The top 10 Colorado high school products in men’s March Madness history

With the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament returning to Denver, who are the best local players to appear in March Madness? The Denver Post offers its list of top 10 Colorado high school players who made a mark on the tournament.

1. G Josh Perkins, Regis Jesuit/Gonzaga

He tallied 25 points and 15 assists across three games as a freshman on a Sweet 16 team in 2016.  As a sophomore, he had 13 in a title-game loss to North Carolina and tallied double-digit point totals in two other games that tourney. Had two double-digit-scoring games as a junior on a Sweet 16 team and three double-digit games on an Elite Eight team as a senior.

2. F Nick Fazekas, Ralston Valley/Nevada

The three-time WAC player of the year was only the sixth NCAA player with 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds while shooting 50% from the field and 80% from the stripe. He led the Wolf Pack to four NCAA Tournament berths from 2004 to ’07, including starting on a Sweet 16 team as a freshman, and averaged 20.3 points over his final three tournament games.

3. F Glen Gondrezick, Boulder/UNLV

Playing for the legendary Jerry Tarkanian, Gondrezick was a starter on three tourney teams that went to two Sweet 16s and a Final Four from 1975 to ’77. He had four games of double-digit scoring along the way, including a 21-point effort in the tournament opener against San Francisco in ’77. Those years laid the base for the Runnin’ Rebels’ national crown in 1990.

4. F Tom Chambers, Fairview/Utah

Before he went on to become a four-time NBA All-Star and two-time All-NBA player across 16 seasons as a pro, Chambers was a part of three tournament teams with the Utes. He was a star on two of those squads, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 1981 after Utah won the WAC. He averaged 19.3 points across his final three tourney games with two double-doubles.

5. G Matt Bouldin, ThunderRidge/Gonzaga

A four-year starter for the Zags, Bouldin was a starter on their Sweet 16 team as a junior while scoring in double digits in each of the two tournament wins to get Gonzaga to that point. He scored 17 points in the Zags’ opening-round win as a senior in 2010, the season he led the Zags to another WCC title and was the conference player of the year.

6. G Sean Ogirri, Denver East/Wichita State

Ogirri finished his career at Wyoming, but he’ll forever be remembered for his sophomore season with the Shockers in ’06. He led Wichita State to the Sweet 16, landing on the cover of Sports Illustrated. In the tourney opener, he poured in a game-high 23 points, then had 12 points in the second round before sputtering in a Sweet 16 loss to George Mason.

7. G Dalton Knecht, Prairie View/Tennessee

The overlooked Knecht turned two years at Northern Colorado into a breakout junior season at Tennessee in 2024, leading the Lakers draft him in the first round. In last year’s tournament, Knecht was a force up to and through the Volunteers’ loss to Purdue in the Elite Eight. He averaged 26 points over four games, including 37 with six 3s in the final defeat.

8. G Chauncey Billups, George Washington/CU

Before the all-time great Colorado product went on to the NBA, where Mr. Big Shot was Finals MVP in 2004 amid a Hall of Fame career, he starred at CU. As a sophomore in ’97, he led the Buffs to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 28 years. He scored 24 points in the opener, then 11 points the next game as CU lost to No. 1 North Carolina.

9. F Graham Ike, Overland/Gongaza

He played his first two years at Wyoming, sat out a season, then found a role with Gonzaga. In last year’s tourney, Ike was a force in the paint. He had two double-doubles across the opening round and the Sweet 16 loss to Purdue, and came within one rebound of another with 15 points and nine boards in the second round. He’ll be dancing again with the Zags this year.

10. Devon Beitzel, Centaurus/Northern Colorado

The centerpiece of Northern Colorado’s first and only tournament appearance in 2011, which now officially never happened after the appearance was nullified due to academic fraud and recruiting violations. Still, Beitzel put on a performance that can’t be forgotten, with 25 points on 6-of-10 shooting from deep in a 68-50 loss to San Diego State in the opening round.

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