Recruiting Report: Calaiya Vickles, Arvada West 2020
There is a lot of untapped talent within the state of Colorado and one name that has been flying under the recruiting radar is Arvada West’s Calaiya Vickles. This 5-foot-9 forward has been lighting up the stat chart since she…
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Continue ReadingThere is a lot of untapped talent within the state of Colorado and one name that has been flying under the recruiting radar is Arvada West’s Calaiya Vickles.
This 5-foot-9 forward has been lighting up the stat chart since she first landed on the varsity roster her sophomore year. Vickles absolutely balled out last season, making her lack of college interest hard to believe. She was named as Arvada West’s Varsity MVP for the 2018-2019 season. Vickles also earned a spot on the Jeffco League honorable mention list for the 2018-19 season, a season in which she recorded 142 points, 159 rebounds, 41 steals, and 39 assists.
Calaiya Vickles shoots a deep two over a Denver East playerVickles’ current and final season as a high school player started off with her being named as a team captain for Arvada West, a responsibility that she has greatly excelled at. She is averaging 8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.1 assists per game this season. Over the last four games, Vickles recorded 42 points, 23 rebounds, 6 steals, and 4 assists. In her first game back from the winter break, Vickles recorded 3 assists, 4 rebounds, and a career-high 21 points.
Her offensive skill set continues to improve and Vickles has the size and the strength to create lanes out of small creases, as well as the skill to finish at the rim. Vickles also possesses the ability to get to the basket using her right and left hands, a skill that many still struggle to develop. She has shown great improvement as a scorer, shooting 40 percent from beyond the perimeter and 63 percent from the free-throw line. Vickles has 80 total points while shooting 58 percent from the field over the first 10 games of the season.
Calaiya Vickles defends against a Denver East playerWhere Vickles truly shines, however, is on defense as a solid match against players in the three, four, and five roles. When matched up against top talent, she does more than just hold her own. Vickles causes her opponents to play well below their averages.
“She is one of the state’s best post defenders that no one talks about,” Arvada West head coach Brady Meeks said. “She has held kids who average mid 20’s [points] per game to half that amount, and she will frustrate the best players with her physicality.”
Vickles has 52 rebounds, 35 of which were defensive boards, and 17 steals on the season. Add those stats to her ability to throw great opposing players off of their game, and the result is a truly underrated difference-maker.
Whether on the court or resting on the bench, Vickles never stops motivating and encouraging her teammates. She is an inspiration to those around her, on and off of the court. Academically, she has earned a 4.3 GPA and plans to major in Psychology. She has a great head on her shoulders as a student as well as an athlete, which is all the more reason why she deserves to be getting college looks. Vickles is one of Colorado’s top senior sleepers who will be a valuable asset to whichever program she ends up attending.
Calaiya VicklesCalaiya Vickles’ career stats:
Averages: 6.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.4 assists per game.
Totals: 287 points, 33% from the field, 60% from the free-throw line, 282 rebounds, 87 deflections, 77 steals, and 63 assists.