A week after she led Valley Vista to its third straight 6A girls basketball state title, the accolades continued to pile up for Monsoon senior guard Jennah Isai.
On March 9 Gatorade named Isai Arizona Girls Basketball Player of the Year. Isai is the third Gatorade Arizona Girls Basketball Player of the Year to be chosen from Valley Vista, and the second in two years, following Marisa Davis-Jones in 2021. Taylor Chavez first won the award for the Surprise school in 2018.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court. Isai is now a finalist for the Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year award to be announced in March.
"It's a huge deal for me and my family. I feel so blessed that my hard work is paying off and that I am able to be put in a spot to be recognized," Isai stated in a Twitter interview. "Valley Vista has high expectations for their athletes, especially Matakas's program, and I am so happy I am fortunate enough to follow in the footsteps of Marisa Davis and Taylor Chavez and hopefully Valley has many more Gatorade players of the year to come!"
She continued the Monsoon dynasty by averaging 25.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.6 steals and 2.7 assists per game. Isai has served as an elementary school tutor and has volunteered locally on behalf of the Special Olympics and youth basketball programs.
Isai has maintained a weighted 4.28 GPA in the classroom.
On March 8 she was named a finalist for the Jersey Mike’s Naismith High School Basketball Courage Award. Isai, a native of Surprise, was selected as one of 10 finalists after a nomination process that saw hundreds of entries from coaches and athletic directors across the country.
The Atlanta Tipoff Club, which administers all Naismith Awards, will announce a female winner and a male winner on April 12.
The Jersey Mike’s Naismith High School Basketball Courage Award recognizes a high school basketball player who has consistently gone above and beyond throughout the basketball season and has demonstrated courage in their approach to their team, school, and community.
Despite an ACL tear, two meniscus tears, and an AC separation during her high school career, Isai has demonstrated courage and determination to become one of the best girls high school basketball players in the country. Her courage has been exhibited on and off of the court.
Each time she was sidelined, she attended every practice and game and showed her leadership on the sidelines when her team won the state championship her junior year. Committed to the University of Oregon, Isai has become an inspiration to her school and community.
“As we evaluated the nominations and our committee ultimately selects two winners in the coming weeks, we feel it’s important to recognize all 10 finalists and celebrate them as role models in their communities,” said Eric Oberman, executive director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. “Jennah is an inspiration and represents everything that this award stands for.”
Jersey Mike’s will make a donation to the players’ high school basketball programs in honor of the two winners. Winners will be recognized at their school and through a video tribute shared across the Naismith Trophy and Jersey Mike’s websites and social accounts.
For information about the winners, visit www.astudentabove.com.
Valley Vista senior wing Jennah Isai ducks in for a layup against Blanche Ely (Fla.) senior forward Mya Kone during a Nike Tournament of Champions second round game Dec. 20 at Desert Vista High School in Phoenix. {Courtesy Elliott Glick/For West Valley Preps]
