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West Coast Premier coach Maria Mesa has predicted that high school basketball stars Aaliyah Chavez and Kaleena Smith will shape the future of women's basketball. In an Instagram story posted on Thursday on her official Instagram account, Mesa shared a screenshot of the hoopers' impressive performances during a recent face-off, where the two youngsters recorded 31 and 29 points, respectively.
"I can actually say I coached both... These 2 are something special and will continue to do great things for girls basketball." Mesa said while sharing a post that highlighted the high school athletes' statistics.
The much-anticipated matchup, which took place last week, saw two of the top high school basketball prospects, senior Aaliyah Chavez and sophomore Kaleena Smith, go head-to-head in an electrifying matchup. Both players ranked No.1 in their respective classes, showcased why they are considered the future of women's basketball.
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The game, a Holiday Hoopfest encounter, pitted Chavez's Monterey High School against Smith's Ontario Christian. Despite a stellar performance from Chavez, who recorded 31 points, 12 rebounds, and three steals, her team fell to Ontario Christian in a blowout 82-50 loss. Smith, on the other hand, led her team to victory with 29 points, nine assists, and four steals.
The matchup between the two five-star point guards had been highly anticipated, and the game did not disappoint. The two players guarded each other throughout the contest, offering fans a glimpse of the future of women's basketball.
Following the game, Coach Maria Mesa took to Instagram to share her excitement about the two young stars. Aliyah Chavez, who is currently the top-ranked player in the class of 2025, also reposted the message on her Instagram story.
LSU's Kim Mulkey Attends No. 1 Senior Aaliyah Chavez and Sophomore Star Kaleena Smith Showdown
The much-anticipated matchup between No. 1 ranked senior Aaliyah Chavez and No. 1 ranked sophomore Kaleena Smith drew national attention to the extent that it caught the eye of LSU head coach Kim Mulkey. The legendary coach and her assistant were spotted courtside watching the encounter.
Kim Mulkey's presence showed the significance of this clash of rising stars. Chavez is one of Mulkey's top targets for the 2025 recruiting class, while Smith isn't eligible for college until 2027, LSU has already extended a scholarship offer to the sophomore phenom.
LSU's recruiting efforts have been formidable under Mulkey's leadership. The program has secured commitments from multiple five-star recruits, including Grace Knox, ZaKiyah Johnson, Divine Bourrage, and Bella Hines.
