Alaska's top player is heading for Stanford.

Think "Alaska" and you're not likely to summon up images of basketball--unless it's being played on ice. Yet, come next season, a top-notch player from an Alaskan high school will be playing for glory in NCAA Division I women's ball.

Azella Perryman is currently averaging 30.0 points per game for Anchorage's East High School. Next year, she'll be playing for the Stanford Cardinal, coached by Tara Vanderveer.

Last year, Azella led her team to the Alaska State Championship and the stats she put together on the way to the championship were pretty impressive. She averaged a double-double: 21.1 points, 11.3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 3 steals each game. USA Today chose Azella as its Player of the Year for the State of Alaska. She was also chosen as an Honorable Mention Player on Street & Smith's Girls' High School All-America Team. This year, as a 6'2" senior, Azella is expected to dominate in the paint at her position of power forward.

This year's team has gotten off to a hot start, and the signs are there that Azella will once again be making an impact up north. The basketball season did not start until December 28, and East played its first three games at the Tundra Tip-Off Tournament in Fairbanks. On December 28, East defeated Wasilla High School by the lopsided score of 95-23. Azella's point total--30--was enough to have defeated the team single-handedly, although she got good support from several teammates who scored in double digits.

The second game, against Santa's favorite team--North Pole High School--was another blowout. Azella drove the bus as East took North Pole to school, 97-18. Azella had 30 points again.

The final game was much closer but East still prevailed. East took home the trophy after a 66-52 victory over the host school, the Lathrop Malamutes. In what appears to be a trend, Azella led all scorers with 30 points.

But, while Azella's performance on the court is noteworthy, she has not rested on her athletic laurels. Part of the reason that she was able to get recruited by Stanford (where Chelsea Clinton is a student) is because of her outstanding work in the classroom. Azella maintains a 3.9 GPA and scored 1410 on her SAT as a sophomore. She has also been awarded an International Language Award, The All-American Scholar Award, Blacks in Government Award, and the United States Achievement Academy Award. Needless to say, she's also a member of the National Honor Society.

If you would like to follow Azella, and the progress of East High School this season, the team's Web site at www.ladytbirds.com, will be providing constant updates.

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