Name: Dejah Hill
Height: 6 feet
Position: Power Forward/Small Forward
High School: Cumberland Valley High School, Class of 2022
AAU Club: Mid Penn Motion AAU
GPA: 3.8
Offers: Bloomsburg and Lock Haven.
Status: COMMITTED - Gettysburg College (12/12/21)
Favorite hobbies outside of basketball: Running, writing, and volunteering locally.
Expectations heading into your senior season: "To win the Mid Penn Commonwealth Championship and a District Championship. I think our team next year can be just as successful as we were this year as long as we work together and play hard. Personally, I’m always looking to improve my game and work hard throughout this postseason and next season."
Dejah Hill is a 6 foot Power Forward from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. She's primarily used as a back to the basket big or slasher, but is looking forward to taking on a bigger role her senior year playing inside-out for the Lady Eagles. Dejah is currently a junior at Cumberland Valley High School and runs with Mid Penn Motion on the AAU circuit. Dejah isn't a prospect that fills up the stat sheet on a nightly basis, but she's an extremely smart player who isn't afraid to do everything on the court. In her junior season, Dejah averaged 7.6 points, 6.6 Assists and a jaw dropping 1 Steal per game while helping the Lady Eagles capture the District 3 6A Championship. I first discovered Dejah when CV played Central Dauphin the first time this past season. She matched up with Liberty commit, Caroline Shiery (2022 Forward) and Dejah was playing like her life was on the line, she could not miss. The two were just trading baskets and it was a nice coming out party for Dejah. Dejah is expecting to play a bigger role for CV transforming her game by stepping out a little bit on the wing while still working on more creative ways to score to grow her confidence. But let's get to know more about CV's rising star!
BREAKDOWN:
STRENGTHS
Determined Rebounder
Elite Defender, strong on-the-ball defender with a High IQ of guarding the ball and knowing where she's at on Defense.
Excellent motor, someone you'd want to have on your team.
Excellent Rebounder
Fast on her feet, being quick helps her get a lot of steals and in the transition game.
High IQ Basketball Player
Mid Range Specialist, one of the best I've seen last season.
Relentless Finisher, finishes strong through contact every time.
Smart Passer
Strong Shot Blocker, very aggressive on the defensive end.
Toughness, very physical player who would run through a wall if you told her.
Very Versatile!
I am going to make this as short as possible, hopefully. Dejah Hill is someone you'd want to have on your team. No matter if it's a teammate, or as a coach. Hill has a motor like no other as she plays hard on both sides of the ball and is extremely physical with whoever she faces up against. Hill's strongest suit on the offensive end is her mid range game. Her trigger is so quick, but very effective once she faces up her man as it's a knockdown every time. Hill also uses her athleticism and strength to attack the rim strong every time when facing contact. On the defensive end, Hill might be one of the most intimidating defenders that you'll encounter. The CV product averaged close to 1 steal and 5.6 rebounds per game and if that doesn't say enough about her intensity, I don't know what to tell you. But Hill is also a very intelligent basketball player who always makes the right reads and covers so much space wherever she's at on the floor. CV Girls Basketball is one of the smartest basketball programs that I have seen for a longtime now and they always have players who are very bright and just know how to play the game of basketball. They pretty much treat games as a clinic. But back on topic, Hill is a very hard working prospect who's looking to up her game and away from basketball, she's a very respectful person with great character!
THINGS TO IMPROVE ON
Shot Creation
Shot Release, follow through can improve.
Three Point Shot
Dejah Hill is a very physical forward who plays hard, but will need to add more to her bag to become a complete player. First thing I will touch on is her shot release. Hill does a great job of getting her shot off at a timely manner, but her follow through can cause problems moving forward. She curls her follow through where it doesn't directly go north to south, or "Hand in the cookie jar". This also causes her body to shift on her shot which can cause problems once she expands her range. Her shot is very effective where if it doesn't cause problems then she will be just fine, but fixing her follow through off the release where it will help her go more straight up and down will work wonders for her. Another thing for Hill to work on is her three point shot. While preparing for the project, Hill told me that this will be the biggest thing for her to work on for her senior season. She doesn't have to shoot a lot of threes moving forward by jacking, but adding the skill to be able to step out or off of a pick and pop would be nice to add to her bag and especially for college. Also adding more creative ways to score like a pullup game, double moves into a shot, pump fakes, etc. I asked Dejah several questions so you guys can get to know her better!
DEJAH HILL Q&A
When did you start playing basketball?
