ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Colorado has a long history of producing the nation's most renowned girls basketball recruits, from Tanya Haave to Lauren Betts, Shelly Pennefather to Michaela Onyenwere, Fran Belibi and everyone in between.
Of those names, you might notice one missing, Ann Strother, now known as Ann Abromaitis.
Strother was the No. 1 recruit nationally her senior year at Highlands Ranch High School, won back-to-back state titles and an NCAA title at UConn, and played professionally in the WNBA and Europe.
"That was a long time ago," Abromaitis expressed.
Over a decade later, she's back on the preps scene as the head coach of the Kent Denver varsity girls basketball team.
“When the school announced the hire, my parents texted me and they were like, oh my God, like this is crazy," Kent Denver senior Caroline Poate said. "Then we looked her up and we were like this is insane, like this is legendary.”
Along with her two state championships, Abromaitis won the Naismith and national Gatorade Player of the Year awards.
"It feels like I was just in high school yesterday, and I was just, you know, playing for a state championship," Abromaitis said. "And now to be back in this role it just kind of does seem surreal."
In her first year at Kent Denver, the Sun Devils are ranked 8th in the state and are headed to the second round of the playoffs.
"As a senior, I had the mindset of making the most of the season," senior shooter Anya Peper said. "I want to make sure this is the best season yet and I think having her as a coach has definitely helped that."
Kent Denver will host Peak to Peak Friday at 5:30 p.m. for a second-round playoff game in their home gym.
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