Naylor studies hard, passes

Green Valley's Victoria Naylor spends plenty of time watching basketball. But for Naylor, it's not a way to idly pass the time. It's more like homework.

"I watch games and break it down," the Gators point guard said. "I don't watch it as entertainment; I watch it as a tool to make me better."

That commitment to learning and understanding the game of basketball is one reason Naylor has emerged as one of the area's top point guards this season. The senior averages an area-best 8.7 assists to go with 19.0 points per game.

Naylor said she always has been a point guard but disagrees with those who say she was "born" for the position.

"Some people say I was a natural when I was young," Naylor said. "I say it's the desire to study the game. I have that desire, and I don't think everybody does."

Sometimes it's difficult for a talented high school player to trust a teammate. Even a normally unselfish player might take an extra dribble or two while looking for her own shot rather than passing to a less skilled teammate.

Naylor doesn't have that fear.

"She's the ultimate team player," Green Valley coach Lorenzo Jarvis said. "She sees the floor extremely well, and she has no fear of giving it up to a player at all. It's almost a respect of her teammates."

Naylor consistently looks to push the tempo for the Gators. Though she has strong ball-handling skills, she generally chooses to throw the quick pass down the court rather than move the ball with the bounce.

"I don't have the fear of giving up the basketball because I see it as an opportunity for me to get it back," Naylor said. "You get it up the court, you get it back and you set it up again. I find it as beneficial to me if I give it up, and it's beneficial to my teammates. And it rushes the defense."

Naylor's desire to rush the defense is apparent when watching her play. As soon as she gets the ball, she looks down the court for a teammate.

"The best way to get the ball up the floor is to get it against a disordered defense, and the best way to do that is by passing," Naylor said. "I can always get it back and set up the offense later."

Though Green Valley sophomore Jazmine Jarvis also shows some point guard skills and averages 5.7 assists, there's no doubt about who is in charge for the Gators.

Naylor wants the ball in her hands and is the clear leader on the court.

"It's awesome having a point guard that can keep the girls motivated and make sure we're doing what we're supposed to be doing," Lorenzo Jarvis said.

Naylor isn't shy about the leadership role. She said she makes sure to talk to her teammates before every game, pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of the opponent and reassuring them of their own strong points.

And that desire to lead is especially important on a team that features five sophomores and a freshman. Naylor is the only senior starter.

"I give each person on the team a role," Naylor said. "And even if you're the last person on the bench, you still have a role. And I remind them before every game what (their) role is and what we need to do on the court. So basically with young people, you just need to keep giving reminders. Reminder after reminder about what you're good at."

Naylor had picked a role for herself as well, dreaming of playing for a big-time college program. But when those dreams fell through, she regrouped and signed with the University of Denver.

"Denver wasn't my first choice," Naylor said. "I had a rough summer; it was very rough. I had a really bad summer.

"I wanted to go big. I saw it one way, and it got shot down, so now I've got to go a different route."

And just like Naylor tries to learn from the games she watches on TV, she's trying to learn from the disappointment of the recruiting process.

"It's kind of like some people find religion after they get in trouble," Naylor said. "I got shot down, and now I've been enlightened on what I need to do.

"(Denver) may not be big to everyone else, it may not be known. But I'll make it known."

Contact Prep Sports Editor Damon Seiters at dseiters@reviewjournal.com or (702) 380-4587.