Wednesday is National Signing Day for the Class of 2018, and a number of high schools around the state are hosting events to honor their athletes who are making their college choices official.
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Category: Recruiting
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Highlands Ranch lineman Austin Johnson commits to CU football
(Tim Visser/timvisserphotography.com) Austin Johnson, one of the state’s top football prospects in the Class of 2019, has committed to the University of Colorado.
Johnson, a junior, announced his decision on Twitter:
Staying home‼️ @SixZeroStrength @CoachAdamsCUFB pic.twitter.com/F60Zst1AvG
— Austin Johnson (@bigsalsa101) January 30, 2018
Listed at 6-foot-4, 260 pounds, Johnson is a guard and defensive tackle for Highlands Ranch.
In announcing his decision, Johnson wrote, in part, “No place like home!!!!!”
He is the third member of the 2019 class to pick Colorado, following Valor Christian running back Joshia Davis and Palmer Ridge quarterback Ty Evans.
Johnson also plays basketball and participates in track as a thrower. He has played in 14 games for the Falcons’ boys basketball team this winter as a forward.
He will have a new head coach for his senior season. Highlands Ranch hired former Smoky Hill and Montbello coach John Trahan earlier this month.
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Hockey rankings: Chaparral joins at No. 10
Chaparral has entered this week’s hockey rankings, joining at No. 10.
The rankings, voted upon by coaches and select media members, are the official polls of the Association. During the regular season, the poll will release each Monday.
Complete rankings are below.
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CHSAANow.com Hockey Poll
Voted upon by coaches and media members around the state. These rankings have no bearing on postseason seeding.
First-place votes are in parentheses.
Coaches and media members looking to vote should email rcasey@chsaa.org.
Hockey RK TEAM W-L PTS PVS LW 1 Regis Jesuit (10) 15-0-0 108 1 3-0-0 2 Monarch (1) 12-1-0 98 2 1-1-0 3 Valor Christian 14-1-0 89 3 2-0-0 4 Resurrection Christian 11-3-0 62 5 3-0-0 5 Fort Collins 10-1-2 58 7 3-0-0 6 Cherry Creek 7-5-1 55 4 1-2-0 7 Dakota Ridge 9-5-0 34 6 2-1-0 8 Heritage 12-2-1 33 8 2-0-0 9 Steamboat Springs 10-3-1 26 10 1-0-0 10 Chaparral 10-4-1 17 – 1-1-0 Others receiving votes: Pueblo County 16, Aspen 8, Kent Denver 1. Dropped out Pueblo County (9). -
Cherry Creek’s Jana Van Gytenbeek commits to Stanford women’s basketball
(Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com) Jana Van Gytenbeek, the star sophomore for Cherry Creek girls basketball, announced Sunday night that she has committed to Stanford.
https://twitter.com/vangytenbeek/status/950185608877547521/photo/1
Van Gytenbeek, a 5-foot-7 point guard, is averaging 13.8 points and 8.0 assists this season, along with 4.4 rebounds and 2.9 steals per game. Her 8.0 assists lead the state by a wide margin.
As a freshman last season, she averaged 14.8 points and 5.7 assists in helping the Bruins reach the Class 5A Final 4.
After her freshman season, Van Gytenbeek was named second-team all-state in Class 5A.
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Three top-rated football recruits to play for Mike MacIntyre at CU
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com) Lori Stenstrom couldn’t stop smiling. She watched with excitement as her son signed his name on a piece of paper, signaling his official commitment to the University of Colorado.
The Stenstrom family has been Stanford through and through. Lori and her husband, Steve, both attended Stanford and were both standout athletes.
But Wednesday they were dressed in all black and gold.
“Blood before alumni,” Lori said.
There’s a lot of that going around the Denver area. Blake Stenstrom, a first-team all-state quarterback from Valor Christian, was one of three in-state recruits to sign with the University of Colorado during the inaugural early-signing period.
