5A All-Idaho girls basketball team: Three Division I recruits top the all-state selections
Note: Coaches in each classification select the All-Idaho teams. The Idaho Statesman hosts the voting process and publishes the results.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: ABBY LUSK, POCATELLO
The pick: No matter the task assigned to her, the 6-1 junior forward’s athleticism, length and basketball IQ allowed her to impose her will on opponents. The Division I prospect averaged 16.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 4.5 steals to lead the Thunder to their first state title.
Coach’s comment: “She can guard any position and can score from all spots on the floor,” Pocatello coach Sunny Evans said. “She is an incredible worker and teammate, and plays with such enthusiasm.”
What others are saying: “As a coach, she is a nightmare to plan for, but fun to watch play the game,” Bishop Kelly coach Derek McCormick said.
What’s next: She enters the offseason with 25 college offers.
KENNASYN GARZA, POCATELLO
The Boise State signee paired with Lusk to form a potent one-two duo. The 6-2 senior center topped 1,000 career points and rebounds, averaging 16.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 4.0 steals and 1.1 blocks as a force inside the paint that could also knock down 3-pointers.
SHAY SHIPPEN, SKYLINE
The state’s all-time leading scorer (2,372 points) caps her career on the all-state first team for a fourth time. The Columbia commit and all-class Gatorade state player of the year averaged a staggering 23.6 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists per game, 3.2 steals and 1.5 blocks a game.
ZOEY BLACKWELL, MIDDLETON
A terror on defense, the 5-7 junior guard led the 5A classification with 4.7 steals per game. But she was no one-trick pony. Her nonstop motor, speed and versatility allowed her to put up 12.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists to lead the Vikings to a second-place finish at state.
MIA WILLIAMS, SHELLEY
A second-team pick last year, the 5-6 senior point guard averaged 19.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals. The Utah State Eastern commit and the Russets’ unquestioned leader served as a lethal scoring threat but was often at her best setting up others.
COACH OF THE YEAR: SUNNY EVANS, POCATELLO
She led the one of the state’s oldest schools to a 24-2 record and its first state championship.
