Prospect Spotlight: Paige Rocca (2020)
Iowa City High has a wealth of star-power, even its third-leading holds a Division I offer. Paige Rocca was offered by Northern Illinois last summer. The 5-foot-8 guard, though, isn’t the star player for the 16-2 Little Hawks, but more…
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Continue ReadingIowa City High has a wealth of star-power, even its third-leading holds a Division I offer.
Paige Rocca was offered by Northern Illinois last summer. The 5-foot-8 guard, though, isn’t the star player for the 16-2 Little Hawks, but more of an X–factor.
“My role is to be a secret weapon kind of. Everybody knows Rose (Nkumu) and Aubrey (Joens), and they can shoot and they’ll score and get their points. But me, I’m the underlying player that will crash the boards, always there on defense, always in the hustle plays and things like that,” said Rocca.
A sharpshooter who will do whatever it takes to get the win, Rocca has been really good this season for City High, averaging 10.5 points, 2.9 assists, 1.8 steals and 3.5 rebounds per game.
“I’m a good shooter from the 3 and the mid-range, and I really like my step-back. I bring a lot of energy to the team on both sides of the floor,” said Rocca. “I feel like my defense turns into my offense, and I always go 110 percent on defense.”
With all that talent on the roster, Rocca and Co. are among the leading threats to win a Class 5A title this season. It’s something they’ve been close to achieving in the recent past, painstakingly close.
“Everybody wants to win state,” said Rocca. “And we’ve been so close so many times, it’s just burning in our stomachs.”
When her junior season is finished, Rocca will head into a 17U offseason with Kingdom Hoops.
“Last year, I got to play up a grade with Zoe Young and Maggie McGraw and Grace Cumming. So, I’ll actually get the chance to play with the girls my grade this summer, it should be fun,” said Rocca.
In addition to the Northern Illinois offer, Rocca says a few other schools have been talking with her. “I’m just wanting to get some more exposure this summer,” she said.