If people didn’t already know Dimond freshman Alissa Pili was the real deal after winning MVP honors at the Lady Lynx Shootout, she removed all doubt after posting 29 points, 17 rebounds and 4 blocked shots in a victory last week against Chugiak.

At 14, Pili is already among the top of Class 4A players in Alaska.

“That’s crazy to think about,” Dimond coach Jim Young told me.

Young, who led the Lynx to the 4A state championship last year, has had fabulous freshmen over the years from Zee Zee Young and Lillian Bullock to the Afoa twins and Keiahnna Engel.

He believes Pili fits in with that group of great players.

“The numbers she’s putting up as a freshman are incredible and she’s missing half the game because of blowouts,” he said. “Some people don’t understand, but she’s the kind of special player that you’re just not going to counter no matter how hard [opponents] work. There is always an exception the rule.”

The 5-foot-10 Pili has been exceptional for Dimond this year, most notably winning MVP honors at the prestigious Lady Lynx Shootout, which featured all the best 4A players in Alaska.

“I think I’m playing OK, but I need to keep working,” Pili told me. “I can’t be satisfied.”

The powerful forward can post up weaker players, dribble by taller defenders and shoot the 3 over anybody else.

“She’s not one dimensional,” Young said. “She’s big and strong and should be in the paint, but there are times when I let her roam the wing.”

Her 29 points and 4 blocks were season highs. Her season high for rebounds is 19.

“It’s kind of what I expected,” Pili said, “but only because I’ve been playing against high school girls since seventh grade, so I kind of already had the feel for it. I’ve been playing above my level ever since I started playing basketball.”

Young said the success hasn’t gone to her head.

“She sees the respect people are giving her, but she’s not conceited,” he said. “She’s confident.”

Her parents keep her grounded.

“They taught me to just play the game,” she said. “Don’t get all caught up in thinking you are above everybody else. Just play the game.”

Pili is the only freshman on the Dimond team, which is very young with five sophomores, two juniors and two seniors.

Dimond lost nine of 10 players from last year’s title team.

Despite the turnover, the Lynx have managed to reload to remain relevant in the Cook Inlet Conference.

“This team gets along so well. I know last year we won, but the chemistry wasn’t as good as it is this year,” Young said. “I don’t know if we’ll win a state title – the potential is there – but this is a great example of a bunch of kids that get along away from basketball and it shows on the court when they play.”

Having so many new players to Dimond’s team this year has masked the fact the Lynx have more underclassmen than upperclassmen.

It’s allowed for Pili to take center stage without ruffling the feathers of older players.

“Some coaches believe that a freshman shouldn’t be playing varsity,” Young said. “My belief is once you hit high school I think you throw out all that grade stuff. For me, it’s about your skill level. If you’re good enough to play varsity you should play varsity.”

Van Williams is a freelance writer in Anchorage and a correspondent for the Alaska School Activities Association.