The morning of the state semifinal, Coach had the phones. Jayden Miranda didn't know he had just won the Gatorade Alaska Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

"When I found out I won, my heart sank," Miranda said. "It's been my dream ever since I entered high school to win Gatorade POY, so I was really excited. I called my parents first."

Miranda is a 5-foot-11 junior guard at West Valley with creative footwork and good court vision. He sees the floor a step ahead and makes the right decision before the defense has time to adjust. He averaged 14.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists this season, shot 51.8% from the floor and 39.7% from three, and led the Wolfpack to a Mid Alaska Conference championship and the No. 1 seed at the 4A state tournament. He carries a 3.36 GPA, volunteers at the Fairbanks Community Food Bank, and coaches youth basketball.

West Valley has produced three Gatorade Players of the Year in the last five seasons. Stewart Erhart won it in 2022 and again in 2023. Miranda joined him in 2026. West Valley head coach Colten Growden was on the sideline for all three.

The game started in kindergarten. His father is his biggest influence. By fourth grade Growden was training him through his summer training business, focused on ball handling through a ladder series and combo dribbles into a stationary shot. He became Miranda's middle school coach in seventh and eighth grade. That team went undefeated in Fairbanks.

The climb to the No. 1 seed really sparked at the Alaska Prep Shootout at Dimond High School, against Barrow. Barrow led by eleven at halftime. Miranda came back with 23 of his 29 points in the second half. West Valley won 65-62 in overtime.

"Everything clicked after we beat Barrow in OT at the Dimond Prep Shootout," Miranda said. "After that we just kept on winning and winning. Only losing two games."

Ask Miranda what he wants people to say about his game when it's all done:

"I want people to say that I was a good team player and a shooter."

Growden, asked what college programs should know:

"I would want college programs to know how selfless of a teammate he is. Always putting the team success first before his individual success. How coachable he is — always wanting to improve. How hard he works to continue to be the best basketball player he can be, as well as the best student he can be. Jayden is also extremely humble, especially for a high school player with the accolades he has already received as a junior."

The MAC championship, the No. 1 seed, the Gatorade call. Getting shots up every day, inside or outside, is still Miranda's MO. The ladder drills Growden put him on in fourth grade are still part of the routine. Outside the gym, he likes anime. Not the weird ones. The tough ones. One Piece. JJK. Attack on Titan.

One more season. Miranda's work continues.