Class of 2022 Seniors Ready for Breakout Seasons
In this article:
There are some outstanding junior prep players ready for a breakout senior season. Here’s a look at four of them. Kamariah Hawkins Kamariah Hawkins 5'11" | SF Yuma | 2022 State AZ is a six-foot shooting forward for Yuma…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThere are some outstanding junior prep players ready for a breakout senior season. Here’s a look at four of them.
Kamariah Hawkins Kamariah Hawkins 5'11" | SF Yuma | 2022 State AZ is a six-foot shooting forward for Yuma High School. She also plays for her grassroots team, 602 Lady Nation. A transfer from Kofa High School, she led her team with a 17.5 points per game average, along with 19.8 rebounds per game, 3.9 assists, 7.6 steals, and 2.7 blocks per game. Yuma struggled to an overall record of 5-13 and 1-9 in their conference. In the opening week of the season, Keke had 22 points, 17 rebounds, five assists, and five steals in a loss to Estrella Foothills. She was selected by Max Preps as Player of the Game a total of six different times this past January and February.
While at Kofa High School – as a freshman – she had an unusual triple-double: 11 points, 22 rebounds, and 12 steals. She also competed on the Kofa track and field team with her specialty being the 400 meters. Keke also participated in two relay races – the 4 x 400 and the 4 x 800 meters. She will be playing in a number of tournaments throughout the summer for 602 Lady Nation. An outstanding rebounder and defender, she is poised for a breakout senior season.
Mikalea Cooper Mikalea Cooper 5'10" | SF Valley Vista | 2022 State AZ is a six-foot shooting forward for Valley Vista High School in Surprise. She also plays for her club team, West Coast Premiere. Valley Vista has now won three straight state championships and four in the last five years. The Monsoon finished 17-1 overall this year and 3-0 in their division. Mikalea averaged 10.5 points per game along with 6.2 rebounds and 2.4 steals. In 44 games through her first three years with the Monsoon, she averaged 5.6 points while hitting 52% from the floor this past year.
Under Head Coach Rachel Matakas, Mikalea was named All-West Valley preps first team. One scout commented on a game she played in January against Xavier College Prep. “She did a great job finishing around the rim. Her second effort gave her team multiple opportunities to score. Additionally, she did a good job rebounding both offensively and defensively..” Mikalea was named Player of the Game. Now about to start her senior season, she is ready for an outstanding 2021-2022.
Saniyah Neverson Saniyah Neverson 6'0" | PF PHH Prep | 2022 State AZ is a six-foot forward for PHH Prep in Phoenix. A transfer from Valley Vista High School in Surprise, she helped the Monsoon win the 6A State Championship in 2020. Valley Vista went 28-3 overall and a perfect 10-0 in their conference. As a sophomore, Saniyah averaged 13.5 points per game along with 7.5 rebounds and 5.0 steals. The Monsoon beat Hamilton for the title, 42-38. As a freshman for Valley Vista, she averaged 7.5 points per game and hit on 52% of her shots from the field.
One coach said that “Saniyah has elite hands and a finishing touch around the basket while being able to guard multiple positions. She is one that college coaches will want to get on soon.” Another scout had this to say about her game. “She has the softest pair of hands and great positioning skills to snatch boards galore. She can guard any position in the up top or in the paint and is one of the best passing forwards in the state who can spread the floor with her outstanding jumper.” She is now ready for an outstanding senior season.
Charlotte Kelmon Charlotte Kelmon 6'0" | SF Notre Dame Prep | 2022 State AZ is a five foot eleven wing who plays for Notre Dame Prep in Scottsdale. She also plays for her grassroots team, Basketball Science Prep. The Saints clinched the 4A West Valley Region title but lost to Mesquite in the state tournament, 36-32. NDP finished the season 16-3 overall and 9-1 in their conference. In one game, in January against Marcos de Niza, Charlotte scored 25 points including five three-pointers in a 66-22 win. She averaged 12.2 points and 3.2 rebounds last season. She also connected on 52 of 126 three-pointers, for an average of 42%. She was selected All-Region Honorable Mention. As a sophomore, she averaged 8.3 points per game and – over 37 total games – averages 10.2 points.
A transfer from Palo Alto High School in Northern California, Charlotte played this past season for Head Coach Dell Mims who was selected as the region’s Coach of the Year. in his first season. One scout had this to say about her game. “She has a combination of efficiency and high volume shooting and is ranked as one of the top wings in the state. Charlotte has a quick release and will make you pay if you give her any space.” The offers will be coming in soon as she begins her senior year.