Cherry Creek’s Dimitri Stanley and Highland Ranch’s Ray Robinson also signed their letters of intent. Along with the trio that signed with Colorado State, a good chunk of Colorado’s standout players get the overall recruiting weight off their shoulders six weeks early.
What is significant about the three prospects headed to Boulder is where each player sits in terms of statewide ratings. Most recruiting services have Stenstrom, Robinson and Stanley rated at least in the top six of all state athletes.
Who says Colorado doesn’t sign Colorado kids! The Buffs signed 3 of the top 6 players in the state including the #1 player! @Dimitri_114 @BlakeStenstrom @RayRob25 pic.twitter.com/rc4pRVJsGU
— Darrin Chiaverini (@CoachChev6) December 20, 2017
And the Buffs got them.
“We’re trying to all that we can,” CU coach Mike MacIntyre said. “There are quite a few good players in this state each year and we’re excited about the three we got.”
MacIntyre had nothing but praise for the three Denver-area products. He mentioned the disappointment that Robinson lost his senior year due to a torn ACL, but of the three, it is only the Highlands Ranch defensive back that will graduate early and dive right into spring ball with the Buffs.
“He’s ready to go,” MacIntyre said.
(Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com) He highlighted Stanley as a legacy commit. Stanley’s dad, Walter, was a wing back for the Buffs in the 1980’s. Stanley had given the Buffs a verbal commitment, but MacIntyre said during Wednesday’s press conference that it turned into a battle to keep him.
Along with Stenstrom’s commitment last December came an additional role of a recruiter.
“He talked to the offensive lineman a lot,” ManIntyre said.
His family shared experiences with the Stanley’s and the Robinson’s which really drew the trio together. The fact that three of the most sought after recruits from the state was not lost on Stenstrom.
“I think it’s great,” Stenstrom said. “I think it motivates upcoming classes to stay home. Joshia (Davis) already committed from here, so that’s great.”
The ability to sign early was an added bonus. With everything made official, the players can start getting integrated into the team six weeks ahead of time. This is one of the many reasons that MacIntyre really came to appreciate the added signing day.
A six-week jump in December can go a long way into making the overall team better in August.
“I can get on Hudl and start watching film as soon as they get it me,” Stenstrom said. “I can start working out and during spring ball I can go to all the meetings if I want to. It’s a cool benefit of that.”
The next signing day period for football players will begin on Feb. 7.
CU head coach Mike MacIntyre talks about the early signees of his 2018 recruiting class. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com) -
Football’s early signing period arrives for the first time
Columbine (Jeffco Public Schools) The newly-created early signing period for Division I football recruits is here.
Wednesday marks the start of a three-day window where those athletes who are headed to Division I schools can sign.
Previously, all football recruits coming out of high school could only sign on the first Wednesday in February. That date remains as the regular signing period, and goes from Feb. 7, 2018 to April 1, 2018.
So far, Colorado’s Class of 2018 features 19 Division I football recruits, including 18 headed to FBS schools and one headed to an FCS program. Not all of that group will sign during the early period, as some will sign in February 2018, and others who have committed to service academies won’t complete the appointment process until next summer.
Included in that total are three players who have signed to both CU and CSU, and four with Wyoming.
Find a complete list of 2018 football recruits in this database.
Confirmed to have signed so far on Wednesday:
- Ray Robinson, Highlands Ranch, with CU.
- Chad Muma, Legend, with Wyoming.
- Blake Stenstrom, Valor Christian, with CU.
- Dimitri Stanley, Cherry Creek, with CU.
- Issac Power, Ponderosa, with Baylor.
- Florian McCann, Mullen, with CSU.
- Trey McBride, Fort Morgan, with CSU.
- Zach Watts, Windsor, with Wyoming.
- Cameron Murray, Overland, with Wyoming.
- A’Jon Vivens, Mullen, with CSU.
- Adrian Jackson, Mullen, with Oregon.
- Gunner Gentry, Grandview, with Wyoming.
- Tate Wildeman, Legend, with Nebraska.
- Willy Boatman, Kent Denver, with Northwestern.
