ATLANTA (December 28, 2015) – The WBCA has announced the winners of its High School Players of the Week presented by MaxPreps for the week ending on Sunday, December 27.
In its inaugural year the WBCA High School Player of the Week is presented to a deserving student-athlete who demonstrated outstanding play throughout the week. Head coaches submit nominations each week and the WBCA selects the individual based on stats that were submitted.
The winners are:
Region 1Desiree Elmore, a senior from Capital Preparatory Magnet School in Hartford, Conn., led her team to a 2-0 record on the week. Elmore recorded a double-double in both games, averaging 25.5 points and 18.0 rebounds. She posted a season best 32 points, while tying her season high of 19 rebounds in the Trailblazers 72-26 win against University/Classical Magnet on December 21.
Region 2Cali Konek, from Imani Christian Academy (Pittsburgh, Pa.) ended the week averaging 50.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.5 steals and 3.5 assists. The 5'5" freshman has posted 50-plus points in three of seven games for the Saints this season.
Region 3Zaria Wright, a 5'8" senior from Concord First Assembly Academy in Concord, N.C., registered 27.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.0 assists for the Eagles. Wright went 7-for-13 beyond the arc, on her way to a season best 40 points, in the Eagles 70-50 victory against Cox Mill High School on December 21.
Region 4 Jackie Young, from Princeton High School (Princeton, Ind.), earned her second MaxPreps/WBCA Player of the Week award after helping the Tigers remain undefeated at 15-0 following four wins on the week. The 6'1" senior acquired 37.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.8 steals during the four victories. She recorded her sixth double-double in a 73-49 against Gibson Southern on December 21, posting 45 points and 17 rebounds.
Region 5Morgan Allred, a senior from Ash Grove High School (Ash Grove, Mo.), ended the week averaging 18.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.5 steals and 3.0 assists, as the Pirates went 2-0 for the week. Allred earned a season best six steals against Walnut Grove on December 22, in a 54-24 win.
Region 6 Kaitlyn Thompson, from Cleveland High School (Cleveland, Miss.), pushed the Wildcats win streak to four following two victories on the week. The 6'1" senior averaged 25.5 points, 15.0 rebounds, 2.5blocks and 1.5 assists. Thompson has tallied four straight double-doubles.
Region 7Bryce Nixon, a 5'10" sophomore from Arcadia High School in Phoenix, Ariz., guided the Titans to a 4-1 record on the week, while improving to 10-5 overall. Nixon finished the week averaging 18.4 points, 7.0 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 steals. In the Titans 56-36 win against Boulder Creek on December 21, Nixon registered a season high 10 assists.
Region 8Amber Melgoza, from Santa Barbara High School (Santa Barbara, Calif.), navigated the Knights to a 4-0 record on the week, while the Dons remain perfect on the season at 13-0. During the week Melgoza averaged 25.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals. Melgoza has been perfect from the stripe in three of the last four games for Santa Barbara, connecting on 26-of-28 during those four wins.
Region 9Whitney Creech, a 5'9" senior from Jenkins High School (Jenkins, Ky.), has earned her third MaxPreps/WBCA Player of the Week honor on the season. Creech averaged 51.4 points, 15.2 rebounds, 3.8 steals, 2.2 blocks and 2.0 assists in the five games for the Cavaliers. On December 23 against Macon County, Creech earned her first triple-double of the season with 33 points, 18 rebounds and 10 steals.
About MaxPreps
Founded in August 2002, MaxPreps.com is headquartered in Cameron Park, Calif., and is a unit of CBS Interactive. MaxPreps is proud to be involved with America's hometown heroes – the young men and women working hard to improve their skills, place team above self and serve as inspirations to their local communities. MaxPreps aspires to cover every team, every game and every player, doing so in collaboration with nearly 100,000 varsity coaches throughout the United States.
About the WBCA
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game as a sport for women and girls. For more information on the WBCA, visit wbca.org.
