Committed: Thalia Almaraz

For Thalia Almaraz, basketball was part of her life from the very beginning. She first started playing when she was eight years old, but even before that, her dad said she always had a ball in her hand. He introduced her to the sport and she quickly fell in love with it.

A four-year varsity athlete for Niwot High School, Almaraz finished her senior season with 230 points and was named the Cougars' 2025 Varsity MVP. She leaves the program with 416 total career points and a reputation as a speedy, aggressive competitor who always brought energy to the court.

This fall, she will take that same drive to Waldorf University in Iowa, where she is set to play basketball and study cybersecurity.

It was the competitive nature of the sport that hooked her early. "I think that's when I realized I really loved it," Almaraz said. "Just playing in games and going against good teams. I liked the challenge."

That mindset carried her throughout four seasons with the Cougars. She played club basketball in middle school before choosing to focus solely on the Niwot High program once she got to high school. One of her early coaches helped shape the way she approached the game.

"She was really competitive," Almaraz said. "She pushed me a lot, and I think that made a difference."

Almaraz's playing style reflects that early influence. She brought intensity to every possession and found ways to impact the game on both ends of the floor. Though she was not always the flashiest player, she consistently put herself in a position to make plays.

That consistency paid off this past season, when she led Niwot with 230 points and was named team MVP.

"I felt really good about it," she said. "I just tried to give everything I had this year, so being named MVP meant a lot."

Her success was fueled in part by the people around her, especially her mom. "She's always been there for me," Almaraz said. "Her support has meant everything.

Almaraz had always imagined going to college, but playing basketball at the next level did not become a real possibility until she started reaching out to coaches during her senior year. When she connected with Waldorf, it felt like the right fit.

Looking back on her time at Niwot, her favorite moments are not tied to any single game. "Just being around the team," she said. "That's what I'll remember most."

From a kid with a ball in her hands to a college-bound athlete, Almaraz hopes others can find the same confidence she did. "Just believe in yourself and keep going," is her advice to younger players.