Here’s a breakdown of Colorado’s football recruits in recent years:
Year FBS FCS Total D-II D-III NAIA JC Total 2018^ 18 1 19 4 0 2 0 25 2017 20 25 45 152 17 39 9 262 2016 24 18 42 149 12 43 4 250 2015 25 26 51 142 5 29 4 231 2014 31 16 47 109 7 14 7 184 2013 20 1 21 2012 19 0 19 2011 18 1 19 2010 24 9 33 2009 22 7 29 2008 33 5 38 ^ – Through the early period.
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Colorado State football signs three local recruits during early signing period
(Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com) Three local players opted to stay in-state and sign with Colorado State during football’s early signing period on Wednesday.
Fort Morgan’s Trey McBride and Mullen teammates A’Jon Vivens and Florian McCann III all signed National Letters of Intent with the Rams on Wednesday, the first day of the new early signing period for Division I football recruits. All three are seniors, and make up three of the 19 Division I recruits from Colorado so far.
Each of the three were named first-team All-State in their respective classifications.
The trio weren’t the only three to stay local: Highlands Ranch’s Ray Robinson, Valor Christian’s Blake Stenstrom, and Cherry Creek Dimitri Stanley all signed with the University of Colorado.
(Katie Pickrell/CHSAANow.com) McBride, a tight end, is a three-sport athlete for Fort Morgan, playing baseball and basketball in addition to football. This past season, McBride had three total touchdowns, and 450 receiving yards on 30 catches in being named first team All-State in Class 3A.
As a junior, McBride caught 11 touchdown passes. In his career, he accounted for 31 total touchdowns.
“Trey is an unbelievable athlete,” Colorado State coach Mike Bobo said during the Rams’ Signing Day show. “For two years in a row, he’s been one of the best performers at our camp. I think he has a huge upside as a tight end. … He’s got a chance to be a really, really good player for us.”
Vivens accounted for 11 total touchdowns last season for Mullen in playing wide receiver and running back. He had 39 catches and 557 yards for six scores receiving, and also rushed 95 times for 705 yards and five scores.
“A’Jon is a special player,” Bobo said. “He’s a little bit of a do-everything type of player. He’s what I like to call a football player. He’s not just a receiver. He was a guy that (Mullen) coach (Tom) Thenell tried to get the ball in his hands, and that’s what you look for when you’re looking for a skill player: How do they use him? Do they try to use him and get the ball in his hands?”
Vivens was named first team All-State in 5A as a senior.
“The thing I love about A’Jon is his toughness, his willingness to block, his willingness to put his face on somebody,” Bobo said. “He plays hard without the football.”
McCann, meanwhile, is a 6-foot-5, 280-pound tackle. He helped Mullen’s offense rush for 1,912 yards and 19 touchdowns, and throw for another 1,866 and 15 touchdowns.
He was selected first-team All-State in 5A after the season.
“Florian is a guy that came to camp. We had not offered him a scholarship yet, and convinced him to come to camp and try to earn his scholarship,” Bobo said. “We had a lot of guys here from in-state that were really good offensive linemen, and Florian came and performed extremely well, and we offered him after that camp.”
Find a complete list of 2018 football recruits in this database.
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Valor Christian running back Joshia Davis commits to CU football
(Jack Eberhard/JacksActionShots.com) Valor Christian running back Joshia Davis committed to play at the University of Colorado during a live broadcast on 9News on Tuesday afternoon.
“I’m just excited to be a Buff,” Davis said on 9News. “There’s going to be a lot to look forward to, and I just can’t wait to get up there.”
“It’s cool to stay home, close to home,” Davis added. “Family was a big part of the decision. I just felt like (CU) was the right fit, and it just happened to be my hometown.”
Davis also announced his decision on Twitter, saying “as a kid, I grew up dreaming to play D1 football, and attend college on a full ride scholarship.”
https://twitter.com/joshia_davis7/status/940740366474661889
Davis, a junior, rushed for 771 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. A three-year varsity player, he has accounted for 33 scores so far in his career.
For more college commitments from the Class of 2019, visit our recruiting database.
