Joint Effort, one of the ongoing efforts in Denver-area and Colorado basketball, has several announcements, awards and dates to keep in mind the rest of this week.
While there are games and activities into Saturday night, Friday night there will be a Montbello Hoops Reunion. The longtime school Denver Prep league, which closed in recent years, will welcome back many former players, coaches and administrators.
Sam and Barbara Batey, Ginny Lorbeer, Willard Smith, Marcus Walker, Don and Pat Gatewood are expected to attend. So are the likes of John Smith, Bill Brown, Isabella Dean, Dean Brown, John Trahan, Mary Sam, Rev. Emerson, Rev. Golson, Rev Fouthier, Joel and Lakeisha Hodge, Charles and Angela Robertson, Chris Martinez and State Rep. Angela Williams.
Also on hand will be Ray Jackson, former Montbello football and basketball standout — one of the few in decades to be named All-Colorado by The Denver Post in both sports — as well as a former NFL player and administrator recently hired by the Broncos. Jackson now is Denver’s director of player development.
Jackson spent the past decade as player development coordinator with the Pittsburgh Steelers and played for six seasons with Buffalo and Cleveland.
Also to be recognized are Craig Jackson and the 1983-83 Montello state champion boys team will be recognized as will Nikki Weddle and the 1996-97 Warriors girls state champions. Prior to the recognition ceremony at 7 p.m., there will be a DPS Top 25 All-Time Old-Timers Game featuring Johnnie Reece, Chucky Sproling, Tyrone Buckmon, Nate Nelson, Keith Abeyta and more of the best city players in history.
Joint Effort Prime Time Hoops also announced its awards for 2015. They will be presented Thursday at Manual.
There will be a special presentation, the Joint Effort Basketball Lifetime Achievement Award, to Bob Caton (Highlands Ranch) and Mike Croell (Broomfield) as well as Community Service Awards to Matt Langley, J.J. Pellini and City Preps Radio. As well, 5A boys champion Overland will be recognized. The coaches retired following the 2014-15 season.
In addition, the Joint Effort boys players of the year are Brian Carey (Denver East) and De’ Ron Davis (Overlandl). The 2015 Joint Effort Girls player of the year is Callie Kaiser (Broomfield High School). Joint Effort will also recognize the Colorado and DPL coaches of the year, and DPL player of the year.
State Boys Basketball Champions and the Nikki Weddle led 1997 Colorado Girls 5A State Basketball Champions.
Further, the Joint Effort Basketball Classic will include all-star games, club challenge games, games for Colorado’s top 7th graders through senior high school (boys and girls), a slam dunk contest, 3-pt. shootout, college coaches, awards and much more.
Information, contact John Bailey, 303-745-9649 or 720-629-0964.
2015 Joint Effort Colorado Basketball Awards
Joint Effort Player of the Year
(Boys) Brian Carey, Denver East High School
(Boys) D’Ron Davis, Overland High School
(Girls) Callie Kaiser, Broomfield High School
Denver Prep League Player of the Year
(Boys) Brian Carey, Denver East High School
(Girls) Jon’nae Richardson, Denver East High School
Joint Effort Colorado Coach of the Year
(Boys) Danny Fisher, Overland High School
(Girls) Mike Croell, Broomfield High School
Denver Prep League Coach of the Year
(Boys) Reggie Hammond, Geo Washington High School
(Girls) Dwight Berry, Denver East High School
Joint Effort All-Colorado Basketball Team
Brian Carey, Denver East High School
Jordan Willis, Denver East High School
Jeremiah Hopolite, George Washington High School
Elijah Hewitt, George Washington High School
Troy Greene, Montbello High School
Malik Hart, Montbello High School
Michael Sparks, Abraham Lincoln High School
D’Ron Davis, Overland High School
Austin Conway, Overland High School
Ryan Swan, Overland High School
Reggie Gibson, Overland High School
Elijah Ross, Eaglecrest High School
Blend Avdili, Eaglecrest High School
KipBoryla, Regis High School
Taylor Kallsen, Regis High School
Brian Staerkel, Regis High Schol
Jake Holtzman, Chaparral High School
Chris Moody, Chaparral High School
Zach Birog, Thunderridge High School
Jalen Davis, Rangeview High School
Tarren Storey-Way, Rangeview High School
Jacob Montour, Northglenn High School
Luke Schwindaman, Prarie View High School
Kelsey Williams, Hinkley High School
Mitch Lombard, Rock Canyon High School
Tyler Garcia, Rock Canyon High School
Daezionte Henderson, Thornton High School
Thomas Neff, Arvada West High School
Jalen Rose, Thomas Jefferson High School
Josh McNair, Thomas Jefferson High School
Players to Watch
David Thornton, Cherokee Trail High School
Calvin Fugett, Montbello High School
Colby Ross, Eaglecrest High School
Geoff Kelly, Regis High School
Jared Small, Legend High School
Monroe Porter, Legend High School
Riley Matticks, Legend High School
Danny Garricks, Legend High School
Elijah Blake, Rangeview High School
Solomon Procter, Hinkley High School
Ladarius Thomas, Aurora Central High School
Datone Jennings, Aurora Central High School
Elijah Coleman, Aurora Central High School
Jack Buckmelter, Denver East High School
Deron Harrell, Denver East High School
Samba Dioum, Denver East High School
Padet Wang, Overland High School
Alljah Halliburton, Overland High School
Brett Halliburton, Overland High School
Luke Neff, Arvada West High School
Nathan Davis, Mullen High School
Ronnie Barfield, Cherokee Trails High School
Cameron Davis, Valor Christian High School
Antonio Capley, Ralston Valley High School
Henry Cooper-Thomas Jefferson High School
Joint Effort Lifetime Achievement Award
Bob Caton
Mike Croell
Joint Effort Community Service Awards
Matt Langley
J.J. Pellini
City Prep Radio
Joint Effort Community Salute
5A Colorado Boys State Basketball Champions
Overland Trailblazers
SCHEDULE
Thursday at Manual High School
4:00 p.m. Youth / Club Challenge Game
5:00 p.m. Top Underclass Boys All-Star Game
6:00 p.m. Senior Boys Challenge Game
7:00 p.m. Senior Boys Challenge Game
8:00 p.m. Senior Boys Challenge Game
Friday at Montbello High School
5:00 p.m. Youth Game
6:00 p.m. Girl’s HS Challenge Game
7:00 p.m. Old Timers Game ” Warriors vs.DPS/Colorado All-Stars”
7:30 p.m. Community Recognition/Awards Presentation
8:00 p.m. Boy’s H.S. Challenge Game
900 p.m. Boy’s H.S. Challenge Game
Saturday at Manual High School
9:00 a.m. Youth / Club Challenge Game
10:00 a.m. Youth / Club Challenge Game
11:00 a.m. Youth / Club Challenge Game
Noon H.S. / Club Challenge Game
1:00 p.m. H.S. / Club Challenge Game
2:00 p.m. H.S. / Club Challenge Game
3:00 p.m. H.S. / Club Challenge Game
4:00 p.m. Youth / Club Challenge Game
5:00 p.m. Slam Dunk / 3-Pt. Shootout / Awards
5:30 p.m. Senior Boys Challenge Game
6:45 p.m. Senior Boys Challenge Game
8:00 p.m. Senior Boys Challenge Game
