Arizona's Top Female High School Scorers

INTRODUCTION: Four seniors and a junior comprise the top five scorers to date in Arizona. Here is a profile on each one.   [player_tooltip player_id='261664' first='NATALIE' last='SCHERZER'] - Currently she leads all players in state scoring with an average of 24.5 points per game. A transfer from Horizon High School to Chaparral, she has been selected twice recently as Player of the Game by Max Preps - against Desert Mountain and Cactus Shadows. Natalie is a 5-7 shooting guard who makes 46% of her shots and also averages 3.8 rebounds and 2.7 steals. She is also shooting 40% from beyond the arc. She plays, as well, for her club team, Arizona Select. One scout talked about her game: "She can shoot that thing. She has a quick trigger and knows what space she needs." She had an outstanding tournament as a junior at the Top 250 Expo held in October of 2021. Another scout had this to say: "She showed a nice floater, the ability to handle the ball with great vision and motors on both ends of the court."   EVALUATION: Natalie is a 5-7 shooting guard who has improved her offensive game every high school season. She has become an outstanding three-point shooter and currently leads all Arizona scorers with an average of 24.5 points per game. Her court awareness and basketball IQ are off the charts and she continues to impress on the defensive side of the ball.   GABRIELLA SANCHEZ - is a senior guard for Tucson High School who is currently second in the state in scoring with an average of 24.2 points per game. Her scoring has increased each season in her four varsity seasons. She averaged 6.1 as a freshman, 9.0 as a sophomore, 15.1 as a junior, and now, 24.2 as a senior. Her rebounding numbers have also increased yearly: 4.3 to 5.3 to 10.6 to now, 11.6. She was selected as Player of the Game by Max Preps in a win over Rincon, 60-46, in late January. Gabriella scored 34 points in the game and broke 1,000 career points. She was nominated for Player of the Week for the WaFd Bank Arizona Girls High School Player of the Week (January 30-February 5). One scout referred to her as the "Queen of double-doubles."   EVALUATION: Gabriella has improved her offensive game consistently since middle school. She is an outstanding scorer and rebounder and is simply known as the "Queen of Double-Doubles." She is also a tremendous defender and will clearly be playing next year at the college level. Gabriella and her teammates at Tucson should make a strong run in the 2023 AIA State Tournament.   [player_tooltip player_id='138098' first='KHAMIL' last='PIERRE'] - is a 6-2 senior forward at Perry High School in Gilbert. She is currently third in the state in scoring with an average of 23.5 points per game. On February 4 she was selected by Max Preps as Player of the Game against Xavier College Prep where she poured in 27 points. She was also selected as Player of the Game in a contest with Gilbert High School. Lighting fast with quick hands, Khamil had six steals in another game. She played with her club team, Arizona Elite 17U, in a number of spring and summer tournaments including the Girls Rise Championships. She has had a number of college scholarship offers and recently committed to Vanderbilt University.   EVALUATION: Khamil is a 6-2 forward who has an extensive offensive game. She can run the fast break, drive the lane to the rim, and hit both the perimeter jumper as well as the three-point shot. She has had multiple college offers but recently signed a letter of intent with Vanderbilt. Her wide wingspan makes her a terror on defense and she guards both the offensive and defensive rims. Currently third in the state in scoring, she and her teammates should go far in the upcoming state playoffs.   [player_tooltip player_id='208047' first='REILLY' last='CLARK'] - is a 5-10 senior guard/forward for Catalina Foothills High School. She is currently fourth in the state in scoring, averaging 22.4 points per game. As a freshman, she averaged 15.1 points, 20.4 as a sophomore, and 17.3 as a junior. In 75 total games over a four-year varsity career, she is averaging 18.9 points. Reilly has over 1,000 career points. She recently had a career-high 44 points. A member of the Tucson Rattlers, her club team, she played in a number of elite tournaments throughout last spring and summer. With many players back for the 2023 season, the Falcons should go a long way in the playoffs.   EVALUATION: Reilly is an outstanding all-around player that has improved her game every year. She has become a tremendous scorer for the Falcons and is at her best in clutch situations. She recently had a career-high of 44 points. She is a team leader both on and off the court and a terrific defender. She will certainly be playing at the next level later this year but her Catalina Foothills team should go far in the February playoffs.   TIANNA KNIGHTON - is a 5-7 junior guard at Arcadia High School in Phoenix. She is currently fifth in the state in scoring with a 22.3 points per game average. She also is a member of the Arcadia soccer team. She recently had a double-double against St. Mary's High School as well as Paradise Honors. Tianna also had four three-pointers vs. Seton Catholic. She also plays for her club team, Arizona Pride 17 Gold. As a sophomore, she averaged 18.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.9 steals. Playing for the Lady Titans in the Class 5A Division, she is considered one of the top players in her league. She was nominated as a sophomore for the WaFd Girls Basketball Player of the Week by dropping in 27 points in a win over Cactus Shadows.   EVALUATION: A tremendous point guard with lightning speed, Tianna lights up the Arcadia offense and is currently fifth in the state in scoring with a 22.3 points per game average. She leads the Lady Titans fast break and is equally adept at driving the lane or hitting a jump shot. Only a junior, Tianna uses her quickness on defense in anticipating passes as she leads her team in steals. She should have an outstanding senior season, as well, in 2023-24.

INTRODUCTION: Four seniors and a junior comprise the top five scorers to date in Arizona. Here is a profile on each one.