There hasn’t been much Lawrence High School of Fairfield’s Nia Irving hasn’t accomplished in her high school career including earning a scholarship to play for the school of her dreams: Boston University.
The 6-foot senior is one of five schoolgirl basketball players to watch this season along with Mount Desert Island teammates Sierra Tapley and Kelsey Shaw, Houlton’s Kolleen Bouchard and Windham High’s Sadie Nelson.
Senior Irving averaged 22.5 points, 14.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists a year ago in leading Lawrence to the Class A state title. She shot 52.8 percent inside the 3-point line and was a 77.8 percent free-throw shooter. The three-time KVAC Player of the Year and a Bangor Daily News All-Maine first-team selection was the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year in 2014-15.
“She is a special player,” said Lawrence coach John Donato, who noted that in addition to her dominant inside game, she has expanded her shooting range to 15 feet.
She can score with both hands, has great rebounding instincts and can handle the ball.
“She is such a tenacious rebounder. She is so physically strong. I can’t say enough good things about her,” said Edward Little of Auburn coach Craig Jipson.
Bouchard became just the third freshman since 1991 to earn a spot on one of the top three teams a year ago when she was a BDN second-team pick.
“She was a great player last year, and she improved as a shooter over the summer,” said Presque Isle coach Jeff Hudson.
“She is so versatile. She can play inside or outside, she can handle the point, she can go right or left, and she has very good post moves,” said Houlton coach Shawn Graham.
Tapley, a 5-8 senior guard who will attend the University of Maine in the fall, was an All-Maine third-team pick after averaging 16.3 points, four assists, 3.5 steals and three rebounds in 2014-15.
“She’s hard to defend,” said Hudson. “She can score outside or take it to the basket and hit a pull-up jumper.”
MDI coach Brent Barker said Tapley has a tireless work ethic, and she works on her weaknesses.
“She’s a basketball player in every aspect of the game,” said John Bapst coach Mike Webb. “And she’s a smart player.”
Shaw, a 5-9 forward who is going to Stonehill College (Massachusetts), is “very multifaceted” said Barker.
“She’s very athletic. She can handle the ball, she averaged 14-15 points and led us in rebounding and she has really worked hard on her outside game,” he said.
“She is really active,” said Hudson. “She has improved as an outside shooter.”
Shaw was an All-Maine honorable mention
Nelson, a 5-9 senior forward, was a first team All-Southwestern Maine Activities Association pick last year after averaging 17 points and 8.5 rebounds for Windham.
“She’s versatile,” said Rick Simonds, who coached her with the AAU Renegades Under-17 team. “She can hit the three, but she can also take it to the basket. She’s very strong and aggressive. She is also a terrific goalkeeper for their soccer team and catcher on the softball team.”