Fossil Ridge High School has grown to be a pretty prestigious basketball school and both varsity teams have accomplished a lot. This year, two freshmen stood out on their varsity teams. For a freshman to be on varsity is one thing, but to put up significant stats is impressive.
Addilyn Sandstedt, a 15-year-old guard for the girls’ basketball team, grew up in Columbia, Missouri, then moved to Colorado and finished elementary and middle school here in Fort Collins.
In an 82-16 win against the Greely West Spartans at home, Sandstedt put up 36 points while shooting 12/16.11 of those 12 were threes.
Sandstedt broke two records that night, most points and most threes in a game.
In an interview with Sandstedt, when asking how she overcomes problems and how she completes such difficult records at such a young age, she says, “It was pretty unreal and I didn’t think it was gonna happen when I was a freshman but definitely a goal by the end of high school for sure.”
With this, some added pressure was put on Sandstedt to perform well, and she makes sure she isn’t rattled before games. “I try to focus on the game, don’t let anyone in my head, play through it, and it kind of motivates me to be better,” Sandstedt comments.
Sandstedt is a part of the Triple Threat club basketball team, where she takes her talents when the school season isn’t going on. Basketball has been a part of Sandstedt’s life since kindergarten and she has made some incredible connections throughout her life with coaches, trainers, teammates, and more to help her improve and elevate her basketball skills.
Sandstedt’s goals for the end of her basketball career is to play college basketball anywhere, but her dream school is the University of Colorado.
Malachi Egbuji has been a standout for the boys varsity team, at just 14 years old the six-foot-six center/forward started off on JV, but worked his way up to start on varsity.
Egbuji moved around in his childhood, growing up in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, then to Seattle, Washington, and Frisco, Texas, then started and finished middle school here in Fort Collins.
Egbuji started playing basketball by himself when he was about nine years old, but didn’t play on an organized team until he was in seventh grade at Preston Middle School.
While only being in Fort Collins a few years, Egbuji has made some important connections with teammates, trainers, and coaches. Egbuji plays for Rocky Mountain Fever during the club season and dominates on the circuit.
During this season, Egbuji has become an important player for the Sabercats. His best game was during a crosstown rivalry against the Fort Collins Lambkins where Egbuji had 14 points on 7/11 shooting.
Egbuji makes sure to surround himself with people who make him a better person and people who he can be free and open with, so he never has to worry about being in an uncomfortable situation or place.
One goal Egbuji has by the end of his high school career is to reach 1000 career points and hopefully receive a D1 offer to play basketball.
Overall, Fossil has gotten lucky with some diamond-in-the-rough caliber players to look forward to.
