2017-18 MaxPreps High School Girls Basketball All-American Team

Video: Player of the Year Christyn Williams
UConn signee tops our look at basketball's best from the 2017-18 season.

The MaxPreps All-American team is not a projection of which players will become the best college players, or go on to dominate in the WNBA. Nor is the honor given for achievements during the summer circuit, or earlier in high school.

The following list reflects what went on this past season, taking into account the strength of the competition and the talent level of the rest of the roster.

To make the cut for this list, a player must combine talent, statistical excellence and the ability to elevate the play of her teammates. FIRST TEAM

Charli Collier, Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu, Texas)
6-5 | Senior | Post | Headed to Texas
Collier averaged 30.9 points and 11.5 rebounds a game for 29-3 Barbers Hill — and in always-tough Texas, those are serious numbers. She also recorded 2.3 steals and 2.2 blocks per outing.

Lexie Hull, Central Valley (Spokane Valley, Wash.)
6-1 | Senior | Forward |Stanford
Hull emerged from the relative obscurity of eastern Washington to lead Central Valley to an unbeaten season and national championship — and a 102-6 four-year record. The 20.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game undersell the story, as Central Valley romped to so many lopsided wins, Hull seldom was required to deliver for 32 minutes.

Haley Jones, Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.)
6-1 | Junior | Guard | Undecided
It was not a coincidence that when Jones fouled out of the NorCal Open Division championship game with 1:31 left that Archbishop Mitty subsequently lost its only game of the season. Jones, one of the few players who can actually play positions one through five, averaging 21.8 points (on 64 percent shooting), 10.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.

Charisma Osborne, Windward (Los Angeles)
5-9 | Junior | Guard | Undecided
Osborne was the engine that drove Windward to the California Open Division title, and she simply did whatever was necessary. Not known as a 3-point sharpshooter, she rose to the occasion in the championship game and made 6 of 8 to give Windward its first Open trophy.

MAXPREPS NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Christyn Williams, Central Arkansas Christian (North Little Rock, Ark.)
5-11 | Senior | Guard | Connecticut
Despite the glittering credentials of the rest of the first team, she was an easy pick for top honors. She showed why she's so special when she was named MVP of the McDonald's All-American game. SECOND TEAM

Aliyah Boston, Worcester Academy (Worcester, Mass.)
6-4 | Junior | Post | Undecided
Massachusetts doesn't get a lot of love from basketball mavens, but it's hard to overlook the 6-4 Boston, who scored 21.2 points a game and added 14.0 rebounds and 6.2 blocks for the 23-1 2A NEPSAC champs.

Aquira DeCosta, St. Mary's (Stockton, Calif.)
6-2 | Senior | Post | Baylor
DeCosta's marvelous athleticism and intensity on the glass helped keep St. Mary's in the national rankings for almost the entire season. Her 18.3 points, 13.1 rebounds and 2.9 steals a game are a testimony to her abilities.

Azzi Fudd, St. John's (Washington, D.C.)
5-10 | Freshman | Guard |Undecided
Youth will be served as Fudd led St. John's to the No. 3 spot in the Xcellent 25 with 24 points and five rebounds a game. Combining skill, strength and athleticism, this is a name that will become very familiar in the next few years.

Rickea Jackson, Edison Academy (Detroit)
6-2 | Junior | Forward | Undecided
Edison Academy jumped into the Xcellent 25 thanks to a 24-1 record, a Michigan state title and the outstanding play of Jackson, who averaged 21.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.3 steals a game.

Dara Mabrey, Manasquan (N.J.)
5-7 | Senior | Guard | Virginia Tech
Yes, there's another Mabrey in the pipeline, but Dara won't be joining her sisters at Notre Dame. Virginia Tech will be the lucky recipient of the services of the guard who led Manasquan to a 32-2 record and the New Jersey championship. THIRD TEAM

Kierstan Bell, McKinley (Canton, Ohio)
6-1 | Junior | Guard | Undecided
Bell uses her strength, skill and size to wear down opponents – to the tune of 33.4 points, 10.0 rebounds, 5.1 steals and 3.5 assists a game.

Samantha Brunelle, Monroe (Stanardsville, Va.)
6-2 | Junior | Post | Undecided
Brunelle has been on the big-time radar since middle school, and putting up 30.0 points per game – to go along with 15.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.0 blocks – will keep her there.

