Future Oregon Duck women’s basketball player Ruthy Hebard made history today.
In being named the Alaska State Gatorade Player of the Year on Thursday morning, she became first boy or girl from Alaska to win in three straight years.
This season for West Valley High School in Fairbanks, Alaska, she’s averaged 25.9 points a game, 14.8 rebounds, 3.3 steals and 2.1 blocks.
“It means the world to be a Duck,” Hebard said when she committed last August. “I’m so happy they recruited me because if they hadn’t, I feel like I wouldn’t have found the perfect fit.”
Last week, she was the first player from her school to have her jersey retired.
“She’s got an incredible upside,” Oregon head coach Kelly Graves said last November when Hebard signed. “So athletic. She hasn’t played a ton of club ball, so I think she has so much room for growth. She’s a hard-worker with a great smile and infectious personality. I think she has the potential to be a special player.”
The 6-foot-4 senior bound for Eugene has been the cornerstone of her Wolfpack team this season. She’s helped West Valley to a 20-6 record. Hebard and her team will play in the the Mid-Alaska championship game on March 12 as the No. 1 seed. She’s ranked the No. 41 player nationally by espnW and is a part of a six-player incoming class ranked No. 7 nationally.
Follow Jonathan Hawthorne on Twitter @Jon_Hawthorne