The 2023-24 high school girls basketball campaign has been filled with impressive performances as the season hits the approximate mid-way point.
Although there is no clear front-runner in the MaxPreps National Player of the Year race, a handful of players have established themselves as contenders to emerge from the pack.
Today we took a look at 10 of the top players in high school basketball regardless of class as we release our MaxPreps National Player of the Year watch list.
With just under three months remaining in the high school basketball season, there is plenty of time for other players to emerge as deserving candidates for POY honors.
5-6 | 2024 | Point guard | Ohio StateThe engine driving the No. 3 team in the MaxPreps Top 25, Cambridge is averaging 21.2 points, 8.6 assists, 6.5 rebounds and 3.4 steals per game. She is a point guard who can find the open shooter, drive the lane with a quick first step and finish inside against contact.
Aaliyah Chavez, Monterey (Lubbock, Texas)
5-10 | 2025 | Point guard | UncommittedA scoring machine who is among the national leaders in points per game, she is averaging 37.6 points through 25 games. Chavez also adds 9.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per night for the Plainsmen. She has narrowed her college choices to Arizona, LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Southern California, Tennessee, Texas, UCLA and Texas Tech.
Morgan Cheli, Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.)
6-0 | 2024 | Guard | UConnThe floor general for the No. 1 team in the MaxPreps Top 25 is a true two-way threat who can beat opponents on either end of the floor. Cheli is averaging 17.1 points 10.1 assists, 6.4 rebounds and 2.6 steals per night. She commands so much attention that it allows teammates like leading scorer
McKenna Woliczko (23.8 points per night) to shine. Approaching 1,000 career points despite missing most of last season due to injury and Covid-shortened freshman year.
Joyce Edwards, Camden (S.C.)
6-2 | 2024 | Forward | South CarolinaLast year's MaxPreps National Female Athlete of the Year has upped her game on the hardwood this season, averaging just under 30 points and 13 rebounds for the 12-2 Bulldogs. A three-sport all-state athlete, Edwards is dominant inside the paint with a nice mid-range touch.
Maddy McDaniel, Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.)
5-9 | 2024 | Point guard | South Carolina
McDaniel leaves it all on the floor. She is averaging around 15 points, four steals and three rebounds and four steals per night with a 5-to-1 assist to turnover ratio. She can hit from anywhere on the floor but has a burst that allows her to get to the bucket, where she excels at finishing in traffic.
MacKenly Randolph, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)
6-1 | 2024 | Guard | Uncommitted
The daughter of former NBA player Zach Randolph has taken up the mantle of leader for the Trailblazers after the graduation of MaxPreps National Player of the Year Juju Watkins. Randolph is averaging 19.5 points per night along with 9.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 60 percent from the field. She has narrowed her college choices to Notre Dame, Louisville and Michigan State.
Arianna Roberson, Clark (San Antonio, Texas)
6-4 | 2024 | Guard | Duke
A double-double machine, Roberson is averaging 17.9 points and 12.3 rebounds per night for the 22-1 Cougars, who are No. 13 in the MaxPreps Top 25. A rim protector on defense, she is posting nearly four blocks per night.
Kennedy Smith, Etiwanda (Etiwanda, Calif.)
6-1 | 2024 | Forward | USCSmith is averaging 24.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 2.0 assists per night. The Eagles have taken on an aggressive national schedule that's seen them travel to Texas, Oregon, the Bahamas and Massachusetts.
Syla Swords, Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.)
6-0 | 2024 | Guard | Michigan
Swords truly stands out on a team full of Division I talent. She is relentless on defense and can score from anywhere on the court. She is averaging 16.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game while shooting 52 percent from range.
Olivia Vukosa, Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.)
6-0 | 2026 | Center | Uncommitted
A true paint presence, she is averaging 18.2 points, 14.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 3.5 blocks for the 9-1 Royals. The lone underclassman on the watch list, Vukosa has great footwork and the size to battle down low. She holds offers from nearly 40 schools.
Past MaxPreps National Players of the Year
2006 — Jacki Gemelos, St. Mary's (Stockton, Calif.)
2007 — Maya Moore, Collins Hill (Suwanee, Ga.)
2008 — Nneka Ogwumike, Cy-Fair (Cypress, Texas)
2009 — Skylar Diggins, South Bend Washington (South Bend, Ind.)
2010 — Chiney Ogwumike, Cy-Fair
2011 — Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
2012 — Breanna Stewart, Cicero-North Syracuse (Cicero, N.Y.)
2013 — Diamond DeShields, Norcross (Ga.)
2014 — A'ja Wilson, Heathwood Hall Episcopal (Columbia, S.C.)
2015 — Ali Patberg, Columbus North (Columbus, Ind.)
2016 — Sabrina Ionescu, Miramonte (Orinda, Calif.)
2017 — Megan Walker, Monacan (Richmond, Va.)
2018 — Christyn Williams, Central Arkansas Christian (North Little Rock, Ark.)
2019 — Azzi Fudd, St. John's (Washington, D.C.)
2020 — Paige Bueckers, Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.)
2021 — Raven Johnson, Westlake (Atlanta)
2022 — Juju Watkins, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)
2023 — Juju Watkins, Sierra Canyon
