Utah’s all-time leading scorer Teya Sidberry ready to recreate success with Utes WBB
SALT LAKE CITY (BVM) – Judge Memorial girls basketball coach Joshawa Pike could tell stories for hours about Teya Sidberry.
Pike coached Sidberry during AAU basketball before a remarkable four-year career at Judge and was a first-hand witness to one of the most decorated athletes in Utah high school history.
“Most coaches or parents can say ‘I’ve got the best kid,’” Sidberry said. “Does Teya have things to work on? Absolutely. But as far as just an overall picture of Teya Sidberry, I can use her as a model for Judge Memorial, women’s athletics and a student ambassador. She’s just an all-around great person.”
That all-around great person also happens to be an all-around great basketball player, too.
The first time Sidberry stepped on the court as a freshman for Judge in 2018, she dropped a 25-point, 13-rebound double-double in a win over Taylorsville. Her Bulldogs’ debut would just be a preview of what she would accomplish over the next few seasons.
Sidberry averaged 22 points as a freshman and by the time she was averaging 24 points as a sophomore, Pike knew his offense had to run through her.
“When she was a sophomore, I really based my offense around that; the ball needs to get in her hands,” Pike said. “We have a foundation of what we want to run, but out of that foundation, let’s just play basketball. I think that sometimes helped her a little bit just to be free.”
The free-flowing, Sidberry-centric offense helped her average 29.2 points, 13.7 rebounds and five steals as a junior on the way to her second consecutive Class 3A Player of the Year award. The remarkable three-year run (where Sidberry scored 1,666 points) would set the stage for a historical senior campaign.
On a Saturday afternoon in late January, Sidberry etched her name in the record books by erupting for 56 points, setting Utah’s single-game scoring record (55). She made 24 of 41 field goals to go along with 16 rebounds and 12 assists.
Just a few weeks later, Sidberry made history once again on Senior Night. She banked in a lay-up with less than two minutes remaining in a game against Providence and became the greatest scorer in Utah state history (boys or girls). It was her 42nd point of the game and it broke Julie Krommenhoek’s career scoring record of 2,384 points.
Teya Sidberry (@SidberryTeya) out there breaking records.
She is now the state of Utah's all-time leading scorer.
Here's the record breaking shot:
📽: @huutransuperman @JudgePride pic.twitter.com/I8whrlASZ9
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 4, 2022
“That was insane; it was so much fun,” Sidberry said of the record-breaking night. “I actually had to shoot a free throw before that (record-breaking shot).
“I think I had one more point to break the record and I missed that free throw so I definitely need to work on that,” Sidberry said with a laugh. “It was funny hearing the crowd because they were so into it and then I missed that free throw. But when I made it, it was crazy.”
At that point, Sidberry had accomplished everything a high school hooper could ask for, except for a state championship. But as Sidberry and the Bulldogs entered the postseason undefeated, they would not be denied their ultimate goal.
Rallying from a halftime deficit in the 3A state championship game, Judge knocked off Richfield to finish the unforgettable season with a 26-0 record and a state title. It was the school’s first girls basketball state championship since the sport became sanctioned by the UHSAA back in 1976.
Sidberry scored 18 of her 27 points in the second half as the Bulldogs prevailed 43-37.
“It’s crazy because we really all enjoyed it as a team and we just loved the process,” Sidberry said of the championship. “There was never a time where we were worried. We definitely knew we had to work, but even when we were down in some games, we had a feeling we’d come out on top in the most humble way possible.”
For Pike, the title run was straight out of a movie.
“It’s a story book; it really couldn’t have been written better,” Pike said. “In all reality, it kind of gets you emotional a little bit because you think of story books and certain kids who deserve certain things. Only one team can win a championship in each division and there’s hundreds of teams that play.”
The final numbers on Sidberry’s senior campaign are sensational.
Her 33.5 points per game broke the previous single-season record of 32.2 and her 868 points scored shattered the previous single-season state record of 733 points. Throughout her four years at Judge, Sidberry scored 2,534 points (27.7 ppg), collected 1,105 rebounds (11.8 rpg), dished out 140 assists (1.5 apg) and pocketed 440 steals (4.7 spg). She finished with 67 career double-doubles, three triple-doubles and four first team all-state selections.
The near-perfect season culminated in the 2021-22 Gatorade Utah Girls Basketball Player of the Year award.
“I’ve coached against the top schools and players in Utah for the last four years and there hasn’t been a player better than Teya Sidberry,” Morgan High School head coach Sterling Mack said in a Gatorade press release. “She’s a future WNBA player, and I’ve said that since the first time I coached against her.”
𝙊𝙁𝙁𝙄𝘾𝙄𝘼𝙇 ✍️
This SLC native is staying HOME! Welcome to the U, Teya Sidberry! #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/1GDRLqmbe8
— Utah Women’s Basketball (@UTAHWBB) November 11, 2021
Both Mack and Pike believe Sidberry has the WNBA in her future if that’s the path she ends up choosing. But before any of that comes to fruition, Sidberry will be staying close to home at the next level after committing to the University of Utah.
“Teya is such a smart, savvy, quality human being and just a fantastic basketball player,” Utah head women’s basketball coach Lynne Roberts said in a press release. “Teya has a way of always being at the right place at the right time – both offensively and defensively. She is a strong athlete with a knack for rebounding and defense. She has put up huge statistics in high school, and it’s eye-opening. We love when our local talent chooses to stay home at the U, and we can’t wait to get Teya in our program.”
Sidberry shares the same excitement as her future coach in anticipation of her time with the Utes. The 6-foot-1 forward has made a name for herself that won’t soon be forgotten in the state of Utah, and her next chapter should only add to her already-impressive resume.
“I can’t wait; I’m so excited,” Sidberry said. “The girls and coaches are great. It’s a perfect fit.”
