Presbyterian Medical Services Athlete of the Week 03/05/2025 Junior Kajani anitielu from Farmington High SchooL
Photos By w. Dean Howard
Article by WallyD
Kjani Anitielu: The Heart and Soul of Farmington Scorpions Basketball
Great players put up numbers, but true leaders elevate their teams. Junior point guard Kjani Anitielu has done both for the Farmington Scorpions girls basketball team, proving herself as a dominant force on the court and an inspiring captain off of it.
Anitielu has been a varsity starter since her freshman year, but this season, she has taken her game—and her leadership—to another level. She has embraced the role of captain with maturity, passion, and a team-first mentality, making her an invaluable asset to the Scorpions.
Her head coach, Tom Adair, had high praise for his star guard:
“She is a vocal leader but also leads by example. She has always been a fierce competitor and a hard worker, but through her maturity, she has become very coachable and always strives to put her teammates first. After her freshman year, she told me her most important goal was to be a great teammate—she achieved that goal and continues to work extremely hard. During the second half of the season, she has blossomed in every way. She is truly a pleasure to coach.”
Anitielu has not only been a leader in spirit but also on the stat sheet. She leads the Scorpions in points this season and reached a major career milestone during the District 1-5A Tournament Championship, surpassing 1,000 career points with a spectacular 29-point performance in a victory over Cleveland.
Her impact, however, extends beyond scoring. Anitielu has stuffed the stat sheet with 51 offensive rebounds, 140 defensive rebounds (totaling 191), 95 assists, 110 steals, and 20 blocks, earning multiple double-doubles along the way.
With Anitielu at the helm, the Farmington Scorpions continue to thrive, and as she continues to grow as a player and leader, there’s no limit to what she and her team can accomplish.
Congratulations to Kjani Anitielu, the Presbyterian Medical Services Athlete of the Week!
Presbyterian Medical Services is proud to recognize athletes like Kjani who excels both on and off the Court as a student athlete. Discover comprehensive health care at the PMS Farmington Community Health Center. Schedule your appointment today at pmsnm.org.
I
