Brihanna Crittendon Caps Historic High School Career as Ms. Colorado Basketball

Texas-bound star breaks state scoring record, earns top honors in final season

Mar. 29, 2026 at 12:19pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in a cubist style, breaking down a basketball game into abstract geometric shapes and planes of color, representing the dynamic energy and competitive spirit of the sport.A cubist interpretation of a high school basketball star's dominant performance, capturing the sport's intensity and the player's singular talent.Highlands Ranch Today

Brihanna Crittendon, a standout guard/forward from Riverdale Ridge High School, capped her illustrious prep career by being named Ms. Colorado Basketball for the second straight year. The Texas commit broke the state's all-time scoring record with 3,073 points and led her team to a fourth consecutive appearance in the Denver Coliseum state tournament.

Why it matters

Crittendon's dominance at the high school level has cemented her legacy as one of the greatest players to ever come out of Colorado. Her scoring prowess, all-around game, and leadership have elevated the profile of girls basketball in the state, inspiring the next generation of players.

The details

Crittendon led the state in scoring this season at 28.5 points per game, while also averaging 6.7 rebounds, 3.2 steals, 2.4 assists and 1.2 blocks. She swept the top individual honors, winning Gatorade Player of the Year, MaxPreps state Player of the Year, and CHSAA Class 6A Player of the Year. Crittendon's dominance extended beyond Colorado, as she competed in high-profile national showcases like the SLAM Summer Classic and Nike Academy prior to her senior season.

  • Crittendon broke the CHSAA scoring record of 3,073 points by the end of the 2025-26 season.
  • Riverdale Ridge went 24-0 in league play over the past two seasons, winning by an average margin of 70.5 points.
  • Crittendon scored double-digit points in the SLAM Summer Classic in August 2025 before her senior year.

The players

Brihanna Crittendon

A five-star guard/forward who is headed to the University of Texas, Crittendon is considered one of the best high school players in the country and has cemented her legacy as one of the greatest to ever come out of Colorado.

Tim Jones

The head coach of Riverdale Ridge High School, Jones has guided Crittendon and the Ravens to four straight state tournament appearances and predicts her scoring record will stand for decades.

Chloe Parker

Crittendon's teammate at Riverdale Ridge, Parker is an Air Force pledge who praised Crittendon's consistent leadership and coachability despite her immense success.

Akigbogun

An assistant coach at Denver East, Akigbogun calls Crittendon a 'remarkable' scorer who has proven herself against the best competition in Colorado and nationally.

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What they’re saying

“These are games you see online when you're a kid, and I've wanted to be a part of for a long time. So it's awesome that all my hard work is translating in that aspect, and not just in my own state.”

— Brihanna Crittendon, Player

“It's a shot in the dark to break it. It's one of those things where you've got to be something different, something generational like Bri is. I don't see it being broken any sooner than another 40-some years.”

— Tim Jones, Head Coach, Riverdale Ridge High School

“She's consistent. She's never going to be super high or super low — whether she just broke the scoring record, or we lost at the Coliseum, it was the same Bri every single day.”

— Chloe Parker, Teammate, Riverdale Ridge High School

“She's going to continue to strive to do great things, and it's good to look at different seasons of your life with separation. What you've done in high school is different than what you'll do in college. But no matter what she does or doesn't do, it doesn't take away from what she's done now.”

— Akigbogun, Assistant Coach, Denver East

What’s next

Crittendon will look to continue her success at the college level, as she has committed to play for the University of Texas. Longhorns coach Vic Schaefer has said he believes Crittendon can be an All-SEC player, and her ultimate goal is to reach the WNBA.

The takeaway

Brihanna Crittendon's historic high school career in Colorado has cemented her legacy as one of the greatest players to ever come out of the state. Her scoring prowess, all-around game, and leadership have elevated the profile of girls basketball in Colorado, inspiring the next generation of players to strive for greatness.