Candidates plentiful for Colorado girls basketball player of the year

Video: The quadruple-double by Ashley Van Sickle (Ralston Valley) vs. Bear Creek

Admittedly, it's all speculative at this point. But that's not going to keep us from diagnosing girls basketball player-of-the-year candidates in all five classifications.

Here's a look at some of the frontrunners for the award, with the full acknowledgment that others might surface during the season's stretch run and in the postseason. Naturally, the way the playoffs unfold could have a pronounced impact on the award in each classification.

With those qualifiers out there, let's wait no further to take a look:

Class 5A

Brenna Chase, Sr., Broomfield: Sophomore teammate Delaynie Byrne has gotten much acclaim for the defending-champion Eagles this season, but make no mistake: the BYU-bound Chase still runs the show. The speedy point guard averages 14.4 points and 3.7 steals.

Michaela Onyenwere, Jr., Grandview (Aurora): The top player in the state in the eyes of many, the 5-foot-11 forward has led the Wolves to a 17-0 mark by averaging 24.9 points and 11.9 rebounds. She has been held below 20 points only three times this season, never below 15, and trails only Loveland's Tatum Rembao in the 5A scoring race.

Jaz'myne Snipes, Sr., ThunderRidge (Highlands Ranch): Another of the state's finest frontcourt players, Snypes has taken leaps to 16.1 points and 9.1 rebounds this season, morphing into perhaps the finest player for the Grizzlies (15-3). That's saying something with the talented Taylor Rusk on the roster.

Ashley Van Sickle, Jr., Ralston Valley (Arvada): Anyone who posts a quadruple-double deserves to be on the list, as the Mustangs (15-2) point guard did last month against Bear Creek (Lakewood). The video above breaks down each point, rebound, assist and steal, illustrating that no stats were fabricated.

Leilah Vigil, So., Highlands Ranch (Highlands Ranch): The top player on the state's top team – and the No. 17 squad in the nation – undoubtedly will be a prime candidate for the award. Although the Falcons (17-1) have three Division-I bound seniors, Vigil (19.3 point a game) is the go-to player.

Class 4A

Kristina Cavey, Sr., Berthoud: The senior is filling up the box score on a nightly basis, most notably with 26.9 points a game. Before she departs for Fresno State next season, Cavey is helping the Spartans (15-3), not a traditional power in the classification, to an epic season.

Katie Chavez, Sr., Holy Family (Broomfield: The four-year starting point guard hasn't slowed down since moving to 4A last season. She is averaging 18.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 4.5 steals for the Tigers (13-4) and makes a good case for the classification's best ball handler and distributor.

Kylee Shook, Sr., Mesa Ridge (Colorado Springs): The Louisville-bound post player already is the state's leader in career blocks and figures to have the rebounding mark by season's end. At 6-5, she has expanded her game to the perimeter this season. She is averaging 27.4 points, 14.1 boards and 4.2 blocks for the Grizzlies (16-1).

Oliana Squires, Sr., Sand Creek (Colorado Springs): The senior gives the Scorpions (12-1) a devastating 1-2 punch along with Liah Davis, but Squires has stood out the most by averaging 23 points a game. The 5-8 guard is drilling three-pointers at nearly a 50 percent clip and making more than half her shots from the field overall.

Sydney Wetterstrom, Sr., Longmont: She's headed to Michigan for volleyball, but she's a beast on the hardwood as well. The 6-1 center is averaging 17.8 points and 10.2 rebounds for the Trojans (15-1), who have won 14 straight since a two-point loss to 5A Poudre early in the season.

Class 3A

Jenna Knudson, Sr., Sterling: She averaged 16.4 points for the Tigers' 26-1 squad last season and has bumped that output to 17.8 this season. Her 31-point, 15-rebound, six-assist effort earlier this season again Brush underscored her takeover potential. The Tigers (13-1) are once again in the title mix.

Morgan Lewis, So., Pagosa Springs: She played a complementary role on the Pirates' undefeated title team last season as freshman, but has elevated her game to elite levels this season. She is averaging 20.6 points and 9.7 rebounds, and perhaps more importantly, the Pirates (13-0) still haven't lost.

