![](\"https:\/\/www.13thregionmedianetwork.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/untitled-4-19-732x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"LONDON \u2014 Many teams would have entered a rebuilding phase after losing a player such as Brooke Nicholson, but Eddie Mahan\u2019s North Laurel Lady Jaguars had one of the state\u2019s top up-and-coming players ready to take over the reins in Mariella Claybrook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Claybrook established herself as one of the top players in the 13th Region last season, but this year she took her game even further \u2014 emerging as one of the top players in the state while leading North Laurel in scoring (17.8), rebounding (11.0), and more than three blocks per game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMariella has grown tremendously since she first stepped into the program,\u201d Mahan said. \u201cWhen she first was pulled up in middle school, you could see the potential, versatility and the athleticism, but like most players she was still learning the speed and physicality of the varsity level. Over time, she\u2019s put in the work to develop her skills, her confidence, and her understanding of the game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLast year, you could see the flashes of greatness, but it was her own unselfishness that was holding her back,\u201d he added. \u201cShe was very content to set back and see others succeed as long as the team won. Now, she\u2019s become one of the players we rely on in big moments and you can see that in every aspect of her game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really special because it\u2019s a direct result of the work she\u2019s put in,\u201d Mahan continued. \u201cShe\u2019s spent a lot of time improving her game and becoming more consistent, and it\u2019s been fun to watch that growth. When a player commits themselves to getting better the way she has, it usually shows on the court. The greatest part of it though is even though her massive improvement she has never lost her team first mentality or her tremendous coach-ability.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mahan said the keys to Claybrook\u2019s success has been her versatility and the energy to the floor. \u201cShe can impact the game in multiple ways whether it\u2019s scoring, rebounding, defending, or creating opportunities for teammates,\u201d he said. \u201cPlayers like that are extremely valuable because they help you in so many different areas of the game. She can guard multiple positions and is the best shot blocker I have ever coached at any level.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also said her play during the 39th District and 13th Region Tournaments were huge to North Laurel\u2019s success. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe was very good during that stretch,\u201d he said. \u201cThose are the moments where you need your players to step up, and she did that on both ends of the floor. Her confidence and aggressiveness really helped set the tone for us during those games. The part most people didn\u2019t know though was she played through an injury during that time and you would not have known it due to her toughness and dedication to winning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n