Arizona's Best Scorers From the Charity Stripe

INTRODUCTION: Arizona has a number of outstanding free throw shooters. Here's a profile of the top five in free throws made in 2022-23.   [player_tooltip player_id='558892' first='JERZY' last=ROBINSON] - is a combo guard for Desert Vista High School who led the state of Arizona in free throws made. She connected on 144 of 179 or 80%. She also averaged 22.0 points per game. Jerzy, a 5-11 freshman, led Desert Vista to their inaugural State Championship. She led the Lady Thunder to a 28-3 record and, in the process, grabbed 8.2 rebounds per game. She scored 21 points in the title game over Millennium, 63-37. She also scored 32 points in a semifinal win over Xavier College Prep. Jerzy can play multiple positions and already has a number of scholarship offers including Ohio State, Alabama, USC, and UCLA.   EVALUATION: Even as a freshman, Jerzy is a prodigious scorer. She averaged 22 points a game and led the state in free throws made (144). She has had the benefit of playing club basketball in the spring and summer and competing in many tournaments around the country. She honed her offensive skills by playing in club tournaments. Defensively, her anticipation and quick hands lead to both steals and turnovers.   [player_tooltip player_id='604415' first='ASHLYNN' last='CHARLSON'] - is a center for Pima High School. She finished second in the state of Arizona in free throws made. She hit on 125 out of 180 attempts or 69%. A 6-2 senior, she averaged 20.8 points per game. She also plays on the Pima volleyball team and, over a two-year period, had 187 kills. In the Conference 2A basketball championship game, she had 29 points although Pima lost to Phoenix Country Day, 54-43. Ashlynn's scoring and rebounding numbers have increased every season since she began playing on the varsity as a freshman. She also plays for her club team, Arizona Elite, and averaged a double-double this season (20.8 points and 11.2 rebounds).   EVALUATION: Ashlynn is a tremendous all-around player and has blossomed as a senior. While averaging a double-double, her forte is defense where her 75-inch wingspan gives her a major advantage in the paint. Although Pima lost in the State Championship to Phoenix Country Day, she scored 29 of her team's 43 points. She is being heavily recruited and will be playing next year in her first year of college.   [player_tooltip player_id='138098' first='KHAMIL' last='PIERRE'] - is a senior shooting guard for Perry High School in Gilbert who averaged 24.3 points per game. She also finished third in the state in free throws made. She connected on 123 of 184 or 67% of her shots. Committed to Vanderbilt, the 6-2 senior was named the Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year. One scout commented on her game: "She can shoot the three. She can shoot the mid-range jump shot. She can take it to the rim. She's the real deal. " Khamil has scored over 1,000 career points. Vanderbilt's head coach, Shea Ralph, talked about her: "She has unlimited potential and has only begun to scratch the surface with what she can accomplish on the court. Her athleticism is unique to our sport and she has already begun playing at and over the rim."   EVALUATION: Khamil was named Arizona girls' basketball Gatorade Player of the Year and has had an outstanding career. She is a tremendous scorer (24.3 ppg), rebounder, and defender. Her offensive game is complete as a driver, shooter, and ball-handler. She is intimidating as a defender and her presence, on both offense and defense, makes her team collectively better. Committed to Vanderbilt, she should have an outstanding college career.   SHANIELLE MALLORY - is a combo guard for Kellis High school in Glendale who averaged 19.7 points per game in 2022-23. She also finished fourth in the state in free throws made, having canned 122 of 164 attempts or 66%. A freshman and class of 2026, she also averaged 6.4 rebounds per game as well as 5.6 steals per contest. Playing in Division 5A, she won Player of the Game honors by Max Preps in a win last November 30 over Buckeye High School. She put on a clinic with shooting and ball handling drills as a first grader in a YouTube video. She was declared the "Best six-year-old basketball player in the world." She was also awarded by WaFd Bank Arizona Basketball Girls Player of the Week for last November 28-December 4. In the Buckeye game, she had 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists, six steals, and seven deflections.   EVALUATION: Only a freshman, Shanielle is both an outstanding offensive and defensive player. She is a true scorer whether it be driving the lane or hitting a mid-range jumper. She is also among the state leaders in steals per game, possessing great anticipation along with quick hands. She has had the benefit of playing for her club team for a number of seasons, playing in national spring and summer tournaments. A freshman, can you imagine what she will be like as a senior?   [player_tooltip player_id='263400' first='NAYELI last='NIDEZ-ACUNA'] - is a combo guard for Sunnyside High school who ranks fifth in the state in made free throw., This year she canned 121 of 170 or 71%. She also averaged 15.9 points per game and 11.3 rebounds. Over her career, she was selected by Max Preps as Player of the Game a total of 20 different times (2021-2023). A junior, Nayeli averaged 7.1 points a game as a freshman and 13.7 as a sophomore. A true power forward, she averaged a double-double this past season. Against Marana High School she had seven steals. She was selected as second-team All-State by AllSports Tucson and first-team All-Division 6A. She was also selected as the Offensive Player of the Year in her region.   EVALUATION: A junior, Nayeli has improved her offensive and defensive production every year of high school. The fact that she has been selected as Player of the Game a total of 20 different times over her career shows her value to Sunnyside. She is also a gritty defender on defense, forcing many turnovers, steals, and deflections. In her region, she was named Offensive Player of the Year. She should have an outstanding senior season in 2023-2024.

INTRODUCTION: Arizona has a number of outstanding free throw shooters. Here's a profile of the top five in free throws made in 2022-23.