Gold Crown Basketball Produces Top Players

Most of Colorado’s best basketball players know all about Gold Crown Basketball. 

If they don’t know about them, they should.

Girls as well as boys are very familiar with the largest basketball teaching organization in the state.

The Gold Crown Foundation was founded in 1988 by Ray Baker and former Denver Nugget Bill Hanzlik for ball players between the ages of nine and 18. It provides both boys and girls the opportunity to take their game to the next level.

“Back in 1988 we saw there was a need to run a girls basketball camp so we decided to start our own middle school programs,” said Baker.

It has blossomed over the last 20 years to say the least.

Gold Crown operates as a non-profit charity.  

Through 2007 over 27,000 kids from Denver, metro Denver and the Front Range have participated in athletic programs including basketball, volleyball, golf and baseball.

Recognizing potential and bringing out the talent is what Gold Crown is all about. They have proved that they are good at both, especially in basketball.

“We have had some very talented girls play in our leagues and on our teams and went on to play college basketball,” said Hanzlik.

Former Highlands Ranch sisters Abby and Emily Waner are currently playing at Duke. Jacklyn Thoman, another Highlands Ranch star is now starting for Boston College.

There are many more.

The list of ex-Gold Crown players now playing college basketball is extensive. 

Six years after starting the foundation the Greenwood Village company opened up the Gold Crown Fieldhouse (basketball) and Coca-Cola All-Star Park in Lakewood for baseball.

Many players from all the programs have gone to star at their local high school varsity teams.
Bill Hanzlik’s well known summer basketball camp will begin July 14 for boys and July 21 for girls.

The camp will feature a one-to-seven coach-to-camper ratio comprised of high school coaches and college players serving as instructors.

The camp will be held at the Gold Crown Field House.
 
“Normally we average close to 700 kids at our camp,” said Hanzlik.

They are also sending five boys basketball teams to Denton, Texas, July 13 to participate in the Denton Shootout.

The Colorado Select are all-star travel teams that will face teams from Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas and Arkansas.

In October, Gold Crown will host a coaching clinic for Colorado high school coaches.  

Speakers will include Kansas Jayhawk National
Champion coach Bill Self and Memphis’s
John Calipari, 2008 runner-up, and Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl.
The guidance is there and the talent speaks for itself.