Arizona Girls High School Basketball Leading Shot Blockers
INTRODUCTION: Arizona has many outstanding shot blockers at the high school level. Here’s a look at the top five. KANIECE THOMAS – is a forward/center for Salome High school who leads the entire state of Arizona in blocked shots, averaging…
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Continue ReadingINTRODUCTION: Arizona has many outstanding shot blockers at the high school level. Here’s a look at the top five.
KANIECE THOMAS – is a forward/center for Salome High school who leads the entire state of Arizona in blocked shots, averaging 8.0 per game. Last season she averaged 6.9 points a game, 8.7 rebounds per game, and 8.5 blocked shots a game. Now a junior, Kaniece also plays on the Salome volleyball and track and field teams. For her career, she has been selected as Max Preps’ Player of the Game a total of four different times, all as a junior. As a volleyball player this year, she had a total of 59 kills. The Wickenburg Sun named her the Defensive Player of the Year in her region for the 2021-2022 basketball season.
EVALUATION: Kaniece, a junior, leads all Arizona high school players in blocked shots, averaging an incredible 8.0 per game. She nearly doubles the player ranked second in the state. Her huge wingspan and great anticipation make her a dangerous defender. Kaniece also has quick hands and quick feet and is known as a ‘shot-blocking machine.’ In two years she will definitely be playing at the next level.
HALIE FULLER: is a forward for Canyon del Oro High School and is currently ranked second in the state in blocked shots with an average of 4.4 per game. A junior, this season she is averaging 8.5 points per game to go along with 8.2 rebounds per contest. In a recent game against Saline High school, Halie had 27 points and shot 65% from the field. Canyon del Oro plays in the ultra-competitive Division 4A.
EVALUATION: Halie is now a junior forward/center for Canyon del Oro High School and second in the state in blocked shots with an average of 4.4 per game. She guards the rim on both offense and defense and plays the post as if she was at the next level. She has also improved her offensive game, especially her ball-handling skills. Halie is also an outstanding defender and plays well in transition.
KAYLA TUAKALAU – is a guard/forward at Amphitheater High School and is currently ranked third in the state in blocked shots, averaging 4.3 per game. She is also averaging 10.0 ppg and 6.9 rebounds per game, leading her team in both categories. She is a 5-11 freshman playing for Head Coach Tom Danehy. Kayla played well in last January’s MLK Classic although her team lost to Sahuaro. She had a game-high 15 points. One scout summarized her game: “She has excellent ball-handling and shot-blocking skills and is a really good outside shooter.”
EVALUATION: Kayla has played in the shadow of her older sister, Danielle, a junior on the Amphitheater basketball team. Kayla has developed good ball-handling and shot-blocking skills and has become, as a freshman, the go-to player. She is third in the state in blocked shots and is only going to get better. She should have an outstanding career at Amphitheater.
HOPE SIELAFF – is a junior forward/center for Valley Lutheran High School and currently ranks fourth in the state in blocked shots, averaging 4.1 per game. Through 23 games this season, she is averaging 8.7 points per game and 13.0 rebounds per game. Hope was selected as Player of the Game on January 10th when Valley Lutheran defeated the Phoenix Day School for the Deaf. Hope is 6-1 and dominated in the paint in a 47-19 win over Superior High School. In the game she scored 16 points and had an insane 35 rebounds including 11 offensive boards. A beast defensively, she tallied three steals and nine blocked shots. She has been selected six different times as Player of the Game by Max Preps, all during the 2022-2023 season.
EVALUATION: Hope has developed into an intimidating defensive presence. A 6-1 junior, she averages over four blocked shots per game. and defends the rim at both ends of the court. She has improved her offensive game, especially her perimeter jump shot. Hope is considered an outstanding rebounder, having grabbed 35 boards in a game earlier this season, She is now being courted by college scouts.
ABIGAIL PURVIS – is a guard/forward for Anthem Prep who currently ranks fifth in the state in blocked shots, averaging 4.0 per game. A sophomore, she is averaging 3.7 points a game and 6.7 rebounds per game. As a freshman, she averaged 3.0 points and 6.7 rebounds for the Eagles. For the 2022-2023 season, she was awarded Player of the Game honors four different times by Max Preps. She is also her team’s leader in assists and three-point field goal percentage.
EVALUATION: Abigail has developed into an outstanding two-way player. Her specialty is blocking shots – she stands fifth in the state in blocks per game. Her ball-handling and shooting skills have improved dramatically since she began her freshman year at Anthem Prep. By the time her senior year comes around, Abigail will be getting ready to play at the college level.