Marion freshman Chloe Rice is the winner of the Metro Spotlight Award for high school girls this week, the Metro Sports Report announced Sunday.

Rice, a 5-foot-10 guard, is one of the top young basketball players in the state. She poured in 28 points in a 58-56 loss to Clear Creek-Amana Tuesday and is averaging 12.5 points for the season.

Rice is already being followed by NCAA Division I colleges who might like to recruit her, including several of the top schools in Iowa.

Rice has helped the Marion Indians get off to a 6-2 start this year. The Indians visit Washington (Iowa) Monday night, then will break for the holidays.

Rice is averaging about 4.5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 blocked shot for Marion. She is an excellent free throw shooter, having made 28 of 31 so far for 90 percent.