The current crop of Colorado high school girls basketball stars are underscoring the state’s legacy as a girls hoops hotbed.
Who would be considered the best ever to come out of Colorado? The Denver Post takes a stab at putting together an all-time Colorado girls basketball team, with a starting five, bench, coaching staff and honorable mentions. The team was decided based off of high school accomplishments (stats, accolades, state titles) and achievements post-graduation.
Players are listed with their graduation year, their maiden name and symbols connoting their major high school honors.
Key: * McDonalds All-American; ^ Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year; # WNBA draft pick
Starters
G/F Ann Strother, Highlands Ranch (2002)* ^ # — The local icon was co-MVP of the inaugural McDonald’s All-American game, won two national titles at UConn.
G Michaela Onyenwere, Grandview (2017)* ^ # — The only one to win three state Gatorade Player of the Year awards starred at UCLA, was 2021 WNBA Rookie of the Year.
G Abby Waner, ThunderRidge (2005)* ^ # — The ex-Duke star was one of two Coloradans to win the national Gatorade Player of the Year award along with Strother.
F Tanya Haave, Evergreen (1980) — Colorado’s first multi-sport mega-star in prep girls athletics went on to play both volleyball and basketball at Tennessee.
C Lauren Betts, Grandview (2022)* ^ — An unstoppable force in high school, she’s now one of the country’s best college players at UCLA and a future top draft pick.
Bench
F Shelly Pennefather, Bishop Machebeuf (1983); G Tracy Hill, Ridgway (1983); G Jamie Carey, Horizon (1999)^ #; F Katy Flecky, Highlands Ranch (2001); G Justine Hall, Regis Jesuit (2014)^; G Jessika Stratton, Coronado (2000)^; F Katie Cronin, Horizon (1995)^; G Tricia Bader, Roaring Fork (1991)#; F Melody Johnson, Palmer (1997)#; C Liz Sherwood, Highlands Ranch (2003)* ^; Sienna Betts, Grandview (2025)* ^; Bri Crittendon, Riverdale Ridge (2026)
Coaching Staff
Highlands Ranch head coach Caryn Jarocki celebrates winning the Class 5A championship against Regis Jesuit on March 11, 2011.
Caryn Jarocki (Colorado Academy/Highlands Ranch), Mike Croell (Broomfield), Ron Rossi (Holy Family), Carl Mattei (Regis Jesuit/Denver East)
Honorable Mention
Jana Van Gytenbeek (4) of the Cherry Creek Bruins dribbles between defenders at Cherokee Trail High School on Jan. 8, 2020 in Aurora.
G Bridget Turner, Hinkley (1985); F Tracy Tripp, Fort Collins (1985); Erin Scholz, Doherty (1993)^; Lisa Hosac, Heritage (1996)^; Nikki Weddel, Montbello (1997)^; Keirsten Walters, Heritage (1998)^; Evan Unrau, Rocky Mountain (2000)#; Cissy Pierce, Heritage (2004)* ^; Chucky Jeffery, Sierra (2009)#; Anna Prins, Broomfield (2009)^ #; Shae Kelley, Denver East (2010)#; Diani Akigbogun, Regis Jesuit (2014)^; Kylee Shook, Mesa Ridge (2016)*; Ashten Prechtel, Discovery Canyon (2019)* #; Fran Belibi, Regis Jesuit (2019)* ^; Jana Van Gytenbeek, Cherry Creek (2020)^; Reagan Beers, Valor Christian (2022)*