Santa Clara-bound Bevington working on perimeter game
ARVADA, Colo. — Sydney Bevington Sydney Bevington 6'0" | PG Ralston Valley | 2021 State CO made it official on Wednesday, the first of the multiple national signing days – she autographed her letter-of-intent to play at Santa Clara.
Next are continuing to work on her perimeter game and leading Ralston Valley to a Colorado Class 5A championship.
Don’t bet against the 6-foot-1 senior who can play anywhere on the perimeter and creates matchup problems generally wherever she positions herself.
“She’s competitive as hell, ultra-competitive,” longtime Mustangs head coach Jeff Gomer said this week, adding that it’s not for everyone. “For us, she has improved her game. She’s a different matchup at point guard and starting to develop her shooting game where I can post her up against smaller guards and isolate her against bigger kids on the perimeter.”
Said Bevington: “I’m working on my (shooting) range right now. Normally, I’m driving and using my strength, but teams are starting to realize we mostly pick-and-roll …. I want to add a deeper 3-pointer to give us more looks.”
From 17-to 18 feet, Bevington has shown consistency. In 2019-20, when Ralston Valley was 20-6 overall and 7-1 in the Jefferson County League for second place, it also advanced to the 5A quarterfinals as Bevington led the team in scoring (16.1 points), rebounding (9.6), assists (3.8) and blocks (1.7).
Ralston Valley is 59-18 through her first three seasons.
Not much height returns for the Mustangs, but the majority of the high end of their roster has seen significant minutes and there will be four seniors and a junior starting.
As for private Santa Clara, Bevington said academics were high on her recruiting list. She has a 3.67 grade-point average and plans to major in physical therapy.
“She might have been able to play at a little higher caliber of a team, but she has the chance to play right away,” Gomer said.
Said Bevington: “I visited (Santa Clara) last year, my first in-person visit … it was a fit for me academically. I liked the really high academics and the size of the school. The coaching staff is great, it’s an amazing program and I think I will fit in well and have the chance to make an impact early on.”
She also welcomes the opportunity to join college classes that will get an extra year of eligibility because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
“It’s for the class ahead of me also,” Bevington said. “They all get another year of eligibility. I’ll work really well with them.”