In celebration of 30 years of the Competitive Basketball League, we looked back into history to remember some of the iconic moments and memories from past alumni. Did you know that over 100,000 Colorado youth have played in the league? We are proud to provide a safe and quality environment for youth to find their passion, gain life lessons, and flourish beyond the court. Be sure to visit our social media pages for a full recap.
Where they are now…
Countless players started their basketball journey with us. Some notable alumni currently playing collegiately include Lauren Betts of UCLA, Julian Hammond and Luke O’Brien of University of Colorado, Samantha Deem of Regis University, and Alexa Dominguez of UCCS. On the NBA court, you might recognize Derrick White or Reggie Jackson, and on the NFL field none other than Christian McCaffery. These are only a few of the athletes playing beyond the Gold Crown Field House, as there are countless more!
Coaches Moments
The Competitive Basketball League leaves not only memories for the players, but for the coaches as well. Coach Greg of the Arapahoe Feeder Program states,” Those player relationships are what makes coaching Gold Crown so amazing! Metro Denver youth basketball is synonymous with Gold Crown.” Coach Adam of the Englewood Feeder Program speaks as an alumnus and a coach, “Gold Crown gave my childhood friends and I the opportunity to play teams from all over the state. This motivated us to hold a higher standard and to set ambitious goals. Not realizing it at the time, but this would have a larger impact on us off the court than on. He now runs the Englewood Feeder Program, restarting it from scratch to become our 2024 Program of the Year! “Being able to return to Englewood and provide the same opportunity that was so beneficial to me has been one of the most rewarding experiences.”
Parent Moments
Some noteworthy Denver Public Figures have spent many Sundays at the Gold Crown Field House cheering on their kids. Peyton Manning has been “a regular” the past few years. While Vic Lombardi (Altitude TV), Tad Boyle (CU Men’s Basketball), Drew Goodman (Colorado Rockies), Ryan Bowen (Denver Nuggets) and Michael Ceilley (Kroenke Sports Enterprises) have many fond memories of their kids’ games. For most, it was more than a game, but a connection formed with their families.
Player Moments
The league was created for many reasons, but the top reason was providing a quality league for Colorado youth basketball players. Looking back at their favorite moments and how it affected where they are today are what matter most! From current coaches Dan Ficke (Metro Sate University) and Nate Rohnert (Chaparral High School) to media personalities Shelby Holliday (Wall Street Journal), Kerry Anne Keogh (Denver Nuggets), and Jordan Angeli, they all remember the days of competing in Gold Crown Basketball. For many, it shaped their career path and work ethic which they all use today.
Gold Crown Family
Finally, we practice what we preach. There are currently nine current Gold Crown Foundation staff members who have either played, coached, officiated, and/or served as a team parent in the Competitive Basketball League. Their passion for the game grew into the dedication they put into our organization today!
Thank you to everyone for being here for 30 years. We can’t wait for the next 30 years of serving kids in the community through the game of basketball. We will leave you with a message from our co-founders, Ray Baker and Bill Hanzlik.