Last year as a sophomore, Nyima Gillyard made the Bosshardt Realty All Area first team after leading Trenton (18-12) to a Class 1A-Region 4 Final appearance.
She led the Lady Tigers in scoring (15.9 points) and field goal percentage (48%) while finishing third in rebounds (5.1) and steals (2.2).
This season she is putting up similar numbers per game and leads her team in scoring (15.8) and field goal percentage (48%), and she is second in rebounds (5.5) and steals (2.3).
“Nyima is a big part of why our team is having success this season,” said Trenton coach Lynsey Grant, whose team improved to 13-2 last night with a 40-21 win against Chiefland. “She has a scoring mentality and she wants the ball in her hands.”
Last week the junior helped lead the Lady Tigers to a 2-1 week by averaging 19.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
Gillyard, who scored 21 or more points twice last week, has been recognized as the Pavlik Orthodontics Athlete of the Week for the week of Jan. 8.
Her best game was on Saturday against Hope Academy (Groveland) at the P.K. Yonge Shootout when she almost single-handedly outscored the opponent with 24 points in a 57-30 win. She shot 69% from the floor, grabbed six rebounds, added two steals and committed only one turnover.
“She brings a spark of energy on the offensive end of the floor and her teammates feed off of that energy,” Grant said. “She works hard on the block to get open and her teammates look to get the ball to her.”
Gillyard had 21 points, grabbed six rebounds, and had only one turnover in a 58-42 loss at No. 6 Newberry on Monday in a matchup of top 10 Class 1A teams.
She had 14 points, four rebounds, two steals and two turnovers for the No. 5 Lady Tigers in a 48-46 win against Williston on Thursday.
She becomes the 21st athlete to be selected for the weekly award during the 2023-24 school year.
Last week’s winner was Andrew Powell of the Oak Hall School boys basketball team.
Powell played the best all-around game of his high school basketball career in a 72-55 win against Redeemer Christian (Ocala). He scored 22 points, made six 3-pointers, grabbed 12 rebounds, blocked five shots, added three assists, and two steals with zero turnovers in 28 minutes of action.
Recent winners include Kyler Lamb of the Williston boys basketball team and Hawthorne boys basketball player C.J. Ingram.
For a complete list of winners, click here.
Coaches can email their nominations each week, along with stats, no later than Sunday night to mike.ridaught@mainstreetdailynews.com.