Each week, The Baltimore Sun will recognize one high school player from a boys sport and one from a girls sport for their athletic achievements.
Boys sport Athlete of the Week: Jayden Saunders, Long Reach, basketball
The senior point guard has enjoyed some of his season’s best in the Lightning’s playoff run to Wednesday’s Class 3A state semifinal. On Tuesday, Saunders finished with a game-high 23 points in leading the No. 9 Lightning (23-2) to a 73-64 win over Howard County rival and No. 8 River Hill to claim the Class 3A South Region II title, the program’s first since 2008. He followed with 30 points as the Lightning beat Milford Mill, 72-63, in Friday’s state quarterfinal. This season, Saunders is averaging 21.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.1 steals per game. Long Reach next takes on Northeast-AA at 7 p.m. Wednesday at North Point.
Girls sport Athlete of the Week: Drew Watkins, Francis Scott Key, basketball
In leading Francis Scott Key to the program’s first region title since 1997, the senior guard scored a game-high 29 points in Wednesday’s 65-34 win over Middletown in the Class 2A West Region I final. She followed with a fine all-around performance, including 12 points, in the Eagles’ 52-39 win at Hereford in Saturday’s state quarterfinal. This season, Watkins is averaging 15.7 points, five rebounds and more than one assist and one steal per game this season. FSK (18-7) will face Wicomico at 5 p.m. Wednesday in a state semifinal at Montgomery Blair.
To nominate candidates, please email Glenn Graham at ggraham@baltsun.com by 11 a.m. Sunday with details about the student-athlete’s performance from the past week.