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Lakewood’s Emsbo twins going Ivy League headline early NLI signers
Lakewood seniors Kira and Camilla will go against each other on the basketball court in college with both attending different Ivy League schools. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics) LAKEWOOD — The Emsbo twins — Camilla and Kira — are going their separate ways.
Lakewood High School’s 6-foot-4 identical twins made their separation official Wednesday morning during the start of early National Letter of Intent signing period. Both are headed to Ivy League schools. Kira having decided on Princeton University and Camilla signing with Yale University.
“I think it was important for me to separate from my sister,” Camilla said with a smile. “It will be a tough transition, but I think it’s really important for our growth.”
Camilla gave her verbal commitment to Yale in early October, a few months after Kira made her decision on Princeton. Both carry GPAs of 4.8 in Lakewood’s IB program.
While the twins have gone against each other in practice for years, they will get a chance to face each other for the first time and at least twice a year during their time at the Ivy League programs.
Lakewood girls basketball coach Chris Poisson, middle, talks about the Emsbo twins — Kira and Camilla. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics) “It going to be the best and worst two days of our lives I think,” Camilla said of facing Kira on the basketball court. “Our parents are already freaking out about it. We play hard against each other in practice. It won’t be any different. There is a good possibility one or both of us foul out, but it will definitely be fun games for sure.”
Unfortunately, the next time both are on the basketball court will be in college. Kira discovered through a recent MRI on her knee that she has a torn ACL that she suffered this summer playing club basketball.
Kira has surgery scheduled to repair her torn ACL on Tuesday, Nov. 14. It will be a 6 to 9 month recovery, so she will be ready for the start of her freshman year at Princeton. Kira missed time her junior year during Lakewood’s first girls basketball state title appearance last season with an arm injury she suffered early in the season.
“I was kind of hoping this would be my year since I missed time last year and wasn’t that big of a presence on the floor,” Kira said. “But it gives me the opportunity to work on the leadership side of things and give support in other ways.”
Lakewood girls basketball coach Chris Poisson said the Tigers will make the most of the devastating injury as Lakewood attempts to make another long playoff run.
Camilla Emsbo won’t have her sister Kira on the court his season. Kira will undergo surgery Nov. 14 to repair a torn ACL. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics) “Your heart breaks for her,” Poisson said of Lakewood’s ‘honorary assistant coach’. “She had a great summer. She was on a mission. I was pretty excited. We’ll put a positive light on it and be the best we can.”
Camilla, who averaged nearly 20 points per game and almost nine rebounds, will have to carry a heavy load again when the season begins in December for the Tigers.
“It’s brutal,” Camilla said of Kira’s torn ACL that will prevent her from playing. “She is one of the most positive and optimistic people I’ve ever met. She isn’t letting it get her down.”
Looking beyond high school, the Emsbo twins believe their selected university are a perfect fit.
“I was originally was going to wait longer then I did, but it got halfway through the summer and I wasn’t going to change my mind,” Kira said about verbally committing to Princeton in June. “This was what I want academically. I love the coaches. I love the school. It was the prefect place for me.”
Camilla is just as excited about heading to Yale.
“Obviously, academics are a huge priority for me,” Camilla said. “I think the Ivy League is where you get that perfect balance of academics and athletics.”
It’s the first time Poisson has had a player, let alone two players, sign with Division I programs.
“My Dad (Joe Poisson, a longtime girls basketball coach at Arvada High School) always talked about that,” said Poisson about how his late father never coached a future DI player. “I got two and from the same family. Are you kidding? I’ve been lucky and blessed. You don’t take it for granted because it doesn’t come around very often.”
