Arizona 4A – Top Returning Scorers from 2020-2021 Season: Part 2

With the Arizona High School basketball scene on the horizon, it is important to take a quick look back at all of the top-performing players from the last season. This specific article is going to break down some of the leading returning scorers in the 4A division and how their game last year may transfer over to this year. This group is jam-packed with a lot of talent and potential for the future outside of just their high school career. I am looking forward to following along with some of these players and teams over the course of the season to see how it all lays out. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="208241" first="Victoria" last="Cazares"] - Junior - Pueblo HS - 17.3 PPG </strong> Cazares starts off part two of the list of top returning scorers from the 2020-2021 basketball season by averaging <strong>17.3 points per game</strong> and a total of 259 points over her sophomore season. As just an underclassman, she was able to make her presence known to others in her conference and across the state of Arizona. This scrappy five-foot-five shooting guard is not afraid to get up and guard somebody, helping to contribute to her 4.3 steals she averages per game. With three double-double performances last year, I think it is safe to say that we are all in for a treat the next two basketball seasons with this one. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="137288" first="Gracelyn" last="Nez"] - Senior - Flagstaff HS - 16.6 PPG </strong> Returning to play in her final season for the Flagstaff Lady Eagles, [player_tooltip player_id="137288" first="Gracelyn" last="Nez"] is coming off of an outstanding performance last year. She averaged <strong>16.6 PPG</strong> and an impressive total of 315 points in 19 games played. With multiple games scoring over 20 points, Nez was a huge impact on her team to help lead them to an overall record of 17-3 and an undefeated 11-0 conference season. Nez shoots the ball 48% from the floor and also impacts the game with her rebounding ability. She averages 7.6 rebounds per game and brought down 144 over the year. Gracelyn needs to take on her veteran year with all of the confidence that she has brought to the previous seasons and leave everything on the court one last time. <strong>Mat’tanya Vital - Senior - Amphitheater HS - 15.5 PPG </strong> Vital is a scrappy player that wants to score the basketball. After averaging <strong>15.5 points per game</strong> and scoring a total of 202 points during her junior season, she has made it to the list of top returning scorers to watch out for in the upcoming months. Mat’tanya is a purebred scorer and showed that through her six games of 20+ points. Even though she is capable of knocking down the three-pointer, she makes sure to not solely rely on that option. There is a lot up her sleeve that I look forward to seeing throughout her senior season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="113519" first="Jaya" last="Nelson"] - Salpointe Catholic HS - 14.9 PPG </strong> With a recent commitment to Alderson Broaddus University in West Virginia, [player_tooltip player_id="113519" first="Jaya" last="Nelson"] is coming back one last time to put a cap on her high school basketball career for the Salpointe Catholic Lady Lancers. During her junior season, she averaged <strong>14.9 points per game</strong>, along with scoring a total of 298 points, helping her team to a significant overall record of 19-2. After finishing up her final AAU season with Arizona Supreme Hoops, I hope to see Jaya polished and ready to go for her last go-around. <strong>Nakyah Williams - Sophomore - Paradise Honors HS - 14.3 PPG </strong> Last but not least, Nakyah Williams averaged <strong>14.3 points per game</strong> during her freshman season in the Arizona 4A division, along with an admirable total of 228 points scored in 16 games played. Shooting the ball 59% over the course of her first year playing high school basketball is very impressive and really excites me for her future in this game. With all of the training and extra work that goes into preparing for a basketball season at this level, it will be exactly what Williams will need to continue to grow and blossom into the player that she has the potential to be. <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Honorable Mention:</strong></span></p> <strong>Kim Castillo - Senior - Youngker HS - 13.8 PPG / 166 Points/Season</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="261403" first="Britany" last="Kogbara"] - Junior - Peoria HS - 13.8 PPG / 235 Points/Season</strong> <strong>Geneva Holman - Junior - Dysart HS - 13.6 PPG / 217 Points/Season</strong>