Under the Radar Sophomore Forwards for 2025
In this article:
INTRODUCTION: Arizona boasts an impressive number of sophomore forwards for the class of 2025. Here’s a look at five of them. NEVAEH URENDA – is a 5-7 sophomore forward who plays for Flowing Hills High School. To date, through 25…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingINTRODUCTION: Arizona boasts an impressive number of sophomore forwards for the class of 2025. Here’s a look at five of them.
NEVAEH URENDA – is a 5-7 sophomore forward who plays for Flowing Hills High School. To date, through 25 games into the 2022-23 season, she is averaging 9.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 3.1 steals. In a recent loss to Sahuaro High School, she had a double-double: 11 points and 10 rebounds to go along with six assists. She is currently ranked 12th in the state in steals per game. In a January win over Pueblo, Nevaeh had 15 rebounds and nine assists. In one and a half seasons, she has played in 53 games and is averaging 7.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 steals. She has increased her production in all four categories from her freshman year. Nevaeh was nominated as a Player of the Week candidate last January (by AZCentral) for scoring 35 points in a three-game stretch.
EVALUATION: Even as a freshman, Nevaeh was a major part of the Lady Cabelleros offense where she averaged six points and five rebounds per game. Both her confidence and leadership have improved tremendously halfway through her sophomore season. She has also improved her rebounding and defensive play. Flowing Wells, with many players returning, should make a strong run in the AIA playoffs in 2023.
Erica McGadney Erica McGadney 5'10" | SF Saguaro | 2025 State AZ – is a 5-10 sophomore forward who plays for Saguaro High School in Scottsdale. As a sophomore, she is averaging 9.8 points per game to go along with 5.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 5.1 steals. She is currently ranked 14th in the state in steals per game. In December, Erica had a double-double in a win over Desert Mountain: 13 points and 10 rebounds. In one and a half varsity seasons, she has played in 33 games, averaging 6.3 points per game. She has also improved her scoring from 3.4 points per game as a freshman to 9.8 as a sophomore. Erica has also increased her rebounding totals as well as assists and steals per game. For the week of December 5-11, 2022, she was nominated for the WaFd Bank Arizona High School Girls Basketball Player of the Week for her performance against Desert Mountain.
EVALUATION: The best part of Erica’s game is her defensive anticipation in making steals. She had 10 in one game earlier in the year and is ranked 14th in the state in steals per game. Only a sophomore for the Sahuaro Sabercats, she already has posted a number of double-doubles. Her defense and rebounding have also improved considerably and she is becoming more of a team leader, both on and off the court.
Amanda Wiley Amanda Wiley 5'10" | SF Yuma Catholic | 2025 State AZ – is a 5-10 sophomore forward for Yuma Catholic High School. Through 22 games into the 2022-23 season, she is averaging 16 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.5 steals. She is also a member of the Yuma Catholic volleyball team. She posted a double-double in January’s win over Parker High School: 14 points and 17 rebounds. She posted another double-double in a win over Tonopah Valley: 15 and 11. For her first year and a half on the varsity, a total of 48 games, she is averaging 14.9 points and 7.9 rebounds. Amanda has over 700 total points in less than two seasons. She was nominated in December for the WaFd Bank Player of the Week with a 27-point, 10-rebound performance in a win over Palo Verde High School.
EVALUATION: Only a sophomore, Amanda is a walking double-double. Her team is currently 19-4 and should make a long run in the 2023 State Playoffs. She is also an outstanding defender as well as a team leader for the Lady Shamrocks. Amanda also plays well in transition and her presence, on offense and defense, makes all of her teammates better players.
Navae Guidry Navae Guidry 5'11" | SF Mesquite | 2025 State AZ – is a 5-11 sophomore forward for Mesquite High School. Through 26 games this season, she is averaging 12.7 points per game to go along with 7.5 rebounds. Mesquite’s record is 21-5. In a January win over Saguaro, she produced a double-double with 17 points and 15 rebounds. Against Rio Rico last November, Navae was selected by Max Preps as Player of the Game when she had 15 points and 15 rebounds and shot 55% from the field. Over one and a half seasons, a total of 51 games, she averaged 9.7 points and 6.5 rebounds. She was also honored with Player of the Game honors a year ago in a 46-39 overtime win over Shadow Mountain. She had 19 points and 10 rebounds in the game. Ranked #2, Mesquite beat Seton Catholic, ranked #1, in late January.
EVALUATION: Navae, now a sophomore, is coming into her own as both an offensive and defensive player. She is also a tireless defender and her presence makes all of her teammates better. She has also improved both her shooting from the perimeter as well as from beyond the arc. She should have a great junior and senior year at Mesquite before playing at the college level.
Kamara Moss Kamara Moss 6'0" | C Sandra Day O'Connor | 2025 State AZ – is a 6-0 sophomore forward for both Mountain Ridge High school as well as her club team, Arizona Elite 15U. For the 2022-23 season, she is only averaging 1.2 points and 1.3 rebounds per game. She played in seven junior varsity games as a freshman, averaging 7.9 points per contest. Kamara played in a number of spring and summer tournaments as part of her AAU team including the Girls UA Rise Championship. From her own profile, “Her dream is to play college basketball and also for Team USA in the future. Also, my TAP Athletic type is an engineer – the independent athlete.”
EVALUATION: Kamara continues to work on her offensive game: shooting. passing, ball-handling, and running the fast break. Her club team – Arizona Elite 15U – gave her some tremendous experience last summer by playing in a number of competitive tournaments. Her defense is improving with each game she plays and her transition game has shown much progress. She certainly has the size and work ethic to play at the college level.