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List of Jeffco-area signers
Columbine High School
Kerstin Layman, volleyball, Colorado Mesa University
Maeve Hungerford, women’s lacrosse, Colorado Mesa University
Melaine Lopez, softball, Trinidad State Jr. College
Nick Darrow, men’s lacrosse, Mercer University
Brock Harmon, men’s lacrosse, Colorado Mesa University
Gavin Beilman, men’s lacrosse, Westminster College
Robert Miner, men’s lacrosse, Belmont Abbey College
Gabe Mein, men’s lacrosse, University of Utah
Maddie Samuelson, women’s soccer, Hastings CollegeConifer High School
Madeleine Foster, track/cross country, Western State
Nick Williams, men’s lacrosse, Hofstra
Kyle Butler, men’s lacrosse, Adams State
Cole Hollander, men’s lacrosse, Rhodes
Isabel Arnold, soccer, LeTourneauD’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School
Peyton Wright, volleyball, University of Northwestern-St. Paul
Kendra Cerrone, volleyball, West Texas A&M
Abbey Selin, women’s swimming, University of Wyoming
Angi Reed, women’s basketball, Oregon TechEvergreen High School
Lauryn Jeans, women’s soccer, Claremont McKenna College
Tomah Whitney, cross country, Western State
Jack Patterson, baseball, Washburn University
Ben Muscatello, baseball, William Jewell College
Lauren Vilims, women’s swimming, University of Northern IowaGolden High School
Abby Garnett, women’s basketball, University of Ohio
Adam Thistlewood, men’s basketball, Drake University
Liam Johnson, men’s soccer, University of Denver
Megan Feiner, softball, Fort Hays State
Marrissa Malmgren, women’s lacrosse, Upper Iowa
Brennan Grass, men’s lacrosse, Adams State
Brad Banks, baseball, Kansas Wesleyan
Quinn Cusack, women’s soccer, Culver-StocktonGreen Mountain High School
Brook Thompson, women’s lacrosse, Westminster College
Emily Sammon, volleyball, Bethel University
JD Wadleigh II, baseball, South Mountain Community CollegeJefferson High School
Marissa Gallegos, women’s wrestling, Grays Harbor CollegeLakewood High School
Jack Castiglia, men’s golf, University of Northern Colorado
Gabe Dinette, wrestling, Stanford University
Ileana Dinette, diving, University of Denver
Camilla Emsbo, women’s basketball, Yale University
Kira Emsbo, women’s basketball, Princeton University
Avery Hughes, volleyball, University of Ottawa
Hayden Still, wrestling, Oregon State University
Audrey Woodhouse, women’s lacrosse, Colorado Mesa UniversityRalston Valley High School
Anna Austin, swimming, University of Idaho
Haley Bass, softball, Dodge City Community College
Gianna Browdy, softball, Dodge City Community College
Delaynie Byrne, women’s basketball, University of Minnesota
Samuel Cowling, swimming, Southwestern Oregon CC
Isabelle Davenport, swimming, University of South Dakota
Ashley Drye, volleyball, Colorado Christian University
Giselle Eiche, volleyball, University of Nebraska-Omaha
Ian Klava, baseball, Puget Sound University
Luke Leisenring, baseball, Arizona State University
Mikeila Ruotsala, soccer, Oregon Tech
Samantha Van Sickle, women’s basketball, Colorado School of Mines
Jordan Winchester, lacrosse, Regis University
Mackenzie Winchester, lacrosse, Regis University
Elizabeth Wompey, swimming, Youngstown State UniversityStandley Lake High School
Garrett Martin, baseball, McLennan Community College
Elliot McNeave, baseball, Western Nebraska Community College -
Signing Day: First signing period opens for the Class of 2018
(@raptorathletics/Twitter) Wednesday marks the start of the early signing period for many athletes in the Class of 2018.
Those seniors who play basketball and all other sports except football, soccer and men’s water polo may sign National Letters of Intent with their respective college choices. They may sign anytime between now and Nov. 15 if they choose to sign during the early period.
We are tracking those signing and other commitments here:
Are we missing a college commitment or signing? Please submit it using this form.
The regular signing period for basketball and all sports except football, soccer and men’s water polo is April 11-May 16 (for Division I) or August 1 (for Division II).
For the first time this year, football will have an early signing period for Division I enrollees, from Dec. 20-22. The regular signing period for football, soccer and men’s water polo opens on Feb. 7.