Nyingifa comes out of Dixon’s shadow

Atonye Nyingifa, a long-armed senior guard at Redondo, has taken a back seat to Long Beach Poly’s Jasmine Dixon her entire high school career. But maybe it’s time she takes a seat alongside Dixon as one of the best players in the Southland -- and the nation.

Nyingifa averaged 21 points and 20 rebounds in the playoffs as a 14-year-old freshman.

She averaged 18.8 points and 11.7 rebounds during her sophomore season.

As a junior, she scored 25 points before fouling out with six minutes to go against Poly and Redondo lost, 46-44, to the undisputed No. 1 team in the state.

“We had Atonye bring the ball up,” Coach Marcelo Enriquez said of his non-point guard. “Her poise in that situation almost won us the game. Against one of the toughest presses in the country, she’s bringing the ball up like it’s no big deal.”

She averaged 16.8 points and 11.7 rebounds last season. And when you ask the UCLA recruit who the best player in the Southland is, she doesn’t hesitate to answer: “Me.”

“I don’t want to put down Jasmine, but I think I’m more well-rounded and can play any position,” said the 5-foot-10 guard-forward who looks as if she’s 6 feet but plays like she’s 6-3. “As far as athleticism, I’m more well-rounded.

“We’re two different people and it’s so hard to compare. . . . She has strength and a post game. I have guard and post skills. Can she run the way I do?”

Over the summer, Nyingifa participated in three national tournaments and was named the most valuable player of two, one of which her team lost in the finals. “I went to a level I didn’t even know I had,” she said.

And she doesn’t even turn 17 until Dec. 8.

“She brings versatility for us in all areas,” Enriquez said. “Being able to bring the ball up for us under extreme pressure, the ability to score from anywhere on the floor . . . and complete domination on the boards when we need to get rebounds.

“She brings her leadership qualities, a relentless will to win. . . . She really is a player who can do it all.”

Others to watch this season:

Courtney Clements, Long Beach Millikan, Sr., 6-1: A guard-forward headed to Arizona, Clements has three-point range, handles the ball well and can beat you on the boards. “There’s only a couple of players I have to figure out how to stop them,” Poly Coach Carl Buggs said. “She’s one of them.”

Amber Coatney, Lynwood, Sr., 5-9: A St. Mary’s-bound guard-forward, Coatney is quick, has a three-point shot, can stop on a dime and make smart decisions. Lynwood may not have the depth it has in past years, which means Coatney could get more minutes, and that can’t be good for opponents.

Monica DeAngelis, Los Angeles Windward, Sr., 5-8: A guard who has signed with Loyola Marymount, DeAngelis has long been one of the area’s preeminent three-point shooters, and with 317, she’s within 130 of the state record. A terrific passer with a great crossover move, there are those who think she’s too unselfish. The way she shoots, maybe they’re right.

Jasmine Dixon, Long Beach Poly, Sr., 5-11: This Rutgers-bound guard-forward is the odds-on favorite to emerge as the Southland’s player of the year. The Jackrabbits will again be one of the best teams in the state, if not the nation, and Dixon is their go-to player. Actually, she’s their go-get-it player, because no one is a more tenacious rebounder.

Jonae Ervin, Brea Olinda, Jr., 5-5: She may not even be the best player on her team -- that could be sharp-shooting sophomore Kelsey Harris -- but Ervin is quick, and that has made her a threat on defense and offense, where she’s a very capable driver, shooter and passer.

Rebekah Gardner, Chino Hills Ayala, Sr., 6-0: This UCLA-bound guard leads a run-and-gun offense. Gardner can make baskets from outside, is graceful winding her way to the basket, and has been among the Southland’s leading scorers her entire career.

Christina Marinacci, Santa Ana Foothill, Jr., 6-1: A forward-center, Marinacci plays perfectly within the flow of the game and seamlessly incorporates her teammates into the action.

Kristin McCarthy, La Puente Bishop Amat, Sr., 5-11: The Lancers lack the interior game that has been their trademark, and so this Temple-bound guard will be the target of opposing defenses. Athletic and with very good jumping ability, McCarthy should convert plenty of layups as she did last season, when she averaged 14 points and five rebounds.

Cierra Windham, Norco, Jr., 6-1: A forward, Windham can handle the ball, has a medium-range jump shot, runs the floor and can score with either hand. Scouting the Cougars is easy: Windham inside, Windham outside.

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martin.henderson@latimes.com