After an impressive fall season on the volleyball court, 6-foot-9
Athiei Dhal of
Freeport (Fla.) has switched gears to basketball and been dominant in the early going.
Dhal, who is the tallest high school girls basketball player in the country according to roster data submitted to MaxPreps, is averaging 28.4 points and 14.9 rebounds per game for the Bulldogs. Those averages put her among the
top 15 in both statistical categories nationally.
See highlights of Dhal in the video via the NFHS Network.
Freshman Athiei Dhal with Freeport teammates at a Troy University basketball camp over the summer. Her efforts have helped the Bulldogs go 6-3 so far this season. (COURTESY PHOTO: Mary Charles)
"She is definitely coming in to
her own," said Mary Charles, her mom and an assistant coach at Freeport. "Her game had a noticeable shift over the summer while playing
on the EYBL circuit in confidence and ability and she just keeps getting
better."
Dhal has notched double-doubles in each of Freeport's eight games this year and has a high of 43 points in a 58-57 win over South Walton (Santa Rosa Beach) on Dec. 2. In that game she also grabbed a season-high 25 rebounds.
"(There are) no limits for this kid," Charles said. "We have been working on ball handling and
shooting since day one right along with post work so she will be a
complete player."
Dhal has scored 21 points or more in every game this season while leading Freeport to a 6-3 record. She is shooting 73 percent from the field, including connecting on 10 of 11 shot attempts in Tuesday's 62-40 win over Arnold (Panama City Beach).
Her father Marial Dhal is 7-3 and played collegiately at Canisius while her mother is 6-2.
