Salas continues to impress us more and more each time we watch her play. While she’s generally one of the smallest players on the court, the St. Paul Como Park guard plays with a toughness and competitive edge that you just can’t teach. At Sunday’s event it was Alayla’s speed, ability to deliver well-timed passes, and shot creation in the midrange all made her stand out on offense. On defense it was her scrappy, aggressive style that paid dividends for Team 5. After averaging 11.9 points, 3.1 assists, and 3.2 steals per game for Como last season and exceeding expectations with Team FSA this summer, it’s clear that Salas is going to be a big deal for the Cougars in her sophomore season.

Don’t let the size fool you, Salas brings a level of toughness that changes games. She takes pride on the defensive end and it shows every possession. She jumps passing lanes, pressures the ball, and makes things uncomfortable for whoever she’s guarding. It’s not just effort either. She understands angles and timing, which makes her that much more effective. On offense, she’s just as dangerous. Tight handle, quick movements, and the ability to shift defenders off balance. Once she gets into the paint, she’s not looking to avoid contact, she’s going right through it and finishing strong. She plays bigger than her frame in every way.

This young lady is a smaller guard, but plays with a big heart. She slides around the floor, good active defender with quick hands and a nice reaction where she can take it down on the floor coast to coast. She’s scrappy, but I think she’s going to be really solid once she gained some more experience! Ready for a big summer with Team FSA!