Zaya had nothing short of a standout performance for Brandywine in the state semifinals against Lumen Christi. She posted a near double-double with 18 points, nine rebounds, and three assists. Zaya was undoubtedly the most impactful player on the court for the Bobcats, playing with poise beyond her years. Her persistence on the offensive glass, strong finishing at the rim, defensive effort, passing instincts, length, skill, and ability to hit outside shots made a memorable first impression.

In a tough game, Zaya had a breakout performance for Niles Brandywine. She was impressive, posting a near double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds, while also dishing out three assists. Zaya led the team in the heat of battle as a freshman. She rotated from the help side to block a shot, worked extremely hard inside to score offensive rebound putbacks, earned free throws, and threw a great reversal skip pass to the corner for an assist. Zaya cut into the paint, pinned her defender, spun, and elevated to score a contested layup against an athletic defender. She stepped outside to bury a smooth wing three, screened for teammates, deflected entry passes on defense, and came flying in to snatch an offensive rebound out of the rafters. She was the newcomer of the day, making a statement on the brightest stage, and will definitely be a 2029 prospect to know moving forward.

Zaya, a freshman wing/forward for Niles Brandywine, stepped up in a big way in her team’s Quarterfinal victory over Hart, leading all scorers with 17 points. Her length and athleticism make her a constant presence, especially on the defensive end where she applies relentless pressure and turns stops into transition opportunities. Zaya’s ability to impact the game in multiple areas has been key to her team’s postseason success. As Niles Brandywine faces Jackson Lumen Christi today, they’ll be counting on her to deliver another strong performance with a chance to play for a state title on the line.