About Community Grant
Winners
National Winners
State Winners
Winner Access Nominate
mobile navigation - click to open mobile navigation - click to close
11 Days Until the State Girls Cross Country Announcement
Gatorade 2023 - 2024: Player of the Year

Girls Basketball - Rhode Island

Gatorade Player of the year

Jaina Yekelchik

Guard
PONAGANSET HS
GLOCESTER, RHODE ISLAND
SENIOR
Height: 5-FOOT-4
Press Release

Peak Performance

16.100

Average Points (per game)

4.7

Average Rebounds (per game)

3.2

Average Steals (per game)

2

Average Assists (per game)
“She has the ability to change the game by herself. With her steals turning into transition points and setting up teammates for scoring opportunities, she contributes in ways that don’t necessarily show up on the stat sheet. What has impressed me most about Jaina, is her ability to put the team’s success above individual glory.”
Tammy Drape
Head Coach - St. Raphael Academy head coach

Athletic Excellence

At the time of her selection, the 5-foot-4 senior guard had led the Chieftains to a 17-7 record and the No. 4 seed in the state tournament this past season. Yekelchik averaged 16.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 3.2 steals and 1.4 blocks through 24 games, earning First-Team All-State honors. During the regular season, she became the 10th player in program history to surpass 1,000 career points.

Academic Achievement

Yekelchik has maintained a 3.83 GPA in the classroom. She has committed to play basketball at nationally ranked Rhode Island College starting this fall.

Exemplary Character

A member of the Rhode Island Department of Education Student Advisory Council, Yekelchik has volunteered locally on behalf of the Special Olympics in basketball and soccer. She has also donated her time to the National Education Association of Rhode Island’s Gingerbreak Express, supporting families in need during the holiday season.