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<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"LONDON \u2014 North Laurel\u2019s Mariella Claybrook made it official today, committing to play college basketball at Western Kentucky University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Claybrook will enter the 2026-27 as one of the top players in the state while being considered as a Miss Basketball candidate as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re incredibly excited for Mariella and her family,\u201d North Laurel coach Eddie Mahan said. \u201cWestern Kentucky is getting an outstanding basketball player, but even more importantly, they\u2019re getting an outstanding young woman. Mariella has worked relentlessly for this opportunity, and no one deserves it more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat makes Mariella so special is her versatility,\u201d he added. \u201cShe can impact a game in so many different ways. She can score inside and out, defend multiple positions, rebound at a high level, protect the rim, and make plays for her teammates. There aren\u2019t many players who can affect every aspect of the game the way she does.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Claybrook guided North Laurel to a 49th District and 13th Region titles last season while leading the Lady Jaguars with an 18.2 scoring average and an 11.2 rebounding average. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOne of the things I admire most about Mariella is that she\u2019s always been about winning,\u201d Mahan said. \u201cShe has never been concerned with individual accolades or statistics. Her mindset has always been, \u2018What can I do to help our team win?\u2019 That\u2019s a rare quality in today\u2019s game, and it\u2019s one of the biggest reasons she\u2019s been such a successful leader for our program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe\u2019s the type of player every coach wants because she\u2019s willing to make the extra pass, take on the toughest defensive assignment, or do whatever the team needs on any given night,\u201d he added. \u201cHer teammates trust her because they know she puts the team\u2019s success ahead of her own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n