"I started playing basketball in 5th grade. I played in a CYO league and absolutely loved it. I had tried a lot of other sports such as soccer and track before 5th grade, but I just fell in love with basketball. I loved how fast paced it was and how competitive it became."
Describe your game.
"I would say I am a very defensive minded player. I am physical and extremely competitive. I love situations where we can score off of transition because I like the fast pace of the game. I have a consistent mid range shot, and i am a versatile player who guards the 1-5 positions at times.
What is your role on Cumberland Valley’s basketball team?
"My role has primarily been to bring energy to the team, defend in the paint, rebound, and take mid range shots. I’m consistently looked upon to be be a shot blocker and score off of transition."
How was your junior season?
"My junior season has been quite an experience. This year I was able to win my second district championship with Cumberland Valley. The pandemic definitely made this year a bit harder, but our team responded well and was driven to compete to the best of our abilities. Our seniors have guided us along the way with pep talks, words of encouragement, and helpful tips to help us improve our game. Playing with Julie Jekot has been so much fun because she is extremely motivated, which helps our team want to achieve more and play together. She has been a tremendous role model for us and has helped us in so many ways. All of seniors have impacted our program; Abbie (Miller), Parris (Burns), and Julie each executed not only their roles on the team, but they helped to lead our team to a district championship and the state semifinals."
What are your plans for the Spring and Summer?
"This spring and summer I am going to continue playing for Mid Penn Motion. I plan to spend a lot of time in the gym to work on my shot and extend my range."
You’re still at a very early stage of your career. What kinds of things are you doing to make yourself the best player you can be?
"I’ve been working on my form and shooting the ball as much as I can whenever I can. I’ve also been running and conditioning myself in order to stay in shape for this coming AAU season. I’m always working to improve my quickness and ball handling skills by doing drills that focus on the fundamentals. I’m always looking to improve my game and get better!"
Which athlete do you look up to the most?
"I look up to Paige Bueckers as a female athlete because she is a determined and resilient basketball player for UConn. She has dedicated herself to the game and continues to improve each game. I strive to be like Paige because she is a great role model for young girls. She proves that anything is possible, and she is able to demonstrate the intensity and competitiveness of women’s sports."
Who do you look up to as role models?
"I have looked up to Hannah Sauvé for the longest time. She graduated last year, but during my sophomore year she really helped me to progress as a player and learn to believe in myself. She has shown true dedication, motivation to get better, and a competitive edge that has stuck with me. She used to work on post moves with me to help me feel more comfortable in game situations. I also look up to my coaches, Coach Wolf, Gill, K, and Poole because they continue to have faith in us and help us grow into stronger players. Their goal is to make us better, and they have shown unbelievable commitment to our team and our basketball program."
It’s still very early, but what are you looking forward to in your senior season?
"During my senior season I’m striving to be a leader and a good role model for the younger girls on my team. I want to help lead us to another district championship and make it far into states. Another goal of mine is to lead the team in rebounds and blocks."
Do you have any words of encouragement or motivation for people?
"My best advice is to enjoy every moment on the court and work your hardest. Basketball has been such a big part of my life, and it has helped me learn and grow not only as a player but as a person. It has brought out a confident, competitive side of me that I never knew I had before. So, I think it’s only fair to say enjoy every second you have on the court because time flies."
Dejah Hill, Cumberland Valley High School Class of 2022
2020-2021 Cumberland Valley Lady Eagles Basketball Team
Mid Penn Commonwealth Champions
District 3 6A Champions (5th District Championship)
Reached PIAA Final Four in the 6A state tournament (6th appearance)
20-21 Mid Penn Conference Commonwealth Division Team Sportsmanship Award
OTHER LINKS ON DEJAH HILL
Dejah Hill, Julie Jekot help Cumberland Valley defend home court, defeat rival Central Dauphin https://www.pennlive.com/sports/2021/02/dejah-hill-julie-jekot-help-cumberland-valley-defend-home-court-defeat-rival-central-dauphin.html
Eagles soar after halftime to comeback and beat Rams https://www.fox43.com/article/sports/cumberland-valley-comes-back-to-down-central-dauphin-high-school-girls-basketball/521-4a83bf6e-3efa-4bf3-ba32-5cb826fd9e6f
HUDL - JUNIOR SEASON HIGHLIGHTS http://www.hudl.com/v/2FK3mz
Twitter:
High School Coach Information
William "Bill" Wolf - Email
AAU Coach Information
Bill Haertsch - Mid Penn Motion
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