Super Seven: Spring Valley’s Gayles one of the nation’s top players

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021 | 2 a.m.

Aaliyah Gayles would accompany her dad to the basketball gym in Southern California. He would play a pickup game on one side of the court and his grade-school-aged daughter would practice at the 10-foot rims on the other.

She would make shot after shot — and she hasn’t stopped playing. Now one of the nation’s top high school recruits for the class of 2022, the point guard Gayles is a senior at Spring Valley High School and part of the Sun’s Super Seven.

“Ever since then I fell in love with basketball,” she said of those childhood trips to the gym.

The 5-foot-9 Gayles is ranked as the nation’s No. 8 overall recruit nationally for the class of 2022 by ESPN and last month signed with USC. She dominated in 2019-20 as a sophomore in averaging 12.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 2.8 assists per game.

Spring Valley coach Billy Hemberger can speak for hours on the impressive plays Gayles has orchestrated over the years, such as when she hustled back on defense to block a shot from behind and outraced everyone to the other end of the court for an easy lay-in.

“That burst of speed. There was no way anyone was going to catch up to her,” Hemberger said.

Gayles averaged 8.2 points per game during her freshman season, when that athleticism Hemberger raves about was hard for the opposition to match. A few years later, she’s blossomed into more of a complete player.

“Initially in her freshman year it was reverting to her sheer athleticism, which is second to none,” the coach said. “Her game has developed to where she can control the game, and she’s developed her jump shot big time.”

Gayles, in true point guard fashion, “loves to pass. I love to give my teammates the ball (to score) before I do,” she said.

Gayles doesn’t plan on getting complacent with all of the accolades. She preparing to receive everyone’s best effort this season, and of course, she’s continuing to improve for next season in college. She’s projected to be USC’s point guard of the future.

“If you come to my practice today, she will be the one working the hardest,” Hemberger said. “She comes from a family that harps on working hard and staying humble.”

Olivia Bigger, senior guard, Desert Oasis

Bigger averaged 8.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.1 steals per game in 2019-20 as a sophomore to help Desert Oasis post a 24-3 record. She is looking to build off those numbers this season, when she’ll be Desert Oasis’ team leader — two seasons ago, the Diamondbacks were led by a pair of Division I players in Desi-Rae Young (UNLV) and Eliyjah Pricebrooks (Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi). “I definitely had great role models with the people ahead of me,” she said. Desert Oasis is one of the top four teams in the state, and Bigger will have a chance to lead her program to another memorable season. “I am definitely a scorer first. I get to the rim as much as I can,” she said.

Kaniya Boyd, sophomore guard, Centennial

Boyd hasn’t played one game of high school basketball after the pandemic shelved her would-be freshman season. But that hasn’t stopped recruiters from courting the 5-8 guard, who has already secured scholarship offers from the likes of Illinois and TCU. She’s smooth with the ball in her hands, can knock down an outside shot and is a strong passer — hence, the top-100 billing nationally for the class of 2024.

Jamia Carter, senior guard, Shadow Ridge

Carter is the first from Shadow Ridge — boys or girls teams — to be selected for the Sun’s Super Seven. The school opened in 2003. “Attacking (the basket) is my thing and defense — I take pride in playing defense,” she said. Carter made the varsity team in 2018-19 as a freshman, helping the Mustangs establish a school record 21 wins. She led them in scoring as a sophomore in 2019-20, when they won a playoff game in advancing to the regional semifinals. “If a team is pressing me or double-teaming me, other girls on my team can get involved,” she said.

Montaya Dew, junior forward, Centennial

The 6-foot-2 Dew has the size and athleticism to be a force at all positions on the court. She runs the floor well, has strong ball-handling skills and is a capable scorer near the basket and from the perimeter. She takes the most pride in her defense. “On defense, (I can) guard every position and be a rim protector,” she said. Dew, who averaged 4.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.5 steals, and 2.1 assists as a freshman, has scholarship offers from many of the nation’s top college programs, such as defending national champion Stanford, national runner-up Arizona, Oregon and Louisville. ESPN rates her as a four-star recruit.

Ali’a Matavao, junior forward, Liberty

When many freshmen are stuck playing on the lower levels, Matavao in 2019-20 averaged 6.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game to cement herself as one of the area’s up-and-coming standouts. The 5-foot-9 forward brings a physical and aggressive presence on the interior. If there’s a loose ball, chances are she’ll be the first to it. “I like to attack with the ball,” she said. “My favorite thing is driving to the basket.” Matavao comes from an athletic family. Her brother, former Liberty multisport athlete Moliki Matavao, plays football for Oregon. “(We) would go at it all of the time. It was always a competition in my house,” she said. With Matavao leading the way, Liberty is projected to be one of the state’s top teams and compete for a championship. “We are always in the gym working because we want to win state,” she said. “This year, I think we’ve got it.”

Mary McMorris, senior guard, Centennial

The 5-foot-6 point guard is usually the fastest player on the court, pushing the ball in transition and playing tough, full-court defense. “I am a pass-first player. I want to get my teammates involved,” she said. McMorris came off the bench in 2019-20 on Centennial’s state championship team, watching and learning — and waiting for her turn — to lead the state’s best team. “It is nice to be a part of it and try to continue on the legacy,” she said. Last month, McMorris signed with Northern Arizona University, whose coach Loree Payne said, “Mary is one of the most dynamic point guards I have seen and that I will eventually coach. She can get to the rim, is a great passer, has great court vision and can score.”