The All-Defensive Sophomore Team for 2021-2022
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Two of the All-Defensive sophomore team players for 2021-22 are from the same high school – Xavier College Prep. PG – Dominique Nesland Dominique Nesland 5'10" | PG Xavier College Prep | 2024 State AZ – is a five-foot-nine…
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Continue ReadingTwo of the All-Defensive sophomore team players for 2021-22 are from the same high school – Xavier College Prep.
PG – Dominique Nesland Dominique Nesland 5'10" | PG Xavier College Prep | 2024 State AZ – is a five-foot-nine point guard who plays for Arizona Elite Prep and Arizona Elite, her grassroots team. A recent transfer from Xavier College Prep in Scottsdale, she averaged 9.2 points per game as a freshman along with 4.0 rebounds. As a sophomore with AEP, she is currently averaging 16.8 points. 3.8 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.0 steals. While playing for Head Coach Jennifer Gillom at XCP, Dominique was nominated for Player of the Game for her performance against the Magnet School. While now coming into her own as an offensive player, it is on the defensive end that she shines. She is a tireless defender who leads her team in both steals and breaking up the opponent’s offensive sets.
SG – Sarah Nakamura Miller Sarah Nakamura Miller 5'11" | SG Xavier College Prep | 2024 State AZ – is a five-foot-eleven shooting guard who plays for both Xavier College Prep in Phoenix as well as Lady Nation, her club team. AZCentral included her in their listing of the top 50 high school players in Arizona and she already has an offer, as a sophomore, from Cal State Bakersfield. One scout commented on her game. “She has the ability to score at all three levels and has the confidence of a veteran player. As a freshman, she averaged 13.5 points per game to go along with 5.3 rebounds and 1.9 steals.” Sarah is also an outstanding defender and often takes on her opponents’ leading scorer.
PF – Aniyah Riddell Aniyah Riddell 6'1" | PF Desert Vista | 2024 State AZ – is a six-foot power forward who plays for Mountain Pointe High School as well as Arizona Elite 17U, her club team. As a freshman, she averaged 14.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.3 steals. She was selected Player of the Game a total of ten times by Max Preps between January and March. In her last game of the season, a loss to Desert Ridge, she led all scorers with 21 points and 19 rebounds. According to her coach, Rehema Stephens, Aniyah is…” a very aggressive and strong player with a ton of potential. She has a high basketball IQ and is a natural around the basket. She has a lot of experience playing club basketball with Arizona Elite.” But she is also a defensive specialist, has remarkable width, great hands, and leads her team in steals. AZCentral selected her as one of the fifty best players for the 2021-2022 season.
SF – Maureen Ulrich Maureen Ulrich 5'8" | SF Xavier College Prep | 2024 State AZ – is a five-foot-eight small forward who plays for Xavier College Prep in Phoenix along with her grassroots team, the Arizona Rebels. The Gators are undefeated through five games this season and Maureen is averaging 6.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.8 steals. As a freshman, last season, she averaged 3.4 points a game and 3.5 rebounds. Playing for the Arizona Rebels, she made the second team, All-Tournament in the Diamond Classic (Session 2). She has improved her overall game every year and, more specifically, her overall defense. Maureen plays outstanding defense whether it is zone or various renditions of man-to-man.
C – Katelyn Best Katelyn Best 6'3" | C Northwest Christian | 2024 State AZ – is a six-foot-two center who plays for Northwestern Christian High School as well as her club team, the Arizona Rebels. As a freshman, she averaged 13.4 points per game to go along with 6.1 rebounds and 2.0 blocks. She also shot 55% from the floor and is listed as one of the fifty best girls basketball players in Arizona for 2021-2022 by AZCentral. She played extensively for both the Southwest Stars and the Arizona Rebels over this past spring and summer. She has great width and versatility and is an intimidating defender for the Crusaders. She should come into her own this season.