Sixteen of 40 players announced Monday at the Pepsi Center for The Show, the Nuggets’ annual all-star basketball games for boys and girls, are still alive in the Colorado tournament that will complete final rounds by Saturday.
As one of them, Sydney Donaldson, appreciated the hoopla as well as diversion.
“Oh, yeah, this is a big deal,” the senior at Longmont said. “It’s definitely something to be excited about. This is something to enjoy and get away from the big stage (of the tournament). Obviously, we’ll be focused when the time comes, and we’ll be ready as a team, but this is fun.”
These will be the 10th games for the state’s top players at the Pepsi Center.
A media panel, including The Denver Post, selected four teams of boys and girls regardless of classification and grade. The games will be played April 3 before the Nuggets meet the Los Angeles Clippers.
Donaldson, the Trojans’ leading scorer at 19 points per game, is one of 32 seniors chosen. The rest are juniors, save for Monarch’s Alexus Johnson, a sophomore.
“Sydney has brought so much to our program; not only our program, but our school,” said Longmont’s Jeff Kloster, who will coach one of the boys teams. “He’s excited about this.
“A lot of these kids know each other from the summer and it will be fun to tell who to go (into the game).”
Players in the all-star games will be credentialed for the Nuggets game that evening; all others will have access to specially priced tickets at $25 and $12 through the Nuggets group sales office, 303-405-1212.
Teams
Boys
Blue
Donthe Lucas, Pueblo Central; Austin Maag, Fort Collins; Jimmy McGrath, Otis; Joey Ptasinski, Regis; Reuben Riggs-Russell, Rampart; Roderick Taylor, Montbello; Bud Thomas, Regis; Martin Thomas, Fountain-Fort Carson; Dominic Williams, Abraham Lincoln; Tyrell Williams, Pueblo South. Coach: J’on St. Clair, Rampart.
White
Tim Billingsley, Arapahoe; Sydney Donaldson, Longmont; DeLovell Earls, Colorado Springs School; DeSe Lee, Aurora Central; Andre Marquez, Eaglecrest; Wes McKenzie, Liberty; Josh Morgan, Buena Vista; Darragh O’Neill, Fairview; Trevor Wages, Chatfield; Kamryn Williams, Sierra. Coach: Jeff Kloster, Longmont.
Girls
Blue
Demitra Aspergis, Columbine; Alison Gorrell, Conifer; Jaime Katuna, Longmont; Kim Lockridge, Heritage; Katelyn McDaniel, Highlands Ranch; Kaitlyn Mileto, Mesa Ridge; Adaugo Osuala, Green Mountain; D’Shara Strange, Fountain-Fort Carson; Sendy Valles, Highlands Ranch; Christina Whitelaw, St. Mary’s. Coach: Harry Knight, Fountain-Fort Carson.
White
Alex Evans, Monarch; Brooke Jelniker, ThunderRidge; Alexus Johnson, Monarch; Amy Kame, Central (G.J.); Shae Kelley, East; Danielle Lewis, Kim; Carlie Needles, ThunderRidge; Alex Ochoa, Fountain Valley; Megan O’Neil, Regis Jesuit; Hayley Thompson, Mullen. Coach: Bill Bradley, ThunderRidge.
