PORTLAND, Ore. — Alani Encinas, a prolific scoring guard from Sierra Vista, Ariz., has signed with the Portland State women's basketball team, head coach Chelsey Gregg announced Thursday.
 
Encinas was nominated for The Republic's 2022 All-Arizona Girls High School Basketball Player of the Year honor a week ago. Encinas also made the 5A Southern All-Region team as a sophomore, and by early February was averaging 19 points per game during her senior season with four 30-point games.
 
"Alani is a gifted scorer and has a passion for the game," Gregg said of Encinas. "She is pretty shifty and knows how to use change-of-speed to create her shot or get to the rim. We're excited about her continued growth on the defensive end and can't wait to have her join our Viking family."
 
Encinas topped 35 points on back-to-back nights, scoring 37 against Tucson Desert View HS and then 35 against Tucson Pueblo HS. Encinas' 35 points against Tucson Pueblo came on seven three-pointers and accounted for the majority of her team's points in a 55-48 win that night.
 
Encinas will join a young core for the Portland State women's basketball team that started three freshmen last year. The Vikings also signed Brooklyn Strandy and Kiana Yesiki in the fall, who will be freshmen next season along with Encinas.
 

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Alani Encinas, G, 5-7, FR, Sierra Vista, Ariz. (Buena HS)
 
BUENA HIGH SCHOOL
Player of the Year nominee for The Republic's 2022 All-Arizona honors…5A Southern All-Region honoree as a sophomore…Averaged 19 points per game as a senior…Scored 35 points or more on back-to-back nights during her senior season, scoring 37 against Tucson Desert View HS and then 35 against Tucson Pueblo HS.
 
CLUB/AAU
Played for the Tucson Rattlers from 2019 to 2021.
 
PERSONAL/MISCELLANEOUS
Comes from an athletic family, as her father, José Fernando Encinas, played basketball collegiately, while her mother, Arcelia Encinas, played softball…Has a brother, Andre Aguirre, and a sister, Areli Encinas…Lists spending time with family, working out, playing basketball and reading as hobbies/interests…Plans on majoring in health services administration with a minor in public health.