Girls’ basketball player of the year: Jordin Canada

Watching Jordin Canada of L.A. Windward dribble a basketball is like getting the chance to see the Mona Lisa in Paris.

It’s perfection on display.

Then, to see Canada make a precision pass when defenders converge around her only adds to her allure as the best girls’ point guard in California, if not in the nation.

She has been selected The Times’ girls’ basketball player of the year after averaging 17.2 points and 6.9 assists in leading Windward to the Southern Section Open Division championship. The McDonald’s All-American has signed with UCLA.

“No words can really express being able to play with her,” Windward freshman Alyssa Ramlochan said.

During the Palisades tournament in December, Canada, a 5-foot-6 senior, made a behind-the-back pass under the basket to Ramlochan, leading to a layup and a big smile from Canada.

Her coach, Vanessa Nygaard, was overheard before the game trying to convince Canada to “develop another skill.” That was shocking news, considering how good Canada already was.

“I said, ‘You have to learn how to tape your own ankle. Then you’d be a complete player,’ ” Nygaard, who used to tape her own ankles when playing in Europe, said jokingly.

Canada is the ultimate weapon for shredding a full-court press. Teams tried to double team her, but she would find the open player with a pass or simply dribble around the trap, always keeping her head up as if the ball were an extension of her hand.

Fast forward to an Open Division semifinal game against Long Beach Poly. Canada scored a career-high 27 points.

“She was amazing,” Nygaard said.

Nygaard had a feeling something good was going to happen. Canada showed up at the gym more than three hours before the game to practice shooting.

See, even the best have to practice.