Shelby Megyeri, Jr., Manitou Springs: Pagosa Springs isn't the only unbeaten team in the classification, as Megyeri, Angala Jensen and company have led the Mustangs to a 15-0 mark. Megyeri is averaging 17.1 points and 3.8 steals, is shooting 54 percent from the floor and hasn't been held to single digits in points.

Halley Miklos, Jr., Liberty Common (Fort Collins): The double-double machine is averaging a 3A-best 22.3 points and ripping down 11.4 rebounds a game. She has been limited to fewer than 20 points only three times and has the Eagles (11-3) firmly in the mix for a state tournament berth.

Kristen Vigil, Sr., Lutheran (Parker): She is the unquestioned leader of the perennial-contending Lions (11-4), averaging team bests of 16.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.3 rebounds and 3.5 steals. Her 30-point effort against Wray stands out as season highlight.

Class 2A

Sophia Anderson, Jr., Paonia: The 5-8 point guard is averaging a team-best 15.1 points a game and is a primary reason why the Eagles (13-1) are ranked No. 2 and receiving first-place votes. She has been ultra-steady, having scored in double figures in every game.

Nellie Freeman, Sr., Cedaredge: In fairness, she might compete with junior teammate Hannah Gilmore for any votes Bruins players receive, but the 6-1 guard runs the show for her squad. She scores 13.8 points and swipes 4.2 steals a game for the Bruins (13-1), who are holding steady at No. 3 in the poll.

Megan Gerk, Sr., Haxtun): She has helped the Bulldogs (11-2) become one of the top contenders in the state with a lofty 18.2 scoring average, which includes seven performances of 20 or better. Haxtun's transformation has been impressive, as the Bulldogs were only 8-11 last season.

Logan Hixon, Sr., Yuma: The top-ranked Indians have three capable scorers and Hixon is the most accomplished of the bunch. Her 18.8 average output, matched with that of Peighton Roth (15.6) and Tara Traphagan (11.6), have Indians fans believing that Yuma can make a deep run.

Briana Peterson, Sr., Soroco (Oak Creek): The classification's leading scorer puts up 23.5 points and 11 boards a game and has helped the Rams (13-2) to a No. 7 spot in the rankings. The 5-11 athlete with a unique skillset recently put together a stretch of six straight games of at least 23 points.

Class 1A

Shaelynn Wood, Sr., South Baca (Vilas): The 5-9 senior leads the classification with a 20.8 scoring average and also chips in 9.3 rebounds and 3.6 steals. She is the go-to player for the fourth-ranked Patriots (12-1), who have reeled off 10 straight wins. She has topped the 30-point mark four times.

Keri Hogan, Sr., Jim Elliot Christian (Englewood): Perhaps the least likely of 1A's unbeaten teams, the Warriors have vastly benefited from Hogan's 17.5 points and 5.4 steals per game. Despite the lofty mark, the Warriors (15-0) are only sixth in the rankings, but they will have the opportunity to prove their worth over the next few weeks.

Micayla Isenbart, So. Kit Carson: Take your pick of the Wildcats' two underclassmen standouts. Isenbart averages 16.7 points, 7.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists while freshman teammate Tess Hornung is registering 16.2 points and 9.8 boards for the second-ranked Wildcats (14-0).

Sarah McGinley, Jr., Heritage Christian (Fort Collins): The Eagles are 14-0 and the multifaceted McGinley is a chief reason why. She averages 19.3 points and 12.8 rebounds and also is a deft passer (4.8 assists). She has compiled 11 double-doubles and is four combined rebounds away from having one in all 14 games.

Jenna McKinley, Sr., Sangre de Cristo (Mosca): There is a primary reason that the Thunderbirds (11-0) occupy the top spot in the rankings: a three-pronged scoring attack. McKinley leads the way with 17.9 points a game, followed by Brooke Slane (15.6) and Karleigh Cooley (13.2).