Kayla Terry from Las Vegas High School, who was selected for this years Las Vegas Suns Super Seven, showed off her skills during a tough lost against Arbor View. Wednesday, December 7, 2022. Brian Ramos
Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022 | 2 a.m.
Kayla Terry had been sick for the entire week and away from the Las Vegas High School girls basketball team.
She returned for a game against Coronado, but was still getting back to full strength, especially with conditioning. Despite not being her best, she was the best player on the floor that night last December in a 24-point, 16-rebound effort tohelp Las Vegas in its narrow win.
About the Sun's Super Seven
This is the 12th season the Sun has produced its Super Seven preseason basketball team, spotlighting the top seven girls and boys high school basketball players in Southern Nevada. We’ve had some notable honorees over the years, including a handful — Shabazz Muhammad, Stephen Zimmerman, Zach Collins (Spurs), Troy Brown Jr. (Lakers), Sam Thomas (Phoenix of the WNBA) — who have reached the NBA. One past selection, Ronnie Stanley, a former Bishop Gorman forward, plays offensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL.
That game was the start of something special for both Terry and the Wildcats. They went on to win their next 10 games, captured a regional championship and advanced to the Class 4A state championship game.
Terry, a 5-foot-9 senior forward, cemented herself during the winning streak as one of the city’s elite players, and now has the title to back it up: She’s part of the Las Vegas Sun’s Super Seven.
“That was the most defining moment in our season and for her,” Las Vegas coach La Shondra Rayford said.
Terry averaged 18 points and 12 rebounds per game in being selected first-team all-state. But, unlike other notable players in town, Terry went from a relative unknown to her place among the best.
Her biggest value isn’t those points and rebounds, Rayford said. Rather, it’s how a soft-spoken teenager is the unquestioned team leader through her actions.
On most days she’s the first to arrive at practice and the last to leave. And, more times than not, she’s the leader in drills.
“I like to motivate my teammates and push them to get better, the best they can be,” she said.
Terry also averaged 3.8 steals per game last season and takes pride in being an accomplished player on both ends of the court. Between the high school season and club ball, she’s working on her craft all year.
“Her work ethic, it’s unparalleled for us,” Rayford said. “Her teammates, they look up to her and trust her. They probably trust her more than me. But she is so humble and so shy, she doesn’t let that get to her and keeps working to get better.”
Las Vegas hopes to make another playoff run, but the Wildcats know they’ll first have to get through defending state champion Clark and Coronado. But with Terry leading the way, anything is possible, the coach said. The Wildcats also have a handful of returners, such as senior captains Layla Faught at point guard and post player Vernonie Newson.
“She has made a niche for herself by being consistent,” the coach said of Terry. “Look at her numbers, every game it’s consistent across the board with points and rebounds. She goes about it the right way. She knows we need her and she won’t get a day off.”
Here’s the rest of the Super Seven girls and boys:
The girls ...
Kaniya Boyd, Centennial High School
About Kaniya: Boyd, a junior, is a top prospect for the class of 2024, receiving a recruiting grade of 95 on a scale of 100 by ESPN. As a sophomore, in her first varsity action, she dominated on both sides of the court, averaging 10.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 2.6 assists per game. She’s a defensive specialist who would rather have a game-winning steal than a game-winning shot. She describes her game as, “defense, a lot of passing and talking on the floor.”
Asani Ceaser, Centennial High School
About Asani: Ceaser, a 5-foot-11 forward who holds a scholarship offer from Harvard and others, is an elite defender who is credited for bringing much energy to the game. She averaged about 9 points and three steals per game last season. Ceaser said being pushed by her teammates in practice had been crucial in developing her game. “Once you go hard against each other, no competition will match up,” she said.
Grace Knox, Centennial High School
About Grace: Knox, a sophomore, is in line to be the next All-American from Las Vegas. The 6-foot-1 wing, who is rated by ESPN as one of the top 25 prospects for 2025, averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds a game last season. “From last year, I feel like I have become more versatile on the court and aware of what I need to work on to become a dominant scorer,” she said.
