Whiz Kid: Siobhan Beslow

Name: Siobhan Beslow 

Age: 18 

School: Westfield High School 

Accomplishment: Following an impressive end to her high school basketball career, this decorated senior athlete has been recruited to play NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball at Philadelphia’s La Salle University beginning this fall.  

Key to Awesomeness: Thirteen years ago, while sitting in the audience at a Philadelphia 76ers game, five-year-old Siobhan Beslow saw a basketball player dunk for the first time. “From that point on,” said Beslow, now a senior at , “I wanted to do that and get involved in the sport.” 

This fall, with a stellar high school basketball career behind her, Beslow will return to the court in Philadelphia as a member of La Salle University’s Varsity Women’s Basketball team.  

“It was the coaching staff and their passion that ultimately led to me choosing La Salle,” said Beslow, who also seriously considered playing for the University of Michigan.  

La Salle Women’s Basketball Head Coach Jeff Williams is confident in the skills and potential Beslow will bring to his team in the upcoming academic year. “Siobhan is a very athletic forward,” Williams said in a La Salle Athletics article published last week, “...She has the ability to get out in transition and is a very good defensive player...she will definitely have an opportunity to impact our program in a very positive way.” 

In addition to being a talented athlete, Beslow is passionate about biology and has chosen to major in the subject at La Salle. She hopes to pursue a career allowing her to work with marine animals.  

With her college plans now set, she has time to reflect on her high school basketball experience. “I would like to think I’ve had a positive impact on the [Westfield] team, not just as a player but as a person. Above being a good teammate I strive to be an even better friend,” she said. 

Beslow, who attended Oscar Smith High School in Chesapeake, Virginia her freshman and sophomore years, has played varsity since ninth grade. “It wasn’t anything big to me,” Siobhan said of joining the varsity team so young, “I don’t see age or class, I just see people and talent so I wasn’t afraid or nervous at all.” 

Beslow continued her athletic success at Westfield, where she was an All-District Honorable Mention as a junior and First Team All-District member as a senior. This season she was also named to the Second Team All-Region, was an All-Met Honorable Mention and earned the title of Concorde District Co-Defensive Player of the Year. Additionally, Beslow is a two-time GameDay Magazine Player of the Game who played in the Elite Showcase Basketball Classic at the Verizon Center, the at and was invited to play in the Virginia High School Coaches Association All-Star game.  

During her senior season, Beslow also averaged a double-double, with 13.2 points and 12 rebounds per game. In a stunning game against Robinson, she set two career highs with 22 points and 20 rebounds. When she’s not wearing her Bulldogs jersey, Beslow plays AAU basketball for the DMV Ballaholics, which she led to the 2010 AAU Charm City Adidas Showdown title.  

Though Beslow is a dedicated and serious athlete, she is ultimately driven by the fun of the game. “I play horribly if I’m not having fun,” she said, “so the best thing for myself and my team is for me to keep myself in a happy, playful mindset.”