The development of Highlands Ranch center Zach Braxton has drawn the interest of college basketball coaches throughout the rocky mountain region this winter.

The 6-foot-8, 240-pound junior center from Highlands Ranch (Colo.) has elevated his game to early season averages of 9.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game. The athletic big man holds a scholarship offer from Denver University and has been talking to Stanford, Colorado, Northern Colorado, UW-Green Bay and the Wyoming Cowboys.

"I am a big guy. I play center for my high school and my club team," Braxton said. "I just try to be stronger than everybody. I have a pretty good back to the basket game. My post defense is pretty good. I run transition well for a big guy."

Wyoming has kept an eye on Braxton thanks to their time spent scouting 2013-14 freshman Alan Herndon, Braxton's high school teammate.

"I have seen them around for a long time now," Braxton said of the Wyoming coaches. "I go to the same high school as Austin Halderson. I have been talking to both of the Shyatts. They said they are interested in me and will recruit me. They want me to get up to campus with my family."

"I know they are undefeated right now," Braxton said about the Cowboys. "They are one of four teams left in DI. Coach Shyatt has been very successful over time. Everyone knows him from when he was at Clemson. They are an up-and-coming program right now."

Braxton said thus far there hasn't been any discussion regarding a possible scholarship offer. If the Cowboys are able to pluck Braxton, they will have to overtake a couple of home state favorites - Denver and Colorado.

"CU sticks out to me right now," Braxton said. "I have been in contact with their coaches a lot and my family has been up there a lot and we really like that program too.

"(Denver) is close to home and that is important," Braxton said. "I would like to have my family see me play in college. I know their team pretty well. I have been around them and I am very comfortable with them. A few of their guys went to my high school. Most of them are in-state guys. They are pretty comfortable with me and I am with them."

For now, the plan is to play this basketball season and find a summer league program that allows him to get in front of scouts. Braxton said a college decision will likely come next year.

"I want to finish this high school season and play the summer season and just see if the teams that are already talking to me are on the same page and if anything new comes up," he said. "I would really like to go to college at the best place possible. I am really available to talk to anybody. I'll probably play through the summer season and see where things are at before my senior year."

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