by By Dan Ninham
Ashiian Hunter, 16, is in the class of 2023 at Mesa HS in Mesa, AZ. She plays basketball for the high school as well as two club teams, Natives With Talent (NWT) and Arizona Select.
“I’m from the Navajo tribe,” said Ashiian. “I am Ashiihi (salt people) clan, born for Filipino.”
Ashiian’s main athletic accomplishments include during freshman year include being named Arizona 6A East Valley All Region First Team and assisted in bringing her high school team ranking from 32 to 16; and sophomore year, AZ 6A East Valley Region Champs, 6A East Valley Region Player of the Year, and 6A All Conference First Team.
“My tribal core values have taught me to be respectful to others and to help those in need,” said Ashiian. “Those two values have developed me into the athlete I am. I have so much respect for my coaches, trainers, and opponents.”
“My coaches and trainers have all taught me what I need to see and how to overcome any obstacles I encounter on the court. My opponents determine how I play. The tougher and harder they are, means I need to put in work,” added Ashiian.
“One of my main goals when I step on the court is to try my best to outwork everyone,” said Ashiian. “My energy feeds off to my teammates, so with that I try to keep my mindset positive. We all have our off games, so when I see my teammates having a tough time, I do what I can to bring the team morale up. A team plays better when they are in good spirits.”
“I’m going as far as I can go with this gifted talent I’ve been given,” said Ashiian. “My goals are to get into a good college/university that will give me the education I need to be an Occupational Therapist. I’m going to take the great opportunities given to me and follow those paths. I see basketball and my academics as my key to open more doors. Whether I make it going big or not. I’m working hard now to set up my future and the career I want.”
“My elders are my mentors,” said Ashiian. “There are four things they always tell me. One, be thankful. Two, respect yourself, the game, and your opponents. Three, you will make mistakes, learn from them. Four, always strengthen your body, your mind and your spirit.”
“My high school coaches are Katie Fonseca and Stanison Yazzie,” said Ashiian. “They have taught me that hard work, determination and trust have great rewards, so I need to keep pushing forward.”
Katie Fonseca, Mesa Girls basketball head coach, talked about her star athlete. She said: “Ashiian Hunter is a great all around basketball player. She is a competitor and it shows in the way she plays. She has improved her game every year and helped lead Mesa HS to a region championship and #6 seed in the state tournament last year. She also lead the conference in scoring this year as well as the 6A Conference overall.”
“Ash plays both sides of the ball and has made a massive commitment to being the best defender and offensive player on the court. She is a very smart and shifty player. She uses her head fake, jab and shot fake in a way that gets the defense on their heels.”
“Ashiian has a great feel for the game and her ability to change direction with the ball and get past her defender while using her hesitation dribble or spin move is unrivaled. She can get to the rim, has a great pull up jumper and can stroke the ‘3’ ball. She is also is a team player and she gets her teammates involved. She has a great no look and behind the back pass that her teammates are ready for but the defense isn’t.”
“Ashiian is a great teammate behind the scenes in the locker room. She leads by example and with her voice. Ash also takes great pride in her academics as well and carries over a 4.0 GPA.”
“My Arizona Select coaches are Ben Boyd and Milee Karre,” said Ashiian. “With their intense practice and workout schedule, they are teaching me about that next level and what to expect when I get there.”
“My NWT Coach JJ has taught me that you do not have to have the same DNA to be family and not to let our size determine our play quality,” said Ashiian. “We may be small, but we play big.”
Coach JJ talked about his star athlete. He said: “Ashiian is overlooked because of her 5’2 size but, she can compete with the best of them. Very aggressive on offense and not only can she shoot but she’s so shifty and crafty that it makes it impossible for anyone to guard her. If you play off she’s gonna shoot, you play her tight she has the ability to make a quick move get you twisted up with a cross over and go by you and finish.”
“Defense she’s gonna lock you up, she will be the first person you see either on the inbound or at half court. Not afraid of taking on any challenge, Ashiian is gonna do big things in her life. I’m just happy to have a part of her journey!”
“The girls and I have created chemistry that most teams don’t have,” said Ashiian. “Yes, some of us have been playing together since elementary, but we also welcome the new talents that commit. It feels as though we have all become a big family, including off the court. JJ definitely plays a big part in creating a great ‘coach to player bond’ with all of us. Team bonding and trust is important to him.”
“I don’t know my life has just begun,” said Ashiian. “I guess we’ll just have to watch and see. Great things can come in small packages and in basketball, don’t let one’s size fool you, heart can overcome height.”
Photo Credit: Tashina Joey
Well said, wish more people in this country could follow your example. I believe we would be people.