Junior guard led Valor Christian to its first state title since 2017.
Each year since 2006, MaxPreps has recognized outstanding performers in prep basketball. America's source for high school sports continues the tradition to close out the 2023-24 season by naming the top player in each state. Selections are based on team success and individual excellence in addition to local and state accolades.
Cole Scherer of
Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch) is the 2023-24 Colorado MaxPreps Player of the Year. The 6-foot-2 junior guard led the Eagles to a 26-2 record and their first state championship since 2017.
For the season, Scherer averaged 22.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.2 steals per contest while shooting 51 percent from the field, 47 percent from 3-point range and 78 percent from the free throw line.
MaxPreps Colorado Player of the Year Cole Scherer pumped in a career-high 33 points in wins over Arvada West and Lakewood this season. (Photo: David Harvey)
Scherer led all scorers with 28 points on 9 of 14 from the field and 4 of 6 from 3-point range in the Class 6A state title game victory over ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch). That followed a 29-point performance in the semifinals on 9 of 13 from the field and 5 of 6 from beyond the arc.
In three seasons at Valor Christian, Scherer has tallied 1,286 points, 401 assists and 342 rebounds across 76 games. He has connected on 170 3-pointers at a 42 percent clip.
Each state's MaxPreps Player of the Year will be considered for inclusion in the MaxPreps All-America Team, which will be released April 10. Past selections include 2024 NBA All-Stars Bam Adebayo (2016), Paolo Banchero (2020), Scottie Barnes (2020), Devin Booker (2014), Jaylen Brown (2015), Jalen Brunson (2015), Anthony Davis (2011), Kevin Durant (2006), Anthony Edwards (2019), Tyrese Maxey (2019), Julius Randle (2013), Jayson Tatum (2016), Karl-Anthony Towns (2014) and Trae Young (2017).
Past Colorado MaxPreps Players of the Year2019-20 – Dominique Clifford, The Vanguard School (Colorado Springs)
2020-21 – Baye Fall, Lutheran (Parker)
2021-22 – Sam Howery, St. Mary's (Colorado Springs)
2022-23 – D'Aundre Samuels, Denver East (Denver)
