Making a Case For Gatorade State POY

As far as individual awards go, the Gatorade State Player of the Year is the most prestigious award a student-athlete can receive in the state. Previous award winners include Stanford alum Brittany McPhee (3x), UNC alum (Erika Johnson), and current Stanford standout, Lexi Hull. The award is based on athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character. Last year's winner was 2020 PG <strong>Hailey Van Lith</strong> of Cashmere High School. Hailey is back for another shot at the award in her senior season, but there is a handful of girls that will be in serious consideration in 2019-2020. Here is the case for each potential winner. <span style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Making a Case:</strong></span> 2020 5'7 PG Hailey Van Lith (Cashmere HS) - The 5-star point guard is the returning Gatorade POY and is the favorite to win it again. Hailey puts up monstrous individual stats at the 1A level and definitely helps her case on top of the fact she is the state's most high recruited prospect already. Her team has performed very well in each of her three years of high school and I would expect more of the same for this season. If Hailey stays healthy and just plays her game, it will be difficult to deny the reigning player of the year. 2020 6'2 PF <strong>Jordyn Jenkins</strong> (Kentridge HS) -  Jenkins has shared the rebounds and scoring for the last few years with JaQuaya Miller, but it is all hers for the taking now. Jordyn is a powerful presence on the post and wing and should put up very good double-double numbers. If her team gets on a big winning streak, she is going to be right there for the award. 2020 6'4 PF <strong>Dalayah Daniels</strong> (Garfield HS) - Dalayah put up strong numbers a season ago, but she should take them up a notch this year. I could see her being in the realm of 22-25 points and easily getting double digits rebounds, plus 3 steals and 3 blocks as Garfield will play fast. Dalayah's team is definitely one of the favorites to win state in 3A, which always helps. If Garfield can pull off an undefeated season and she puts up stats near those listed above, she will have a real shot at winning Gatorade Player of the Year. 2020 6'3 C <strong>Keeli Burton-Oliver</strong> (Eastlake HS) - Keeli put up some really big numbers last season and I would expect more of the same this year for the defending state champions. Eastlake will need to win their tough games in KingCo Conference and Keeli will need to put up similar numbers to a year ago and she will definitely be in the conversation. 2021 5'11 SG <strong>Talia von Oelhoffen</strong> (Chiawana HS) - Talia will be moving up to play in the 4A level, but I expect that she will still put up some really big numbers (27 ppg last year). The reigning 2B state champion and MVP will need to lead 4A Chiawana into legitimate state championship contenders and put up around 22-25 points per game to contend for the award and she fully has the capability to do so. <em>Other Potential Winners:</em> 2020 5'11 G <strong>Jayda Noble</strong> (Mt. Spokane HS) 2021 5'5 PG <strong>Julianna Walker</strong> (Annie Wright HS)