Jazmine Massengill, Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
6-0 | Senior | Guard | Tennessee
Massengill saved her best for last, showing extremely well at the McDonald's All-American Game and then doing all she could for Hamilton Heights at GEICO Nationals.

Ashley Owusu, Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.)
5-9 | Junior | Guard | Maryland
Owuso was the driving force – figuratively and literally – for Paul VI, the No. 7 team in the country.

Xaria Wiggins, Princess Anne (Virginia Beach, Va.)
6-1 | Senior | Wing | Mississippi State
Wiggins led Princess Anne to a 26-1 record, state title and the No. 11 ranking in the country this year, and a 110-8 mark in her four years in Virginia Beach. FOURTH TEAM

Shakira Austin, Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro, Md.)
6-5 | Senior | Post | Maryland
Future Terrapin averaged 17.4 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots per game for 23-win Crusaders.

Kennedy Brown, Derby (Kan.)
6-5 | Junior | Post | Undecided
Pundits may claim this is the era of the positionless star, but coaches will tell you that a 6-5 anchor in the paint is just as important as it always has been – and that describes Brown.

Zarielle Green, Duncanville (Texas)
6-0 | Senior | Guard | Tennessee
Duncanville is always one of the premier programs in the country and Green has been an integral part of that process these past few years. Her 15.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists a game are good numbers, but don't come close to telling the whole story.

Destanni Henderson, Fort Myers (Fla.)
5-8 | Senior | Guard | South Carolina
Henderson is the quintessential point guard, doing everything from making threes and free throws (36% and 78%, respectively) and delivering a 2.0 assist/turnover ratio.

Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Winder-Barrow (Winder, Ga.)
6-4 | Senior | Post | Connecticut
The uber-athletic Nelson-Ododa has a chance to step right in at UConn next year. After a stellar high school career, she should be ready to seize the opportunity. FIFTH TEAM

Paige Bueckers, Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.)
5-10 | Sophomore | Guard | Undecided
Bueckers was the best player in Minnesota with 24.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 3.7 steals a game, but even that production wasn't quite enough to earn Hopkins the state title.

Zia Cooke, Rogers (Toledo, Ohio)
5-9 | Junior | Guard | Undecided
Rogers has long been known as a talented team that somehow managed to underachieve, but with Cooke running the show, Rogers went 27-3 and won the Ohio Division II title.

Shaniya Jones, Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.)
5-6 | Senior | Guard | Virginia Tech
Wesleyan Christian rolled to the NCISAA 3A title after falling just one point short in 2017, and Jones was the biggest factor.

Sedona Prince, Liberty Hill (Texas)
6-7 | Senior | Post | Texas
Prince's athleticism and willingness to get on the floor mark her as something special for a post player, and it doesn't hurt that she's 6-7.

Seygan Robins, Mercer County (Harrodsburg, Ky.)
5-9 | Senior | Guard | Louisville
Robins was at the wheel for the No. 10 team in the nation, averaging 14.6 points, 4.3 assists and 2.4 steals a game. HONORABLE MENTION

Elizabeth Balogun, Hamilton Heights Christian Academy
6-0 | Senior | Wing | Georgia Tech
Balogun was a do-everything player for Hamilton Heights, and showed especially well during the early part of the season when Hamilton Heights played its most challenging opponents.

Brea Beal, Rock Island (Ill.)
6-0 | Junior | Forward | Undecided
Beal averaged a double-double, and even at just 6-0, managed three blocks a game.

Cameron Brink, Southridge (Beaverton, Ore.)
6-4 | Sophomore | Forward | Undecided
Brink is incredibly athletic and skilled for her size. When it all comes together, the sky is the limit.

Zipporah Broughton, Lee (Montgomery, Ala.)
5-7 | Senior | Guard | Rutgers
The best player in Alabama, Broughton averaged 23.9 points, 5.0 assists and 4.9 steals a game.

Jakia Brown-Turner, Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.)
6-0 | Junior | Wing | Undecided
Like Texas, the DMV was home to a horde of elite talent, and Brown-Turner excelled against top-flight competition.

Christianna Carr, Manhattan (Kan.)
6-1 | Senior | Forward | Kansas State
A combination of size and skill, Carr made Manhattan one of the state's best in the two years she attended the school.

Caitlin Clark, Dowling Catholic (West Des Moines, Iowa)
5-11 | Sophomore | Guard | Undecided
Just a sophomore, Clark averaged 27.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.

