Daniel Bejarano (Loveland Reporter-Herald file)
This season proved to be a disappointment for most Division I men’s basketball team along the Front Range, with only Wyoming getting a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
But there was no lack of individual talent.
Here’s my 2014-15 all-Front Range team:
F J.J. Avila, 6-foot-8 senior, Colorado State, 16.7 ppg, .552 FG
F Larry Nance Jr., 6-8 senior, Wyoming, 16.1, .514 FG
G Daniel Bejarano, 6-5 senior, Colorado State, 11.4, 7.2 rpg
G Askia Booker, 6-2, senior, Colorado, 17.2, .834 FT
G Brett Olson, 6-5, senior, Denver, 13.9, .419 3-PT
Player of the year: Nance
That’s a solid group for the Front Range, perhaps lacking in super stars but perhaps with better depth than in many years.
It’s interesting that the top players are all seniors. But there are some terrific juniors, including Colorado’s Josh Scott and Xavier Johnson, Wyoming’s Josh Adams, CSU’s Gian Clavell, Denver’s Nate Engesser and others.
And a slew of underclassmen, including CSU’s John Gillon and Northern Colorado’s Cameron Michael appear poised to reach the next level.
That’s how it is with college athletics. A group of players leave and another group arrives to make a name for themselves. It’s what makes the sport fun.
