Other states have considered such a policy, but none has enacted one, although individual schools have instituted drug testing, including in Colorado.
Selection Sunday
The public is invited to the ESPN Zone, 1187 16th St., for the release of the 5A and 4A brackets for boys and girls postseason basketball. Each will have 48-team brackets.
For more information, contact the CHSAA’s Chuck Howell, 303-344-5050. ESPN Zone is taking reservations through Amy Nigrini, 303-595-3776.
