It’s back-to-back UECU Player of the Week awards for Wyomissing’s Amaya Stewart

By Mike Drago Last updated Feb 20, 2023

Amaya Stewart found herself facing friends and former youth teammates when her Wyomissing basketball team met Reading High for the Berks Girls League championship Friday.

She wasn’t about to take it easy on them.

“We’re best friends off the court but on the court we’re serious and we take this to a different level,” said the Spartans sophomore. “We’re here to compete and dominate.”

Stewart certainly did that. She scored a game-high 18 points and grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds as Wyomissing won 46-28 to claim its first county championship.

That capped off a big week for Stewart, who made 23-of-42 shots from the field, 8-of-11 from the line, grabbed 37 rebounds and scored 54 points in the three Berks playoff wins. She has been named Utilities Employees Credit Union Player of the Week for the second straight week.

On Sunday she was named Berks Player of the Year.

The 6-1 center anchors the Spartans’ stingy zone defense, making opponents think twice before attacking the basket. She often swats away shots when they do.

On offense she has strong footwork and knows how to use her size to score at ease. Up top on the high post she’ll knock down a jumper or use one of her well-honed spins moves to blow past a defender and get an open look at the rim.

Stewart has become a dominant force in Berks basketball, and she’s only just scraping the surface.

She pulled in the first of what could be many Division I offers earlier this season, from Temple, and paved the way for the first of what could be several league championships for the Spartans.

Stewart has grown up playing with teammates Annie McCaffrey, Audrey Hurleman and Alexis Hardy, and said that’s been important in the Spartans compiling a 23-2 record.

“Many teams forget about team chemistry, on and off the court,” said Stewart. “That’s what you need to have. That’s what really brings you together.”

The Spartans continue their playoff journey Friday with a District 3 Class 4A opener at home against sixth-seeded Middletown.

Stewart becomes the third Wyomissing selection for Utilities Employees Credit Union Player of the Week honors. Teammate Alexis Hardy was selected earlier this season.

Players considered for Player of the Week honors are nominated by their coach or by members of the MikeDragoSports.com coverage team.

Also considered for Utilities Employees Credit Union Player of Week:

Caraline Herb, Berks Catholic
Shakyla Mayo, Gov. Mifflin
Ashanti Chapman, Reading High
Yamilex Rodriguez, Reading High
Laila Jones, Wilson
Alexis Hardy, Wyomissing
Annie McCaffrey, Wyomissing

Selected earlier this season:

Dec. 12: Alexis Hardy, Wyomissing
Dec. 19: Morgan Snyder, Oley Valley
Dec. 26: Caraline Herb, Berks Catholic
Jan. 2: Ashanti Chapman, Reading High
Jan. 9: Amelia Gassert, Hamburg
Jan. 16: Juliana Stichter, Schuylkill Valley
Jan. 23: Laila Jones, Wilson
Jan. 30: Alexis Hess, Fleetwood
Feb. 6: Grace Reedy, Exeter
Feb. 13: Amaya Stewart, Wyomissing

Selected last year for Utilities Employees Credit Union Player of Week:

Dec. 20: Kya Washington, Reading High
Dec. 27: Caraline Herb, Berks Catholic
Jan. 3: Shakyla Mayo, Gov. Mifflin
Jan. 10: Alexis Hess, Fleetwood
Jan. 17: Addison Benner, Brandywine Heights
Jan. 24: Lekaiah Solomon, Schuylkill Valley
Jan. 31: Caroline Reedy, Berks Catholic
Feb. 7: Addison Benner, Brandywine Heights
Feb. 14: Caroline Reedy, Berks Catholic
Feb. 21: Shakyla Mayo, Gov. Mifflin
Feb. 28: Aailyah Dabney, Berks Catholic
March 7: Avery Potteiger, Brandywine Heights