Ford, Egwu a size above the competition Determined Egwu key to Arundel's success | Maryland Gazette (HometownGlenBurnie.com)

"We weren't here for next year. We were here for this year," she said. "And we're going to be back."

That attitude is what brought the Wildcats to the championship, and it's what drove Egwu to the Capital-Gazette Newspapers girls basketball Player of the Year. Her 15.2 points and 10.2 rebounds a game didn't hurt, either.

Egwu, a 6-foot-3 junior forward, is a two-time All-County first-team selection. She was one of three players to average a double-double during the season, joining Glen Burnie junior forward Tanyqua Williams and Severn senior forward Taylor Wieczorek.

"She can only get better," Arundel coach Lee Rogers said. "The things we've got her doing, she's going to polish them up over the summer. She will. She'll become our true leader for next year."

Egwu emerged as the floor leader when All-County point guard Ayanna Randolph tore her ACL in the offseason, sidelining her for the year. Egwu was one of four juniors in the senior-free starting lineup.

Under Egwu's leadership, the Wildcats (22-6) breezed through the regular season and postseason with a 20-0 mark in the county to win their 11th Anne Arundel title in 12 seasons and advance into the state final.

The Wildcats averaged 81 points a game in the county, while outscoring their opposition by 36 points.

"I think out of the three years I've been here," Egwu said, "this is the team that I really have the most faith in, that I love the most."

Ashley Davis averaged 14.1 points and Sherrone Vails followed with 13.4 for Arundel.

Egwu recorded 14 double-doubles in 28 games, including a 26-point, 19-rebound performance against South River on Feb. 21.

"This team was terrific," Rogers said. "Without any starting seniors, they came a long way from the beginning. They did a good job of recognizing who their go-to player was and playing as a unit."

Egwu was that go-to player, and she hit her stride during the postseason. Egwu finished with 24 points and 17 rebounds against Severna Park in the first round and 23 points and 15 rebounds during an 83-41 win against Glen Burnie in the East Regional semifinal.

During Arundel's run in the state playoffs, Davis and Vails stole the show from Egwu. Davis scored a game-high 25 points against Dulaney in the semifinals and 17 in a 52-50 loss to Eleanor Roosevelt in the finals. Vails, who finished this season with 8.6 rebounds a game, pulled down 22 total rebounds in those games.

Egwu didn't mind sharing the spotlight.

"She's there for her teammates," said Rogers, who brought Arundel to its ninth state tournament appearance. "She's a good kid, very positive. She's very supportive and understands there's always a way to get better."

Egwu scored her 1,000th point against Old Mill in the county championship game - a 78-51 victory. She sits sixth in Arundel history with 1,088 points and has a good chance to pass Sherice Proctor (1,321) for second behind Alex McGuire (2,086) next season.

"If she's healthy," Rogers said, "her best game is coming."