Bartlett’s Amelia ‘Uhila claims Gatorade award as Alaska’s top girls basketball player

Amelia ‘Uhila, a triple-double threat every time she stepped on a basketball court this season, is Alaska’s Gatorade Player of the Year.

‘Uhila posted eye-popping stats in her senior season at Bartlett High -- she averaged 17.4 points, 7.1 steals, 5.9 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game while propelling the Golden Bears to a 17-0 season.

She bookended the Cook Inlet Conference season with triple-doubles -- 21 points, 10 steals and 10 assists in a season-opening win over the Service Cougars and 20 points, 10 steals and 10 assists in a regular-season finale victory over the Chugiak Mustangs.

The 5-foot-8 guard went on to lead the Golden Bears to their first girls basketball state championship in 43 years. Next season, she’ll be a Division I player with Portland State.

‘Uhila is the second athlete this month to garner a Gatorade Player of the Year award.

East High senior Jordan Holland was named Alaska’s top football player May 13, his second major award of the season -- earlier, he was named the MaxPreps football player of the year.

A 5-10 wide receiver and defensive back, Holland helped the Thunderbirds go 6-0 in a pandemic-shortened season.

He caught 27 passes for 590 yards and nine touchdowns on offense and made 20 tackles and one interception on defense. In East’s 41-0 win over Bartlett High in the Anchorage School District championship game, he had five catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns.

Holland is the second East High player in three years to win the Gatorade award for football. Colton Herman was the 2018-19 winner.

Alaska’s Gatorade Player of the Year for boys basketball is scheduled to be announced next month.