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Ines Goryanova didn’t show up at Putnam Science Academy in the Fall of 2021 having spent much time thinking about what her career would look like.
And up until she was asked about her potential legacy last week, she still hadn’t thought about it.
But in scoring 24 points in a game over the weekend, Goryanova – the standout point guard on the girls’ Prep team – became the program’s all-time scoring leader, passing Fatima Lee. Goryanova entered Friday’s neutral-site game against Arizona Compass just seven points shy of establishing the new mark, and she got to it quickly, setting the record with a bucket early in the second quarter.
“It means a lot that I’m in first place,” she said. “It took a lot of hard work and effort, so just the fact that it paid off makes it even better.”
There is more to come, for sure. Goryanova, who holds more than a dozen Division I offers, is just a junior. So she has some time to put a lot of distance between herself and anyone who comes after looking to take her place atop the list.
“I haven’t really thought about it before, for real,” said Goryanova, who grew up in London. “But it definitely is something that will be great to look back at and hopefully see how it may inspire other student-athletes that come to PSA after I’ve left.”
“Ines is a special talent and when she committed to PSA I was hoping she would have this type of impact,” coach Devin Hill said. “I’m really proud of the player she’s become here in her two years. It has to be difficult to come from a different country and style of play at such a young age, especially as a point guard.
“But she’s handled it well and has established herself as one of the best point guards in the country and will leave PSA as the most decorating player in our history.”
One of the next goals is 1,000 points. And as she sits at 645 as this season concludes, that number is well within reach.
But there is more. The Mustangs had high hopes of winning their first national title this year, but lost in the semifinals for the third consecutive year.
And that more than anything is what drives Goryanova.
“1,000 points…I want that so bad,” she said. “Getting a ring…I need it.”
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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