PARKER — A year ago, Chaparral had one of the more confounding seasons among Colorado’s elite boys basketball programs.
The Class 5A Wolverines began 3-2, lost eight consecutive games when injuries slowed them, then won seven in a row en route to finishing in a three-way tie for runner-up in the Continental League. Fueled by junior Jake Holtzmann, the Wolverines made waves in the state tournament before losing 88-85 in double overtime to Rangeview in 5A’s Sweet 16. They finished 13-12.
“I couldn’t be mad,” coach Rob Johnson said. “With all of the injuries we had, they played really hard and really well.”
The Wolverines are much healthier to begin the 2014-15 season and Holtzmann, who has signed a scholarship offer with the University of Denver, enters the season as a player-of-the-year candidate.
“He’s an amazing leader for our program and school,” Johnson said. “He’ll be a tough guard this year. He’s quite versatile, very skilled and can score inside and outside.”
The 6-foot-6, 180-pound Holtzmann averaged 16 points, five rebounds and two assists a season ago. He believes the Wolverines can build off their Sweet 16 appearance.
“It’s definitely exciting I was able to get (my college signing) out of the way,” Holtzmann said. “Now, I can just help my team and focus on the one thing, of course, and that’s to win it all. I think we definitely can, it’s a goal.
“I think we have the pieces and players, and a great coaching staff. I’m going to do my best to be the leader of this team.”
Chaparral will be an underdog, as Overland is the clear preseason big-school favorite heading into season, which opens Monday. But the Wolverines are on a shortlist of top contenders.
“There are a lot of good teams, and we have a great schedule,” Holtzmann said, referring to an out-of-state trip to Arizona; a matchup against Eaglecrest, the 2013 state champion; the Continental schedule; and games against Overland and Denver East in the same week heading into conference play.
Holtzmann, who has a 4.3 grade-point average, is considering pre-med or biology as a major.
His father is a dentist, but the son won’t discount orthopedics.
“Both are interesting,” he said.
So are his team’s basketball opportunities.
Neil H. Devlin: ndevlin@denverpost.com or
BOYS BASKETBALL
The season: Begins Monday and runs through Feb. 21. State finals, five classifications — March 14. Here are the top returnees to watch:
Blend Avdili, Eaglecrest, Sr.
Justin Bassey, Colorado Academy, Jr.
Brian Carey, Denver East, Sr.
Austin Conway, Overland, Sr.
De’Ron Davis, Overland, Jr.
Jake Holtzmann, Chaparral, Sr.
Thomas Neff, Arvada West, Sr.
Donovan Oldham, Rampart, Sr..
Elijah Ross, Eaglecrest, Sr.
Brady Subart, Mountain Vista, Sr.
Ryan Swan, Overland, Sr.
Grant Witherspoon, D’Evelyn, Sr.
