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Youth Players
The last few years Arizona Girls Basketball has exploded and players from all over the State are gaining recognition Nationally before they even reach High School. Last year there was Jaiyana Bogan-Jacobs (2029), who received 15 Power Five College offers before playing a high school game. A couple years before that it was Jerzy Robinson (2026) Sierra Canyon High School, CA. Jerzy moved to the west coast after winning a state title as a freshman at Desert Vista HS in Phoenix. She is now regarded as arguably the best Senior Guard in the nation, and she has committed to powerhouse South Carolina and Head Coach Dawn Staley.
The next big time College prospect in Arizona is Janyilah Warren (2031). She attended the recent ELV8 Rising Stars Showcase, and she was outstanding to say the least. She showed incredible skills for a 7th grader, and she also displayed poise, confidence, and leadership which is almost unheard of for a player her age.
Shockingly, Warren hasn’t been playing basketball for all that long. “I’ve been playing basketball for two years. I went to an AAU game and watched my cousin play and that was it. The energy, the plays, everything just clicked. I went straight home and told my mom that I wanted to play basketball.” Janyilah was playing flag football before then, but basketball is now her passion. She is already getting attention from college coaches that reach out to her club coaches regularly to maintain a connection with the budding superstar.
She credits her family and coaches for helping her get to the elite level that she is now at. “Their belief in me has pushed me to overcome the challenges and constantly improve. I especially credit my Mom more than anyone for getting me to where I am today. Her endless encouragement, sacrifices, and belief in me have been my biggest motivation. I wouldn’t be where I am without her.”
Warren has several goals with basketball and she is working every day on her game to earn the recognition that she is now getting. “I strive to play college basketball, make it to the WNBA, and to make a positive impact on and off the court. I want to be one of the greatest players to ever come out of Arizona.”
After watching her closely for the first time at the ELV8 Rising Stars Showcase, she is the real deal. If she continues to grow and develop as a player, she may be just that: one of the greatest players to ever come out of Arizona. Asked about what she thought about the ELV8 Rising Stars Showcase, Janyilah left Tucson very impressed. “I thought the Showcase was dope! I got to catch a lot of smoke! There isn’t just one thing that I liked about the Showcase, the jersey’s were so tough, the competition was great, and everything had a vibe.”
Look for Janyilah Warren to be a household name in most basketball circles not only in Arizona but around the country in the very near future.