Recruit Analysis: Colorado Guard Avery Van Sickle, Exciting 2021 Verbal Commit to UW Huskies Women’s Basketball

Moving On From An Historic Moment

Van Sickle is a mid-Top 100 talent that achieved some fame as part of an historic moment in high school girls’ basketball.

Two years ago, as a sophomore, Van Sickle threw an alley-oop pass to teammate Fran Belibi for the first successful alley-oop dunk in a girls’ high school game.

Fran Belibi graduated from Regis Jesuit and just finished her freshman season at Stanford.

Meanwhile, Avery transitioned into being the main focus of the Regis Jesuit high school offense.

She’s A Shooter

Although listed as a point guard by most recruiting services, Avery is well-known as a sniper with extended three point range.

It is in this role Van Sickle will probably be immediately helpful to the Huskies and Jody Wynn’s three point centric offense that finished fifth in PAC-12 competition for 3-point attempts — 356 attempts.

Van Sickle will be able to immediately help the Dawgs stretch the defense.

Van Sickle is, however, a combo guard with solid ball-handling skills, enough athleticism to get the ball up court quickly in transition, and the play-making ability to make the right basketball decision.

As a result, Avery should fit seamlessly into coach Jody Wynn’s offensive scheme.

Maybe Some Growing Pains Ahead?

The greater challenge for Van Sickle will be adjusting defensively to PAC-12 competition.

Rita Pleskevich is the current Huskies player that Avery is most similar to in build and playing style.

[UPDATE: Rita Pleskevich has entered the transfer portal and is no longer on the UW roster.]

Avery may face an adjustment to the PAC-12 like the experience Pleskevich had coming from Broward County Junior College in Miami — i.e., Van Sickle may need to improve her defensive lateral quickness and strength to withstand the onslaught of quick and physically aggressive PAC-12 guards.

However, Avery should arrive ahead of the Pleskevitch curve because in 2021 she will be a true freshman with four years of strength & conditioning growth ahead of her.

In addition, Van Sickle will bring experience competing against elite competition at her Denver metropolitan area high school, as well as, on the AAU circuit.

So her transition should be fairly smooth, although it may take until late into Avery’s freshman year to really feel comfortable.