Sierra Calhoun, center, is surrounded by her teammates as she finds out that she was named this year’s Gatorade New York Girls Basketball Player of the Year. Photo courtesy Christ the King
Christ the King Royals’ standout Sierra Calhoun has been named the 2013-2014 Gatorade New York Girls Basketball Player of the Year, the Middle Village school announced last week.
The award acknowledges outstanding athletic excellence, as well as high standards of academic achievement and well-rounded character on and off the court.
Calhoun is the 29th recipient of the award and the seventh from Christ the King High School.
The award distinguishes Calhoun as the best high school girls basketball player in the state and makes her a finalist for the coveted Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year, which has previously been won by WNBA all-stars Maya Moore, Candace Parker, and Lisa Leslie.
The 6-foot senior guard averaged 24 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4 steals and 3.5 assist per game, while leading the Royals to a 21-4 record and the semi-finals of the Catholic high school championship.
Calhoun was chosen to play in the McDonalds All-American game, as well as being chosen by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association as a first team All-American, along with being a two-time First Team All-State honoree.
She has signed a national letter of intent to play for Duke University this fall.
“She can dribble, shoot, come off screens, beat you inside,” said Scott Lagas, Archbishop Molloy High head coach. “She does not take bad shots and she gets her teammates involved. There’s not much she can’t do.”
Calhoun has success off the court, as well as on. In the classroom she has maintained a B average as well as volunteering to help special need children at a local elementary school and coaching youth basketball players.
Gatorade will announce the national winner later this month.
By Michael Florio