Janai Crooms, St. Andrew's (Barrington, R.I.)
5-9 | Senior | Guard | Ohio State
Crooms was under the radar, as even though St. Andrews won a postseason title, it was the relatively obscure Class C NEPSAC championship.

Queen Egbo, Fort Bend Travis (Richmond, Texas)
6-3 | Senior | Post | Baylor
Egbo averaged a double-double (17.3 points and 12.3 rebounds) and then played very well at the McDonald's All-American Game.

Justice Ethridge, Centennial (Las Vegas)
5-8 | Senior | Guard | UNLV
Ethridge was the best player on the ninth-best team in the country and played on four straight state championship teams at Centennial.

Hayley Frank, Strafford (Mo.)
6-1 | Junior | Forward | Missouri
Strafford has won 82 games in a row, and Frank — who averaged 24.9 points, 12.7 rebounds and 7.1 assists a game — is the main reason why.

Nyah Green, Bishop Lynch (Dallas)
6-1 | Junior | Wing | Louisville
Though Green didn't play in the public school UIL, her 18.7 points and 6.1 rebounds led Bishop Lynch to the runner-up spot in the TAPPS 6A postseason.

Jordan Horston, Africentric Early College (Columbus, Ohio)
6-0 | Junior | Wing | Undecided
The athletic Horston is an elite defender (how often is that mentioned in high school?) and led Africentic to an Ohio championship.

Rhyne Howard, Bradley Central (Cleveland, Tenn.)
6-1 | Senior | Wing | Kentucky
Bradley Central lost just once this past season, and was 121-11 in Howard's four-year career.

Aziah Hudson, Baldwin (N.Y.)
5-7 | Senior | Guard | Old Dominion
After an opening-day blowout loss to No. 3 St. John's, Hudson led Baldwin to 26 straight wins, the New York Federation title and a national No. 6 ranking.

Ashley Joens, Iowa City (Iowa)
5-9 | Senior | Guard Iowa State
Older sister Courtney set a high standard to live up to, but Ashley scored 30.9 points a game to go along with 11.8 rebounds. Little sister obviously had no problem keeping up.

Diamond Miller, Franklin (Somerset, N.J.)
6-1 | Junior | Guard | Maryland
Miller did almost all of the heavy lifting for Franklin, carrying the team to 25 wins and the New Jersey semifinals.

Jordan Nixon, Mary Louis Academy (Jamaica, N.Y.)
5-8 | Senior | Guard | Notre Dame
Nixon is yet another in the long line of New York City guards, but even so, couldn't get Mary Louis past No. 6 Christ the King.

Alissa Pili, Dimond (Anchorage, Alaska)
6-0 | Junior | Post | Undecided
"Strong" doesn't begin to describe Pili in the paint, but she's also quick and skilled — and she helped Dimond become the first Alaska team to finish the season in the Xcellent 25.

Catherine Reese, Cypress Woods (Cypress, Texas)
6-2 | Senior | Forward | Arizona
Scoring 30.8 points a game — while only making two three-pointers all year — is something, but especially in Texas. And don't forget the 15.3 rebounds.

Mykasa Robinson, Ashland Blazer (Ashland, Ky.)
5-7 | Senior | Guard | Louisville
Robinson's 2.6 assist/turnover ratio and 4.4 steals per game make it clear she's an elite point guard.

Sydnee Roby, Rufus King (Milwaukee)
6-4 | Junior | Post | Undecided
Roby averaged 17 points, 11 rebounds and nearly three blocks a game for a program that is consistently one of Wisconsin's best.

NaLyssa Smith, East Central (San Antonio)
6-2 | Senior | Post | Baylor
The talent was so thick on the ground in Texas that even a player as talented as Smith couldn't get her team past the 6A quarterfinals.

Celeste Taylor, Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.)
5-11 | Junior | Wing | Texas
Taylor is athletic, skilled and competitive. She helped Long Island Lutheran flirt with a spot in the Xcellent 25 all season long.

Kourtney Weber, Ursuline Academy (New Orleans)
5-10 | Senior | Wing | Florida State
Weber and her all-around game led Ursuline Academy to the Louisiana Division II title.

Amari Young, North Augusta (S.C.)
6-0 | Senior | Forward | Old Dominion
Young lost only once in her last two high school seasons and averaged a double-double (16.9 and 10.3) plus 3.4 assists, 6.0 steals and 2.1 blocks a game in her senior year.