Unheralded Players in the Class of 2022

Rex Lardner

October 9, 2021 @ 04:53 PM

There are a number of unheralded players in the class of 2022 who are ready for a great season. Here’s a look at some of them. Alana West Alana West 5'4" | PG Williams Field | 2022 State AZ is a five-foot-four-inch senior who plays for Williams Field High School in Gilbert along with her grassroots club, Team Arizona. Last season she averaged 9.3 points per game along with 4.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists. She was All-Conference First Team. The Black Hawks lost to Millennium in the stat tournament, 50-41. Against Casteel High School earlier in the year, Alana had a double-double. This is her fourth year on the varsity and both her points per game and rebounds per game have increased each year. She went from 0.3 points as a freshman to 5.3 as a sophomore and 9.3 as a junior. The corresponding rebound numbers are 0.3. 2.7, and 4.1. One scout commented on her game. "Alana is an excellent ball-handler and can score at all three levels. She also has extended shooting range." For the AZ Central All-Star team, she was selected as "other players to watch." She is also a member of the Black Hawks track team, excelling in the Javelin. She is now ready for an outstanding senior season in preparation for playing at the next level. is a five-foot-five point guard for Dysart High School in El Mirage. Last season the Demons finished 9-7 overall with Jacinda averaging 4.6 points per game and 2.4 rebounds as a junior. Over three years on the varsity, totaling 61 games, she is averaging 5.4 points and 2.7 rebounds. Her sister, Jocelyn won the Player of the Week selection as awarded by WaFd Bank (February 8-14) with a 21 point, 6 rebound performance as a freshman. Jocelyn was named to the Second Team 4A Southwest Region while Jacinda was selected to the third team. As awarded by Max Preps, Jacinda won Player of the Game awards a total of four times from January 2020 through February 2021. She also was named honorable mention with a 3.67 weighted CPA for the Sports360AZ All-Academic Girls Basketball Team. One scout had this to say about her game. "She is a cool ball-handler and will make the right decision." She is now ready for an outstanding senior season. is a five-foot-eleven senior who plays both guard and forward for Sabino High School. A recent transfer from Tanque Verde High School, she played last year in only seven games, averaging 17.6 points per game and 7.3 rebounds per contest. She also shot 51% from the floor and 39% from beyond the arc. Sabino lost in the state tournament to Snowflake High School, 64-33. She was awarded Player of the Game - by Max Preps - a total of four times from January to March 2021. As a freshman and sophomore for Tanque Verde, Emma played in 62 games averaging 10.9 points and 5.0 rebounds. In a 3A state playoff game, she scored a Tanque Verde school record 34 points. She transferred to Sabino in late January when TV Head Coach Jaamal Rhodes left to coach AZ Compass Prep in Gilbert. She is also an honorable mention among the Sports360AZ All-Academic Girls Basketball Team with an unweighted GPA of 3.1. Now a senior, the sky is the limit.

is a five-foot-six senior at Shadow Ridge High School in Surprise. She also plays for her grassroots team, Lady Nation Basketball. Shadow Ridge finished a disappointing 6-13 last year. Halle averaged 8.2 points per game to go along with 5.4 rebounds per game. Over two years she has played in 43 games and was named Player of the Game a total of seven times over that span by Max Preps. In a game against Willow Canyon last February, she had seven points, eight rebounds, four assists, and three blocked shots. Her coach, Jim Nyman had this to say about Halle. "She has improved her three=point game as well as her mid-range jump shot. She also has definite leadership instincts, is a good defensive player, and is an outstanding student."A scout also commented on her game. "Her physical game is strong when it comes to boxing out and snagging rebounds." Speaking of being an outstanding student, she is a member of the Sports360AZ All-Academic Girls Basketball team with a weighted GPA of 4.46.