Seton Catholic’s Bella DiGiovanni is among most improved players
Seton Catholic junior Bella DiGiovanni is one of the most improved players on the court this season. With what she’s been able to accomplish so far, it’s no wonder why she was named one of the captains of this year’s team. It was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Sentinels this season since the team has no seniors, but players like DiGiovanni have stepped up in a big way, which is partially why the team is still undefeated on the AIA schedule.
At 6-1, DiGiovanni has a size advantage against a number of her opponents. She uses it to her advantage when she drives to the basket offensively and when she plays defense, she does a great job of getting in the face of other players making it difficult to shoot. She also uses her height to help her get rebounds both offensively and defensively because she can jump, but Coach Karen Self said that boxing out is something she is still working on improving on so she can secure a larger number of rebounds.
DiGiovanni also has great footwork, helping her step up her defensive effort on the court. Coach Self says that defense has really been something that DiGiovanni has been focusing on this year, and that it shows in each and every game when she continues to improve. Self is notorious for her defensive-minded teams, that push their opponents to the limits the entire game.
She also has great cardio, hustling up and down the court for a majority of the game and not missing a beat. In fact, Coach Self said that she’s had to work with DiGiovanni on slowing things down a bit in her game since she’s so fast-paced all the time.
The one area where DiGiovanni still could use some work is on her shots from a little further out, but she does a terrific job when she’s driving to the bucket. If she doesn’t get the bucket, a lot of times she’s able to draw the foul on the shot, getting her to the free throw line.
DiGiovanni is definitely among the juniors who you’ll want to keep an eye on as the playoffs get underway. The junior has already gotten a couple of DI offers, but it likely won’t stop there. She’s a stellar athlete and a scholar baller, who is looking to go to school to study business management. While she still has to take her SAT soon, she’s got her sights set high with the goal of attending an Ivy League school.