In celebration of Arizona's centennial, the Star will feature our picks for the 100 best athletes, moments and teams.
Throughout the summer, we will showcase our list - with the first 90 in no particular order. In August, columnist Greg Hansen will choose his top 10, with a column on each.
Ryneldi Becenti
Achievements
Becenti, a sharpshooting point guard, was one of the best Navajo athletes of her generation. She won a state championship and state Player of the Year honors at Window Rock High School and starred at Scottsdale Community College before signing with Arizona State in 1991. Becenti scored 15 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out 12 assists on Jan. 25, 1992, becoming the first women's player in Sun Devils history to record a triple-double. Becenti played briefly in the WNBA before pursuing a basketball career overseas.
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Becenti earned numerous awards during her college career. She earned all Pac-10 accolades during her two seasons at ASU and was an honorable mention All-American as a senior. She competed in the 1993 World University Games, the only Native American among the United States' 362 athletes. Becenti was inducted into the American Indian Hall of Fame in 1996 and remains a hero to the Navajo people.
She has been featured in Sports Illustrated and has worked with the tribe to identify and develop more talent. Lester Kinsel, Becenti's middle school coach, told Sports Illustrated: "She means to our people what Pelé meant to Brazil."
Hometown, age
Fort Defiance, 39
By the numbers
17
Becenti still holds ASU's single-game record for assists with 17.
Ryan Finley
