Senior Forwards Under the Radar

Arizona high school girls' basketball boasts many small or power forwards that have slid under the radar. In fact, two of the top five are from the same high school - Mountain Ridge - in Glendale. Here's a profile of five unheralded senior forwards.   [player_tooltip player_id='261448' first='Fanta' last='Sackor'] - is a 5-7 small forward who is now in her last year at Paradise High School in Phoenix. As a sophomore, despite losing 51-41 to Cactus Shadows High School, Fanta scored 23 points to go along with 6 steals, 3 blocks, and 3 rebounds. She was nominated for Arizona Player of the Week. Later that season, in a win over Shadow Mountain, 36-20, she scored more than half of Paradise Valley's points (19) to go along with 7 steals and 6 rebounds.   Under Head Coach Britt Fulk, the Trojans play in the 5A Northeast Valley Conference and finished with an overall record of 5-14 and only 2-7 in their conference last season. Fanta was named to the All-Region team as a sophomore and Honorable Mention to the All-Arizona team. She is now ready for a breakout senior season.   JANAE FLOYD - is a 5-9 senior power forward who plays for the Mountain Ridge Firebirds in Glendale. Last season she averaged 11.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.8 steals. The Firebirds went 23-4 overall last season and 7-3 in their conference. Over her three-year career, Janae has played in 62 games, averaging 9.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.1 steals. Her scoring average has improved each year. She averaged 7.0 points per game as a freshman, 10.4 as a sophomore, and then 11.0 as a junior. Over the three-year period, Janae hit on 50% of her field goal attempts.   Mountain Ridge lost to Desert Vista in the state playoffs, 58-41 last February. Janae had a career-high 31 points against - in February on just 13 shots. She went 9-13 from the field and 9m of 11 from the foul line. Playing for Head Coach Jamie Carreon, she made the All-Regional team in 6A Desert Valley. She is now primed for an outstanding senior season.   [player_tooltip player_id='208264' first='Kyah' last='Wynn'] - is a 5-10 senior power forward for Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale. She also plays for the Southwest Stars, her grassroots team. Last season, Desert Mountain had an overall record of 9-18 and just 3-6 in their conference. Kyah averaged 6.2 points a game last season to go along with 6.3 rebounds per game. In her first two varsity seasons, a total of 29 games, she averaged 5.9 points per game and 6.2 rebounds. She was named to the Honorable Mention all Northeast Valley Regional team as a junior. Her GPA is 3.7.   One scout had this to say about her game. "She is a force on the court. Kyah has a high basketball IQ. She is a talented player. plays good defense, has post moves, and a mid-range jump shot. In college she wants to be a pre-med major." she transferred from Cactus Shadows and only played in four games as a sophomore because of an injury. Kyah is ready and primed for a breakout season in 2022-23.   [player_tooltip player_id='261427' first='Hannah' last='Uhlenhop'] - is a 5-10 senior power forward for Mountain Ridge High School in Glendale. Her team was 23-4 overall last year and 7-3 in conference. As a junior, she averaged 6.7 points per game to go along with 3.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.6 steals. In her three-year career, Hannah has played in 54 games with averages of 5.5 points and 2.4 assists. Her assists, rebounds, and steals all improved from her freshman year through her junior season.   Mountain Ridge lost to Desert Vista in the 2022 state tournament. Hannah also plays on the soccer team and is expected to pursue soccer in college. This past summer she played in the Arizona Preps Summer Basketball Tournament. One scout commented about her game."She is a floor general and has an amazing feel for the game. Hannah also knows where her teammates are on the court. She likes to push the pace and find open teammates in transition. She can also finish at the rim as well as shoot from beyond the arc. Look for her to have a big senior year."   [player_tooltip player_id='261426' first='Kaitlyn' last='Beall'] - is a six-foot power forward, short forward, and shooting guard for Dream City Christian High School in Phoenix. She is a transfer from Boulder Creek High School in Anthem. As a freshman at BCHS, she averaged 3.0 points per game as well as 2.3 rebounds. Her team went 17-13 overall and 5-5 in conference play. As a freshman, playing part of the season with the junior varsity, Kaitlyn averaged 17.3 points a game along with 6.1 rebounds. She also plays for her grassroots team, Arizona elite 16U.   Kaitlyn also competes in track and field. Her best time in the 100 meters is 14.11 and 1:07:19 in the 400-meter run. She earned three varsity letters - in cross-country, basketball, and track and field - as a freshman at Boulder Creek. She also has a 4.00 GPA and will be playing a national schedule as a senior at Dream City Christian. She played throughout the spring and summer for her AAU team. Her coach, Janie Williness, had this to say about her. "I'm grateful to be coaching her this season. She is a very good player on both ends of the court with an excellent attitude and a good heart." Dream City Christian will be playing a national schedule in 2022-23.   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img alt=""/></figure>

Arizona high school girls' basketball boasts many small or power forwards that have slid under the radar. In fact, two of the top five are from the same high school - Mountain Ridge - in Glendale. Here's a profile of five unheralded senior forwards.