CRANBERRY TWP — College basketball afforded North Catholic senior point guard Alayna Rocco plenty of options.

And she earned every one of them.

Rocco has done far more than suit up for the Trojanettes during her high school career. She is a top-flight student who attracted interest from Ivy League schools.

She played in the Girls Under Armour Association, a 32-team summer league spread out over a number of states that plays a 10-game schedule, followed by playoffs.

And she began playing organized basketball with boys when she was in fourth grade.

Last November, Rocco signed a letter of intent to continue her academic and basketball career at Harvard. She also considered Columbia, Penn, Yale and UNC-Charlotte.

“I wanted to go to an Ivy League school.” Rocco said. “I’m undecided on a major, but I’m grateful for this opportunity.”

“It’s been a process with Alayna,” said North boys basketball coach Jim Rocco, her father. “Since I was coaching basketball, she’s been in the gym since she was a baby.

“She was playing youth basketball in Shady Side when her coach (George Siford) approached her about joining the boys team and playing against boys.

“Alayna wanted no part of that. George talked her into it and it really helped her game,” Coach Rocco added.

Alayna recalled her first experience playing basketball with the boys.

“I was scared to death,” she admitted. “I didn’t want to get hurt. I was so intimidated.

“But once I realized I was good enough to do it, I was happy I tried it. That experience definitely helped develop my game.”

Alayna went on to become a standout player on championship North Catholic girls basketball teams. She scored her 1,000th point her junior year — when she averaged 17.9 points per game.

Where her point total stands right now is anybody’s guess.

“She doesn’t keep track. That stuff is insignificant to her,” her father said.

Rocco has three first-year starters — two freshmen and a first-year senior — in the starting lineup with her this season.

“Yeah, I feel more like a leader this year than I have before,” she said. “Our freshmen are doing a great job and our team is coming together.”

After a sub-.500 start, ther Trojanettes have reeled off four straight wins.

“Alayna is the heart of this team,” North girls basketball coach Molly Rottmann said. “She’s a standout person in so many ways. All of the girls on this team are like that.

“That’s why I enjoy coaching here so much.”

Rocco played in the 17U Under Armour league and played against some of the top girls basketball talent in the country.

“I’m used to adapting to that level of competition,” she said.

“She’s played against girls who are at UConn and Maryland now,” Coach Rocco said. “She never quits working on her game.”

Alayna’s oldest brother, Zach, is playing Division 1 basketball at Army West Point.

“I owe a lot to my brother as well,” Alayna said. “Growing up behind him, I was in the gym with him, played on the court with him for a long time.

“I’ve always been around this game. I don’t see that changing anytime soon.”