Class of 2024 Elite Rebounders
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Here’s a profile of four elite rebounders from the class of 2024. Thalia Daniels Thalia Daniels 6'0" | SF Sandra Day | 2024 State AZ is a five-foot-eleven small and power forward for Sandra Day O’Connor High School in…
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Continue ReadingHere’s a profile of four elite rebounders from the class of 2024.
Thalia Daniels Thalia Daniels 6'0" | SF Sandra Day | 2024 State AZ is a five-foot-eleven small and power forward for Sandra Day O’Connor High School in Phoenix. She also plays for her club team, Arizona Elite 15U. The Lady Eagles finished the season 12-5 last March and had an 8-1 record in their conference, 5A. O’Connor lost in the state tournament to Perry High School, 57-49. Thalia averaged 5.4 points per game as a freshman along with 3.5 rebounds. She hit on 45% from the floor and 43% from beyond the arc.
Thalia is long and versatile as well as athletic with a good three-point shot. She is an excellent shot-blocker, post defender and is able to rebound as well as take the ball up the floor. During the spring and summer months, she took part in a number of tournaments with her grassroots team, Arizona Elite. She is only going to improve and with many of her teammates back for 2021-2022, the Lady Eagles could make a long run in the playoffs.
Katelyn Best Katelyn Best 6'3" | C Northwest Christian | 2024 State AZ is a six-foot-two center who plays for Northwest Christian High School as well as her club team, the SW Stars. Northwest Christian finished 6-9 overall last year and 4-3 in their conference. Katelyn. as a freshman, averaged 13.4 points per game to go along with 6.1 rebounds per contest. She also shot 55% from the floor. She also maintained a 4.27 weighted GPA and made the Sports 360AZ All-Academic Girls Basketball Team for conferences 1A-3A.
Katelyn competed in a number of AAU spring and summer tournaments with her grassroots team, SW Stars including the AZGR Invitational Tournament. One scout commented on her summer performance. “The Southwestern Stars are developing talented players such as six-foot-two rising sophomore Katelyn Best Katelyn Best 6'3" | C Northwest Christian | 2024 State AZ .” Only a sophomore, she is going to get better and better and become a complete player.
Alicia Ibarra Alicia Ibarra 5'11" | PF Red Mountain | 2024 State AZ is a five-foot-ten sophomore to be at Red Mountain High School in Mesa. She also plays for her grassroots team, NWT. Red Mountain finished 6-11 last season and 3-7 in their conference. Alicia averaged 4.4 points per game along with 3.7 rebounds. She is rated as the 27th best player in the class of 2024 and made Honorable Mention on the East Valley Region in 2021.
Alicia has gained valuable experience playing with her club team, NWT. She received special recognition as an eighth-grader when her team won three games in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Recreational Services Tournament. NWT beat the Lady Soldiers, 42-29 in the championship game. Entering her sophomore season, she is headed for a breakout year.
Belinda Gradias Belinda Gradias 5'11" | PF Yuma | 2024 State AZ is a five-foot-eleven sophomore at Yuma High School. As a freshman in 2020-2021, she averaged 6.1 points per game and 9.0 rebounds. She was selected as Player of the Game three different times last winter by Max Preps – once in January, February and March. She also played extensively in the spring and summer in AAU competitions including the AZGR Invitational Tournament.
On March 2nd, Belinda was selected as Player of the Game against Cibola. One scout commented on her game. “This freshman showed great energy and grit during the away contest vs. Cibola. She played determined hard basketball on both ends of the court which was motivating for her team.” Now, only a sophomore, she is ready to improve her game both offensively and defensively.