Entering her heavily anticipated junior season at Brewster High School (NY), cerebral and polished 5-foot-5 lead guard SOPHIA ALZUGARAY has inherited some of the leadership reins of this team.
Following a sophomore campaign in which she transitioned instantly into a dish first facilitator, Alzugaray has defied the restrictions of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
After averaging 12 points and a league-best eight assists as a sophomore, the high academic point guard (3.8 GPA, High Honor Roll) spent the summer refining components of her game.
“When I first saw her, I knew she had attributes that made her special and differentiated her from other players her age,” said Aldo Redendo, Alzugaray’s head coach on the NY Pride AAU and trainer.
“She’s very adept at handling the ball, creating for her teammates, manufacturing points and drawing fouls and getting to the free throw line. This year at Brewster High School I have no doubt she is going to break out and really lead. She’s got a high level skill set, she’s sound in all facets of her game.”
Alzugaray’s natural leadership and poise is what registers it’s presence for Redendo, who has orchestrated the girls program with the Pride for 20+ years.
The veteran AAU coach said with her blend of academics and veteran savvy, the next two years will be instrumental in making her a college scholarship-worthy player. Most certainly, Redendo said, at an elite level academic program.
“She has improved steadily since she played for me in (last year’s) fall league,” Redendo said.
“She averaged about 11 points and five assists and has a good feel for the game. She could wind up playing at a high academic Division-III school but she might go higher, depending on how she continues to progress over these next two years. She puts so much effort into everything she does on the court, in the classroom. It’s always unique when you see a kid with that type of mentality.”
While she had Redendo molding her ascension from JV point guard as a freshman to varsity starter as a sophomore, she spent the summer refining her game with former Trinity Pawling star and deadeye shooter Brandon Redendo (now at Division 2 national power Cedarville).
Working on everything from catch-and-shoot sequences to ball handling and skill development, the Class of 2022 Alzugaray subscribed to the philosophy of “No Days Off” (even in the midst of a national pandemic) this summer.
As a National Honor Society member who has garnered high honor roll every semester since the sixth grade, academics will be first and foremost as she prolongs her career after high school.
Having shot 85 percent from the free throw line and 40 percent from beyond the arc this past season, it’s clear she’s an efficient scorer who can handle both scoring and creating aspects.
“She’s very gritty and she plays with as much passion as any kid I’ve ever had,” Aldo Redendo explained. “She has real upside as she continues to get better.”
