Shalaya Roberson
@ShayRoberson22
Instagram: @Shay_Roberson22
5’7, 132lbs, c/o 2026
Mountain View High School (Mesa),
Shalaya is a versatile athlete with an extremely high IQ who is gritty, tenacious, and determined. She never backs down from a challenge no matter how tough the opponent or how high the stakes. Shalaya’s tenacity drives her to hustle, fight for every loose ball, and play until the last whistle blows. Shalaya's grit keeps her pushing no matter what, past the feeling of exhaustion, injuries, and other setbacks. Shalaya's determination fuels her continuous chase towards excellence and ensures she will always give her best effort in every game, practice, and open gym. These combinations of qualities make Shalaya a player who can be counted on to lead by example and inspire others.
Shalaya's versatility, leadership, court vision, communication, IQ, adaptability, and quick decision-making are all her invaluable strengths. Shalaya can excel in almost all positions on the court. Because of this, she is a crucial asset in all game situations. Shalaya's leadership skills not only set her apart from her teammates but also inspire and motivate them. Shalaya's court vision allows her to see and anticipate the plays before they unfold - which allows her to set up teammates to score. Shalaya has effective communication skills on the offensive and defensive end of the court. Shalaya's adaptability is a great strength. She is a transfer student-athlete, that has adjusted to different opponents, teammates, and game situations. Shalaya's quick decision-making allows her to react to the fast-paced game dynamics. She makes the right decisions under pressure and capitalizes on all opportunities. These are the attributes and strengths that contribute to Shalaya being a well-rounded player. She is a three-level scorer who is fierce in attacking the rim. She mixes it up effectively on the boards and is a defensive gem.
Negativity was Shalaya's greatest motivation. Facing constant criticism, hate, and doubt from those surrounding her, Shalaya decided to channel all of it into improving her game. She became what they thought she could never be. Every harsh word and comment brought fuel, dedication, and motivation to prove everyone wrong. The more negativity Shalaya encountered, the stronger her game became. By the end of the season, Shalaya had converted the doubt, criticism, hate, and negative comments into a driving force that was and is unstoppable. When AAU ended, Shalaya started slowly accomplishing things they told her she would never do. Yet Shalaya is here now, and she will always continue to have this drive throughout her next two years at Mountain View. And until her basketball career is over because there will always be someone who will choose to feed her hate.
Intense competition and the thrill of being challenged fuel Shalaya's fire. The rush that she is given when the game is close, the challenge of going against tough opponents, and the satisfaction that she receives from making a crucial play all add to the drive for her to perform at her best. Shalaya thrives the most in these high-pressure situations when every decision counts. What motivates Shakaya the most are her opportunities to show off her skills, outwork her opponents, and help her team win.
For a long time, Shalaya used to shut down and flat-out not want to play anymore if she wasn't scoring and helping her team. When Shalaya had terrible or even bad offensive days she used to take it very hard and harshly until she realized that the game of basketball wasn’t just about scoring. Now she handles adversity. She copes by making adjustments. Shalaya does something that she knows she can do well and waits for her opportunity to be that star. Shalaya started taking her focus off of scoring and stopped getting upset when she couldn’t score. Instead, she would celebrate her teammates, set them up to score, and bring more intensity to defense. That is how Shalaya started to handle adversity, and how she plans to handle it from here on out.
Shalaya's goals going into her next season are to elevate her game in various ways and lead her team to new heights. Shalaya aims to ultimately improve her versatility by being able to run through every position efficiently. Shalaya plans to enhance her leadership skills by being more motivational, and getting her teammates to give their best efforts. Another goal that Shalaya has is to sharpen her court vision and decision-making skills, allowing her to set herself, and her teammates up for more efficient opportunities to score the ball. By concentrating on these aspects, Shalaya plans to contribute significantly, and positively towards her teams' success, and to prepare herself for the challenges of playing at the next level.
Shalaya's continuous effort sets her apart from others. Some might rely on their skill and natural talent, but Shalaya puts in countless hours of hard work on and off the court. Shalaya always likes to be early to practice. So she is warmed up and ready to go by the time practice starts and stays after practice to get extra shots up. Shalaya constantly pushes herself to improve and be better. Whether that means running extra drills, learning and studying the plays, studying game footage, or working on her conditioning. Shalaya's effort is continuous and steady, her dedication does not only improve and enhance her skills but she believes it inspires others around her. Shalaya gives 110% every time she plays.
Shalaya sees herself playing major D2 ball if not D1. Shalayas greatest goal is to ultimately go D1. She sees herself playing D1 ball because of her tenacity, grit, skills, and determination. The D1 level is where the competition is high and fierce, and Shalayla is all about high levels of competition. Shalaya is confident that she would be a great addition and positive asset to any team at the D1 level.
I assess Shalaya has a lot of DOG in her, not something I say often about girls. But in her own words, the tenacious, gritty, determination to compete and passion to win is second to none. Shalaya checks every box at a high level. Her intangibles are through the roof. Shalaya will have an instant impact on any team, on any level, that wants a warrior and a winner. This edge, fire, and determination is another level. Keep a close eye on this young star. A monster season is ahead. Stay tuned!
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