bluesooner17
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Maybe the coaches need to go to Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora, Colo.
http://www.maxpreps.com/news/msWQXd...dunk-in-colorado-girls-basketball-history.htm
AURORA — For too long, playing basketball was out of Francesca Belibi’s reach. Only recently has she been able to grab hold and enjoy it.
“I always wanted to play, but my parents didn’t have time to drop me off to deal with practice and everything,” she said. “I had to wait until high school to try out.”
Now a 14-year-old freshman at Class 5A Regis Jesuit, Belibi may prove to be one of the state’s most intriguing young talents in many years.
Belibi is 6-foot-1 and 174 pounds. Nevermind that she is as raw as a cold Rocky Mountain morning in January. Though she entered this season not even knowing the rules of basketball, Belibi is near the front of the line to become the first girl to dunk in a Colorado high school game, and do it regularly.
Girls basketball is played below the net, although Belibi could help change that.
“I’m 50 years old now and she shot some energy into me,” said Raiders coach Carl Mattei. Of the 32 players he has sent to play college ball over the past 12 seasons, Mattei said Belibi “is my first to grab the rim and snap it back.”
Belibi said she would love to dunk in a game — in practice, she can dunk a Nerf ball — but at the moment is more focused on learning the game and all of its nuances.
“It’s just fun to be able to have teammates and make new friends and learn about (basketball),” she said.
The Belibi family moved from Kansas seven years ago. Francesca’s parents are doctors, and she has played tennis since she was 4 years old.
Belibi, one of the first Raiders off the bench, entered the weekend fifth in scoring (averaging 5.1 points) on her team, third in rebounding (5.3) and tops in blocked shots (15). Those numbers figure to rise as she learns more about the game and how to develop her skills.
“My teammates try to help and tell me what I’m supposed to do, and it’s really nice,” she said.
There is beauty to coaching someone such as Belibi who is new to basketball, Mattei said.
“Basically, when you have never played before and you’re excited about playing basketball or any other game, you just want to learn,” the coach said. “It’s so refreshing. She hasn’t been told by club players or coaches or parents what to do. She’s willing to sit there and learn. She’s just so willing to do the little things.”
At first, Mattei said, Belibi was unsure of herself. “Like a deer on ice on Evergreen Lake.” In some of her first real competition, she grabbed the ball and ran for at least five steps. Mattei reminded her she had to dribble. And, on a opponent’s shot attempt, she batted the rim.
“I had to tell her, ‘Fran, that’s goaltending,’ ” Mattei said.
But Belibi’s intelligence has helped make her transition to a new sport go smoothly.
“She knows all of our plays and where everyone’s supposed to be,” Mattei said.
Regis Jesuit’s TaeKenya Cleveland, who will play next season at American University, said Belibi is learning fast. “Being naive to the game has helped her. Everything she has learned working with us and our coaches has been great.”
Belibi also has been playing for the Raiders’ junior varsity to gain as much experience as she can.
“I was just hoping to make a team when I came to the first open gym,” she said. “Right now, I feel like I’m in a good position.”
She is a matchup problem under the basket, but it’s her jumping ability that is eye-catching.
“It’s just insane,” Cleveland said. “I’ve never seen anyone like her. None of us can actually get all the way up there (to the rim).”
Said Raiders guard Jasmine Gaines: “She just showed up in the gym one day, and it’s amazing what she can do.”
No in-state schoolgirl has dunked in a game. Mesa Ridge senior Kylee Shook, who will play next season at Louisville, has thrown one down in practice and been working on getting it done in a game.
She now has competition in the race to become the first.
http://www.maxpreps.com/news/msWQXd...dunk-in-colorado-girls-basketball-history.htm
AURORA — For too long, playing basketball was out of Francesca Belibi’s reach. Only recently has she been able to grab hold and enjoy it.
“I always wanted to play, but my parents didn’t have time to drop me off to deal with practice and everything,” she said. “I had to wait until high school to try out.”
Now a 14-year-old freshman at Class 5A Regis Jesuit, Belibi may prove to be one of the state’s most intriguing young talents in many years.
Belibi is 6-foot-1 and 174 pounds. Nevermind that she is as raw as a cold Rocky Mountain morning in January. Though she entered this season not even knowing the rules of basketball, Belibi is near the front of the line to become the first girl to dunk in a Colorado high school game, and do it regularly.
Girls basketball is played below the net, although Belibi could help change that.
“I’m 50 years old now and she shot some energy into me,” said Raiders coach Carl Mattei. Of the 32 players he has sent to play college ball over the past 12 seasons, Mattei said Belibi “is my first to grab the rim and snap it back.”
Belibi said she would love to dunk in a game — in practice, she can dunk a Nerf ball — but at the moment is more focused on learning the game and all of its nuances.
“It’s just fun to be able to have teammates and make new friends and learn about (basketball),” she said.
The Belibi family moved from Kansas seven years ago. Francesca’s parents are doctors, and she has played tennis since she was 4 years old.
Belibi, one of the first Raiders off the bench, entered the weekend fifth in scoring (averaging 5.1 points) on her team, third in rebounding (5.3) and tops in blocked shots (15). Those numbers figure to rise as she learns more about the game and how to develop her skills.
“My teammates try to help and tell me what I’m supposed to do, and it’s really nice,” she said.
There is beauty to coaching someone such as Belibi who is new to basketball, Mattei said.
“Basically, when you have never played before and you’re excited about playing basketball or any other game, you just want to learn,” the coach said. “It’s so refreshing. She hasn’t been told by club players or coaches or parents what to do. She’s willing to sit there and learn. She’s just so willing to do the little things.”
At first, Mattei said, Belibi was unsure of herself. “Like a deer on ice on Evergreen Lake.” In some of her first real competition, she grabbed the ball and ran for at least five steps. Mattei reminded her she had to dribble. And, on a opponent’s shot attempt, she batted the rim.
“I had to tell her, ‘Fran, that’s goaltending,’ ” Mattei said.
But Belibi’s intelligence has helped make her transition to a new sport go smoothly.
“She knows all of our plays and where everyone’s supposed to be,” Mattei said.
Regis Jesuit’s TaeKenya Cleveland, who will play next season at American University, said Belibi is learning fast. “Being naive to the game has helped her. Everything she has learned working with us and our coaches has been great.”
Belibi also has been playing for the Raiders’ junior varsity to gain as much experience as she can.
“I was just hoping to make a team when I came to the first open gym,” she said. “Right now, I feel like I’m in a good position.”
She is a matchup problem under the basket, but it’s her jumping ability that is eye-catching.
“It’s just insane,” Cleveland said. “I’ve never seen anyone like her. None of us can actually get all the way up there (to the rim).”
Said Raiders guard Jasmine Gaines: “She just showed up in the gym one day, and it’s amazing what she can do.”
No in-state schoolgirl has dunked in a game. Mesa Ridge senior Kylee Shook, who will play next season at Louisville, has thrown one down in practice and been working on getting it done in a game.
She now has competition in the race to become the first.