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The final bow on a legendary season.
Windsor boys basketball star Madden Smiley was named the Colorado Class 5A boys basketball Player of the Year, also making CHSAA's 5A all-state first team that was announced Tuesday.
There was little suspense for Smiley's selection, especially after an epic playoff run for the Wizards' first boys hoops state title in over 100 years.
The junior wing showed off his deep array of skills all season, averaging nearly 21 points and eight rebounds per game while also swiping over 2 steals per contest.
His quick-twitch moves, 6-foot-3 height with a long wingspan and motor on both ends powered Windsor to a 22-6 season and the 5A No. 6 seed.
Smiley only took it up another notch in the postseason. He showcased a flourishing 3-point shot in the playoffs, making 14 triples in five games at a 50% clip while averaging just above his season marks in nearly all categories.
His magnum opus came in the 5A championship game, scoring 25 points with 13 rebounds, five assists and two steals in the Wizards' win over Green Mountain.
Smiley, the son of Northern Colorado men's basketball head coach Steve Smiley, also hit 1,000 career points, a rarity for high school juniors. He did it with a career-high 38 points vs. Poudre on Feb. 11.
Overall, Madden Smiley had 17 games with 20-plus points, shouldering a consistent scoring burden for a Windsor squad that lacked height on the interior but played with a cohesive energy.
Abshire: No longer 'school of runner-ups,' Windsor boys basketball can party like it's 1924
While he was already getting some Division I offers, Madden Smiley turned even more heads this season and his recruiting stock is on the rise.
He wasn't the only Wizard earning high honors from CHSAA.
Windsor head coach Jon Rakiecki was also named the Colorado 5A boys basketball Coach of the Year.
Again, no surprise there. Not just because Windsor won the title, but also because Rakiecki has turned the Wizards into a regular power.
They've been a top-10 seed the past four years, made three straight Great 8s and two consecutive title-game appearances after a runner-up finish in 2024.
Windsor actually lost four key contributors from last year's squad, yet still finally climbed the mountaintop to beat Mesa Ridge in the semifinals and Green Mountain for the championship. The Wizards are now 67-16 over the past three seasons.
Senior forward John Backhaus was also a 5A second-team all-state selection, while fellow senior Tadese Keyworth was an honorable mention.
Chris Abshire covers high school and community sports for the Coloradoan.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado all-state teams: Windsor's Smiley named 5A Player of the Year
Continue reading...
Windsor boys basketball star Madden Smiley was named the Colorado Class 5A boys basketball Player of the Year, also making CHSAA's 5A all-state first team that was announced Tuesday.
There was little suspense for Smiley's selection, especially after an epic playoff run for the Wizards' first boys hoops state title in over 100 years.
The junior wing showed off his deep array of skills all season, averaging nearly 21 points and eight rebounds per game while also swiping over 2 steals per contest.
His quick-twitch moves, 6-foot-3 height with a long wingspan and motor on both ends powered Windsor to a 22-6 season and the 5A No. 6 seed.
Smiley only took it up another notch in the postseason. He showcased a flourishing 3-point shot in the playoffs, making 14 triples in five games at a 50% clip while averaging just above his season marks in nearly all categories.
His magnum opus came in the 5A championship game, scoring 25 points with 13 rebounds, five assists and two steals in the Wizards' win over Green Mountain.
Smiley, the son of Northern Colorado men's basketball head coach Steve Smiley, also hit 1,000 career points, a rarity for high school juniors. He did it with a career-high 38 points vs. Poudre on Feb. 11.
Overall, Madden Smiley had 17 games with 20-plus points, shouldering a consistent scoring burden for a Windsor squad that lacked height on the interior but played with a cohesive energy.
Abshire: No longer 'school of runner-ups,' Windsor boys basketball can party like it's 1924
While he was already getting some Division I offers, Madden Smiley turned even more heads this season and his recruiting stock is on the rise.
He wasn't the only Wizard earning high honors from CHSAA.
Windsor head coach Jon Rakiecki was also named the Colorado 5A boys basketball Coach of the Year.
Again, no surprise there. Not just because Windsor won the title, but also because Rakiecki has turned the Wizards into a regular power.
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They've been a top-10 seed the past four years, made three straight Great 8s and two consecutive title-game appearances after a runner-up finish in 2024.
Windsor actually lost four key contributors from last year's squad, yet still finally climbed the mountaintop to beat Mesa Ridge in the semifinals and Green Mountain for the championship. The Wizards are now 67-16 over the past three seasons.
Senior forward John Backhaus was also a 5A second-team all-state selection, while fellow senior Tadese Keyworth was an honorable mention.
Chris Abshire covers high school and community sports for the Coloradoan.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado all-state teams: Windsor's Smiley named 5A Player of the Year
Continue reading...
