Post-Summer Colorado 2015 Basketball rankings

With the conclusion of the AAU season, GoldandGreenNews.com prep hoops analyst Brock Laue gives his post-summer Colorado class of 2015 top fifteen rankings.

Post-Summer Colorado 2015 Basketball Rankings

1) Jake Holtzmann of Chaparral/Colorado Hawks- Holtzmann, a Denver commit, has a body and game that translates well to the next level. He is a dynamic shooter with range and touch. The 6'6 small forward is smooth and coordinated and as skilled as any player in Colorado. Holtzmann has feel, a great demeanor, and is pretty solid in all facets. His skill set makes him a great fit for the Denver Pioneers.

2) Zach Pirog of ThunderRidge/Colorado Chaos-Pirog is building a laundry list of low and mid major offers and for good reason with a 6'10 long frame and good mobility. The ThunderRidge power forward has improved immensely in the past year and is a rim protecting force. Pirog is becoming tougher in the paint. He rebounds well, has excellent timing, good feet, and is becoming more of a threat to score. He boasts offers from several high academic institutions like Yale, Columbia, Lafayette, and others.

3) Chris Moody of Chaparral/Colorado Miners-Moody has impressive physical tools. He is a 6'7 small forward who can finish strong at the rim. Moody has a nose for the ball and rebounds effectively. He can fill it up in the scoring department in stretches and knock down shots. Moody has size and is pretty explosive athletically, but has had some injury problems in the past. Together, Holtzmann and Moody might be the best tandem in Colorado. Moody is receiving mid major interest.

4) Brian Carey of Denver East/Colorado Chaos-Carey is a blur in the open court and is a fantastic playmaker. He has improved his decision making over the years, when to drive and when to pull up, and has better utilized his talents. The Denver East point is undersized at 5'9, but can run the show. He can finish creatively in the paint and has a great handle. Carey sees the floor well. His burst makes him very hard to stay in front of and he is a good jump shooter. Defensively, the small guard has active hands. Carey has continued to receive heavy low and mid major interest.

5) Austin Conway of Overland/Colorado Hawks-Conway is another undersized guard at about 5'9, but is a big-time athlete. Arguably the best pure athlete in the state, the Overland senior has received heavy Division 1 looks in both basketball and football throughout high school. He is blistering fast and loves to push the pace. Conway holds offers in both sports, but has committed to hoop for the Wyoming Cowboys. Conway has a greatly improved jumper and with a sole focus on basketball, should show immense growth on the court. His work ethic, attitude, and character are second to none.

6) Josh McNair of Thomas Jefferson/Colorado Connect-McNair, also an outstanding dual sport athlete, has received Division 1 interest in basketball and football. The Thomas Jefferson Spartan has measurables college coaches love. He is 6'5 and has length. McNair is also very coordinated and explosive. The small forward is an outstanding defensive weapon who can guard multiple positions. He rebounds at a high rate and has a good basketball IQ. McNair has long been under the radar in Colorado but is starting to get looks. A more consistent jumper could help his game take off.

7) Thomas Neff of Arvada West/Colorado Miners-Neff has been praised throughout high school for his shooting ability, and rightfully so with picturesque mechanics and limitless range. He is nearly unstoppable when in a shooting groove, as evidenced by some big-time scoring performances in July with the Miners. He also has a more college ready body than most at 6'5 with good strength. The shooting guard/small forward has improved drastically at scoring in ways beyond just jumpers. Neff holds an Air Force offer and has received plenty of interest from Ivy Leagues and other high academics.

8) Malik Hart of Montbello/Chauncey Billups Elite-Hart and Montbello teammate, Troy Green, are both high potential players. Hart is a good sized two guard with silky smooth moves. He can knock down treys and mid-range jumpers and get to the basket. Physically, he has the ability to finish as one of the top few talents in his Colorado class. Hart's skill set allows him to take over games in stretches and be the best player on the floor at times, but he needs to continue working on consistency. He is certainly an intriguing talent.

9) Troy Green of Montbello/Colorado Hawks-The Hawks star might be the most imposing player in Colorado. He is crazy athletic and physical and tough in the paint. The Montbello forward is 6'5 and chiseled. He is capable of highlight reel plays and vicious assaults on the rim. Green's skill is improving, but is still a work in progress. His body and insane athleticism will continue to get him noticed.

10) Nate Brown Bull of Denver East/Colorado Hawks-Brown Bull, a move in from South Dakota, is all of 6'11 and possibly a 7-footer. He looks to be raw, but moves well and has an enormous wingspan. Brown Bull is a tremendous defensive presence and can impact the game with his size alone. His game could grow immensely playing against better competition in the Centennial state.

11) Ryan Swan of Overland/Chauncey Billups Elite-Swan is a solid presence next to Overland superstar De'Ron Davis. He is a low post force at 6'6 with some bulk and is a good defensive big. Swan has shown great improvement and recently received his first Division 1 offer from Youngstown State. He's another low or mid major prospect in a 2015 Colorado class loaded with them.

12) Mitch Lombard of Rock Canyon/Colorado Hawks-Lombard, who has accepted a walk-on spot for the Colorado Buffs, is as crafty as it gets. He is the consummate floor general who uses his instincts, vision, and all-around skill to run the show. Lombard has an amazing feel for the game and knows how to finish through contact and can knock down shots. He's a playmaker and a player. Lombard epitomizes his Rock Canyon team, a team disciplined, crafty, and incredibly solid.

13) Michael Sparks of Lincoln/Colorado Chaos-Sparks is another undersized, but talented Colorado guard. He can put up points in a hurry and is an excellent finisher. The Lincoln star has a high IQ and vision. Sparks is also outstanding in the classroom and has heard from prestigious academic institutions.

14) Blend Avdili of Eaglecrest/Colorado Miners-Avdili does everything on the court pretty well. He is a tireless worker at both ends, rebounds, can score in the paint, and does the dirty work. The 6'5 forward has improved his shot and has an exceptional feel for the game. He's displayed improved perimeter skill in recent months, making him a more appealing prospect. Avdili's best attribute might be his toughness. He never takes a play off and never hangs his head.

15) Matt Cameron of Palmer Ridge/Colorado Chaos-Cameron, who holds Division 1 offers from Army and Hartford, is an efficient player who averaged nearly 20 points per game as a junior. He has a knack for getting to the charity stripe and can score in multiple ways. Cameron is a solid all-around talent with a good 6'6 frame at small forward. He is one of the top players in Southern Colorado.