Alia Matavao, Liberty High School
About Alia: Matavao was the Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year in 2021-22 after averaging 13.2 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.1 steals per game. The forward, who last season was also part of the Super Seven, signed a letter of intent last month to play at Brigham Young University. She worked in the offseason on improving her offense. “My shot selection,” she said. “Shooting the right shots, knowing when to pass and when to shoot.”
Charlece Ohiaeri, Centennial High School
About Charlece: The 6-foot-1 forward, who last month signed with Texas Christian University, also was a top volleyball player at Centennial. Her size and athletic ability are a rare combination. She is quick in transition but also capable of being physical near the basket “I shoot well. That’s my thing,” she said. “I am versatile. I can push the ball up the court, score and rebound.”
Kaylee Walters, Coronado High School
About Kaylee: Walters, a senior, averaged 18 points, 2.7 steals and 2 assists per game last season. “I shoot the ball really well,” she said. “Moving without the ball, that is how I score the most.”
The boys ...
Alijah Adem, Spring Valley High School
About Alijah: The 6-foot-2 junior guard averaged 26.4 points, 7.8 assists and three steals per game in 2021-22 to help Spring Valley reach the Class 4A state championship game. He’s an accomplished shooter and passer, and coaches rave about his leadership qualities. “I like to get my teammates involved. When that happens, like when we are throwing lob (passes to each other), we are all having fun.” Because the 2020-21 season was canceled by the COVID pandemic, the nearly 30 points per game Adem scored came in his first varsity action. “It’s a blessing that my hard work is paying off,” he said.
Taj Degourville, Durango High School
About Taj: The senior Degourville, who scored 15.5 points per game last season, has scholarship offers from the likes of UNLV, San Diego State and Utah State. The 6-foot-4 guard has seen his recruiting stock spike in the last three months after strong showings on the club circuit — efforts he plans to bring back to Durango. “The game of basketball is starting to become positionless, and they see me as a positionless player. I can just hoop,” said Degourville, who also averaged 6.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists last season. “My confidence level is going up.”
Sebastian Mack, Coronado High School
About Sebastian: The 6-foot-4 senior guard is listed as a four-star recruiting prospect by 24/7 Sports and last month signed to play at Southern California. A Super Seven pick last season, he’s widely considered the top senior in town. “I worked hard,” he said. “I feel like God put me in a place where I can shine in my highest peak. Being confident will help me as well.”
John Mobley Jr., Bishop Gorman High School
About John: Mobley, a 6-foot-1 junior guard, is verbally committed to Ohio State. He’s considered an elite shooter and competitor, and his game has drawn comparison to the likes of the NBA’s Stephen Curry and Trae Young. He’s spent the offseason enhancing his game, including adding bulk to his 150-pound frame. “I am attacking more and facilitating by getting teammates involved,” said Mobley, who averaged 15 points per game last season.
Dedan Thomas Jr., Liberty High School
About Dedan: The junior point guard, a two-time Super Seven selection, is a four-star recruiting prospect with scholarship offers from heavyweights such as Gonzaga, Arizona and Houston. He’s also got an offer from UNLV, where his dad, Dedan Thomas Jr,, was the point guard in the early 1990s. Thomas Jr. averaged 14 points, 5.1 assists and four rebounds per game last season to help Liberty win the state championship. Thomas expects to get everyone’s best effort this season and knows to “never take a game lightly and never underestimate anyone.”
Jase Richardson, Bishop Gorman High School
About Jase: The 6-foot-2 sophomore point, who is son of former NBA player Jason Richardson, averaged 14 points, five assists and five rebounds in 2021-22 — as a freshman. He’s the nation’s No. 35 overall recruiting prospect for the class of 2025 and has scholarship offers from Michigan State (where dad played), Arkansas, Florida and others. “I love creating shots for my teammates,” he said. “I am a playmaker first, but I love getting to the basket, and (also) making open shots.”
Tylen Riley, Durango High School
About Tylen: Riley, a senior guard who last month signed with Cal Baptist, averaged 17 points and seven rebounds last season. “I’m not like your typical guard,” he said. “I like to go get the ball, get the rebound and push it up the floor. I’m a playmaker all the way around.”
