Anchorage teens Olivia Heartwell and Sayvia Sellers have been close friends since the third grade and spent most of lives playing on the same basketball team.
They went their separate ways in high school but reconnected this summer with Alaska TruGame, a travel ball team comprised of some of the best high school players in the Anchorage area.
They celebrated their reunion by winning the Nike Tournament of Champions in Chicago.
“It was awesome to be back on the court together,” said Heartwell of South. “Winning the 17U division was an awesome experience.”
Led by Sellers, TruGame defeated an Alabama team 61-60 in the title game to win its division and cap a 6-0 weekend performance.
The dynamic 5-foot-7 guard and reigning Gatorade Alaska Player of the Year out of ACS poured in 31 points on 60% shooting in a typical takeover performance.
Colony’s Hallie Clark added 11 points and Chloe Auble of ACS chipped in nine. Grace Christian’s Sophie Lentfer and Trinity Alex of ACS each had five to round out the scorers.
Sellers was sensational, averaging 27 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists across six games at the Nike TOC.
The McDonald’s All-American candidate is ranked No. 26 nationally and put on a show.
Name: Sayvia Sellers | @Sayvia5
Team: Alaska TruGame | @ua_TruGame
Class Rank: 2023 | #26
Event: @niketocCOOKIN!! Caught Sellers knocking down multiple 3’s (unofficially 8). Strong with the ball, efficient off the bounce & a dead-eye stroke. Super elite in a loaded pg class. pic.twitter.com/gTp0RYNdEL
— Jason Key (@bballjkey) July 14, 2022
Sellers had some huge games, including a 38-point, 8-assist performance and a 28-point, 5-rebound, 4-assist, 3-steal effort.
“She’s a team player,” Heartwell said. “And she’s a finisher.”
The Nike TOC bills itself as the greatest summer basketball event in the world, with 69 full-sized courts in the largest convention center in North America at McCormick Place.
Even still, Sellers caught the attention of college coaches. Roughly 15 to 20 were on hand when TruGame took the court.
“Say brings a crowd,” Heartwell said. “She brings college coaches to our games.”
Olivia Heartwell and Sayvia Sellers
Sellers, who has already been offered pretty much everybody in the Pac-12, said in previous interviews that she hopes the attention she garners can help other Alaskans get seen by college coaches.
Heartwell will take any assist she can get to get to the next level.
“Getting college coaches to recognize that there is talent in Alaska has always been a challenge for athletes,” she said, “so anytime we can rep the state is pretty dope.”
TruGame won six games by an average of 7.5 points, including a 1-point win and 2-point win.
“The competition was tough,” Heartwell said. “We were playing against EYBL sponsored teams. These are teams who are the best in their state in their respective divisions. Playing against girls that are D1 commits, and on Team USA. Tough.”
Alaska TruGame Girls 17U
Sayvia Sellers – ACS
Chloe Auble – ACS
Olivia Heartwell – South
Maliyah Alex – ACS
Trinity Alex – ACS
Sophie Lentfer – Grace
Hallie Clark – Colony
Nyamaii Mathot – ACS
Several Alaskans showed out in the Windy City.
Clark was consistent, reaching double figures four times and ranking second on the team in scoring at 11.2 points per game on 63% shotting from 2-point range.
Auble was third in scoring at 9 points per game, highlighted by her 16-point breakout in the third game.
Lentfer averaged 5.2 points and 5.0 rebounds. She also hit a game-winning shot in a 67-65 double-OT win over Meta Hoops 17U National of Idaho in the first game of the tournament.
“It was a nice contested jumper to win the game,” Heartwell said.