Jenna Staiti of West Forsyth is the Gatorade Georgia girls basketball player of the year.
Staiti, a 6-foot-5 center who has signed with Maryland, is now a finalist for the Gatorade national player-of-the-year award to be announced later this month.
Staiti averaged 26.2 points, 13.7 rebounds, 4.2 blocked shots and 2.3 assits per game this past season, leading West Forsyth (25-7) to the program’s first Class AAAAAA semifinal appearance. She had collected 30 double-doubles and two triple-doubles in 32 games and averaged 39 points in four state-playoff games. She scored 51 points in a loss to eventual AAAAAA champion McEachern.
Also a swimming standout, Staiti has maintained a 3.19 GPA in the classroom. In addition to donating her time as a youth swimming coach and basketball instructor, she has volunteered on behalf of the Special Olympics and on a daily basis in her school’s attendance office.
“Not only is she a dominant force, but she carries herself respectfully and with high character,” said Chattahoochee girls coach Harris Quraishy. “She’s the best player I have ever coached against, and when facing double-, triple-, even quadruple-teams, she never gets down on her teammates if they cannot come through. She is one of the most supportive leaders I have ever seen. She gives confidence to her teammates and pushes them to be better. It is remarkable to see.”
Staiti joins recent Gatorade players of the year Asia Durr (2014-15 & 2013-14, St. Pius), Lexie Brown (2012-13, North Gwinnett), Allisha Gray (2011-12, Washington County), Diamond DeShields (2010-11, Norcross), Kayla Lewis (2009-10, Southwest DeKalb), Anne Marie Armstrong (2008-09, Wesleyan), Alicia Manning (2007-08, Etowah), and Maya Moore (2006–07, Collins Hill) among the state’s list of former award winners.
Credit: Stan Awtrey
Credit: Stan Awtrey
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