By Mitch Stephens
MaxPreps.com
2008-09 Girls Basketball Player of the Year Candidates
With roughly one month left in the season, here are 10 candidates for National Player of the Year and chances for each to win. Candidates should be blue chip recruits with big numbers leading national-caliber teams toward a state-title run. Note all statistics/records were as of Sunday. See how many made the McDonald's All-American team.
Who: Skylar Diggins
School: Washington (South Bend, Ind.)
Height: 5-9
Position: G
Year: Senior
College: Notre Dame
Credentials: 29.2 points, 6.4 assists, 6.6 rebounds, 6.1 steals per game. Team is 23-0 and ranked fourth nationally in our MaxPreps Xcellent 25. Team will likely battle nationally-ranked No. 2 Ben Davis (Indianapolis) in state finals. If Washington prevails, Diggins is almost assured of the award based on her all-around skills, productivity and team’s high ranking. See feature.
Chance for POY: Contested lay-up.
Who: Brittney Griner
School: Nimitz (Houston, Texas)
Height: 6-8
Position: C
Year: Senior
College: Baylor
Credentials. Unquestionably the biggest game-changer in high school basketball and with her defensive and dunking ability may revolutionize the game. Averages: 27.1 points, 12.3 rebounds, 7.9 blocks and 2.8 steals per game. Her team is 31-1 and if it can somehow overtake loaded Texas field and win a state title – a monumental task – then she elevates to the favorite’s role.
Chance for POY: Hook shot in the lane.
Who: Tayler Hill
School: Minneapolis South (Minn.)
Height: 5-11
Position: G
Year: Senior
College: Undecided: Finalist were Rhode Island, Marquette, Duke, Texas,
Credentials: Ranks fourth nationally at 31.4 points per game along with averages of 7.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists per game. Team is 22-2 and ranked 54th nationally. Hill became the state’s all-time leading scorer and if she helps team win state title, she may overtake Diggins and Griner.
Chance for POY: Baseline jumper.
Who: Chelsea Gray
School: St. Mary’s (Stockton, Calif.)
Height: 5-11
Position: PG
Year: Junior
College: Undecided
Credentials: 19.9 points, 7.1 assists, 8.5 rebounds, 3.3 steals per game for 22-3 Rams, who are ranked 13th nationally. Considered one of the top 10 juniors in the country coming into the season, Gray is probably in the top five after this superb season. She grew four inches in offseason and her game has grown exponentially. If her team dethrones three-time defending state and defending national champ Sacred Heart Cathedral and takes the state crown, Gray has an outside chance. See feature.
Chance for POY: 3-pointer from the wing.
Who: Layshia Clarendon
School: Cajon (San Bernardino, Calif.)
Height: 5-8
Position: PG
Year: Senior
College: Cal
Credentials: One of country’s most dominating and savvy point guards, she averages 19.3 points, 8.4 assists, 7.9 rebounds and 4.1 steals per game for Cowboys (25-2,), ranked 16th nationally by MaxPreps. She did everything humanely possible with 28-pount effort in showdown loss to Mater Dei. If she can possibly will her team to state title she’s got outside chance.
Chance for POY: Last-second 3-pointer.
Who: Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis
School: Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Height: 6-0
Position: G-F
Year: Sophomore
College: Undecided
Credentials: She’s the best player and leading scorer (22.5 ppg) on the nation’s No. 1 team (26-0). Being only a sophomore hurts her chances, but she’s one of the country’s most improved players and coach Kevin Kiernan said that’s a direct correlation of why his team is so improved.
Chance for POY: Half-court heave.
Who: DeNesha Stallworth
School: Pinole Valley (Calif.)
Height: 6-3
Position: F-C
Year: Senior
College: Cal
Credentials: 28.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.8 blocks per game for 19-5 Spartans. Great individual season but Pinole Valley, which has hovered around the state championship game for three or four years, but doesn’t figure to make a deep run into the playoffs this year.
Chance for POY: Half-court heave.
Who: Courtney Strain
School: Woodland (Ala.)
Height: 5-9
Position: G
Year: Junior
College: Auburn
Credentials: A nation-leading 34.9 scoring average gives her high marks as do averages of 9.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 4.4 steals per game. But the Bobcats (30-1) are small school ranked 70th in the state and 5,432nd nationally. The competition she faces makes it hard to measure against other players.
Chance for POY: Half-court heave.
Who: Kaitlyn Petersen
School: Mission Viejo (Calif.)
Height: 5-8
Position: PG
Year: Senior
College: Gonzaga
Credentials: She couldn’t possibly do more for her team – 25.9 points, 50 percent shooting, 51 percent on 3-pointers, 86 percent free throw shooter, 5.7 assists, 6.6 rebounds, 4.4 steals per game – but her team is 18-8 (94th in the state) and very likely not good enough to make any sort of state run.
Chance for POY: Three-quarters court shot.
Who: Shafontaye Myers
School: Sunshine (Newbern, Ala.)
Height: 5-8
Position: SG
Year: Junior
College: Undecided
Credentials: There’s absolutely no arguing with Myers’ production: 31.2 points (sixth in the country), 63 percent shooting (71 percent on 2s, 49 percent on 3s, 81 percent free throws), 11.1 rebounds and 7.6 steals. But much like the rest toward the bottom of the list, her team and competition doesn’t measure up. Her team is 22-4 but ranked 123rd in Alabama. With that said, hard to bet against a girl named Shafontaye who goes to Sunshine High School. That’s awfully cheery.
Chance for POY: Three-quarters court shot.
Have more nominations? Tell us who and why. E-mail Mitch Stephens at mstephens@maxpreps.com.