Cherry Creek’s Jana Van Gytenbeek selected girls basketball player of the year by Gatorade
Cherry Creek senior Jana Van Gytenbeek was named the Colorado girls basketball player of the year by Gatorade on Friday just as her team prepares to compete in the Class 5A Great 8.
Van Gytenbeek, who will play basketball at Stanford next season, is averaging 18.3 points, 7.7 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 3.2 steals for the Bruins (22-2). She is a two-time first-team all-state selection (so far). Earlier this season, she set the state record for career assists.
“Jana does it all,” said Mullen coach Frank Cawley. “She can score at will. She is unselfish. She is a lock-down defender and can handle the ball so well that she will single-handedly break almost any full-court pressure. Most importantly, she is a floor leader.”
Van Gytenbeek is the first girls basketball player from Cherry Creek to ever win the Gatorade award. She is the school’s 19th overall winner.
Van Gytenbeek has a weighted 4.07 GPA. She volunteers locally with Project C.U.R.E., which raises money to benefit hospitals and clinics in the developing world. She has also donated her time on behalf of the Salvation Army and as a youth basketball coach.
