PHOTO:

Lowell High girls basketball star Shyan Mwai poses Monday night at the school. The sophomore guard is averaging 22 points per game for the 12-1 Red Raiders. SUN/JOHN LOVE

By:

Matt Langone

Posted:

May,07-2016 17:22:27

LOWELL --Players and coaches on the Lowell High girls basketball team say Shyan Mwai of Kenya is a quiet kid.

"Shy is definitely shy," joked senior center Alexi Schecter.

Off the court, that seems like an accurate description of Mwai, who doesn't carry herself with any attention-seeking tendencies. However, on the court, Mwai's game is loud--really loud. It's impossible not to notice Lowell's sensational sophomore point guard, a confident and cerebral force who has wreaked havoc on the opposition all winter.

Mwai doesn't need words to prove anything, her game has been doing the talking for a long time. Growing up in the Centralville part of Lowell, Mwai would play pickup basketball games with the boys down at the park. She was the only girl, and she didn't care.

"It was street ball, all the time," remembered Mwai. "It was pretty fun, I liked it--bullying the boys."

These days, the 5-foot-7 Mwai uses an explosive blend of quickness and skill to seemingly bully every player given the unfortunate task of trying to guard her. She is averaging 22 points, five assists and four steals per game for Lowell, which is 12-1 entering Tuesday's game against Dracut.

Mwai averaged 17 points as a freshman, meaning she will likely reach 1,000 career points early in her junior season. She is all but a lock to become the program's all-time leading scorer--Ashley Rivera (2004-08) holds the record with 1,242.

According to Lowell head coach Brian Myers, UMass Lowell has already extended a scholarship offer to Mwai. She is also drawing interest from the University of Rhode Island, Brown, the University of New Hampshire, Oklahoma State and Virginia Tech. Mwai is an outstanding student with a 3.8 grade point average.

"She's on the Division 1 radar," said Myers. "She hasn't reached her ceiling yet. As times goes on, she'll get a little stronger and continue to develop.

She'd probably be considered a score-first point guard, but at the same time, she always makes the right pass. She's always looking to make her teammates better. A common thing I hear from other coaches when they speak about her is that she makes her teammates better.

"She's a leader on the court and she's a gym rat. She's in the gym six or seven days a week. Basketball is a big part of her life. She's a special kid."

Mwai started for the Red Raiders from Day 1 as a freshman. It was a significant jump from middle school basketball to the perennially challenging Merrimack Valley Conference. Her talent was ready, but as was mentioned, Mwai is quiet-by-nature and had to learn how to be vocal and make the right decisions with the ball. Lowell finished a respectable 13-10 in 2014-15.

"I don't get nervous, so I feel like I handle pressure pretty well," said Mwai, who also plays field hockey. "I like to put it on myself to help this team and be a leader."

The Albany-bound Schecter has been one of the area's premier post players for four years. She is averaging 13 points, 10 rebounds and eight blocks per game this season, and is relishing the luxury of playing with Mwai.

"We never really had a true point guard before this. So, as a big, it's a tremendous help," said Schecter. "It's easier to set up our plays and get us going."

Mwai's journey to this point has been defined by hard work and determination.

She had no direct basketball influence as a youngster. But she tried her hand at several different sports before discovering her basketball gift. Meanwhile, her incredibly supportive mother worked hard to provide for Mwai and older sister Brianna.

"My mom is my No. 1 fan," said Mwai. "She can be a little rowdy at games, but I like it. She's a big supporter of mine."

If Mwai continues down this path, her mom will have plenty to cheer about.

Source:

Lowell Sun