Best high school girls basketball team in all 50 states

Sophomore Reniya Kelly and junior Aniya Hubbard are the major returning pieces for the Buccaneers, but they're not alone. This is a deep and talented team, which is likely to improve on last season's impressive 32-3 record.

Alaska — Anchorage Christian (Anchorage)
Even though the Lions are a 3A school (tops is 4A), three state titles in recent years is a strong statement. And with sophomore Sayvia Sellers and senior Mykaila Pickard both back, another championship might be in reach.



Arizona — Valley Vista (Surprise)
It's no surprise the Monsoon are the state's best, as the No. 21 preseason ranking in the MaxPreps Top 25 suggests. Six-foot wing Jennah Isai and 6-1 power forward Marisa Davis (a Washington commit) make the defending state champs a favorite to repeat.

Arkansas — Northside (Fort Smith)
As a 6-5 perimeter player, Arkansas commit Jersey Wolfenbarger is one of the best players in the country (18.8 points per game, 6.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists) but she's not alone: 6-2 power forward Tracey Bershers (Oklahoma State commit) is the real deal as well.

California — Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
The annual gauntlet that is Southern California basketball seldom leaves any record unblemished, but with Stanford-bound Brooke Demetre anchoring a deep roster, the Monarchs have the best chance to emerge as the top team in the Golden State.
Colorado — Grandview (Aurora)
Lauren Betts is 6-7 and skilled, and Addison O'Grady is 6-3 and skilled — that's a frontline any college would like to have. As proof, the Betts tops the 2023 recruit list and O'Grady has committed to Iowa.

Connecticut — Notre Dame Catholic (Fairfield)
Like so many teams, the Lancers were denied a shot at a state title when the playoffs were canceled, but coach Maria Conlon — who won three NCAA titles in four years at UConn — has junior guard Aizhanique Mayo to lead a team that looks to be the best in the Constitution State.

Delaware — Conrad Science (Wilmington)
With UMass commit Stefanie Kulesza back to fire from long range, the Red Wolves are primed to claim the state title that COVID may have prevented.

District of Columbia — St. John's (Washington, D.C.)
UConn signee Azzi Fudd is back and fully healthy — she was recovering from a torn ACL through much of last season — and St. John's is both back in the national rankings and at the top of the list in Washington, D.C.

Florida — Lake Highland Prep (Orlando)
With eight players returning from the Florida 4A championship team — including top prospects Kayla Blackshear (a senior committed to Alabama) and junior Nyla Harris — the Highlanders are not only the preseason pick in Florida, but the entire country.



Georgia — Westlake (Atlanta)
The Lions may have dropped down a division this year, but the Atlanta school is still the state's best. In fact, led by South Carolina commit Raven Johnson, they're No. 7 in the country.

Hawaii — 'Iolani (Honolulu)
Idaho — Mountain View (Meridian)
Yes, senior Trinity Slocum (Hawaii commit) is the younger sister of NCAA star Destiny Slocum, but more relevant is that she and junior Naya Ojukwu are the one-two punch for this Mountain View team — which was 29-4 last year and might be better this time around.

Illinois — Simeon (Chicago)
Senior Aneesah Morrow, a DePaul commit, averaged 23.0 points, 12.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists last season, and will lead a senior-dominated team coming off a 35-2 season.

Indiana — North Central (Indianapolis)
As always, Indiana is a very competitive state, but the preseason rumblings indicate the Panthers, led by junior guard Tanyuel Welch and senior Meg Newman (Arizona State commit), are the best of a solid group.
Iowa — Waukee
Without a senior on the roster, Waukee went 23-2 last year. Point guard Katie Dinnebier, who will play for Drake next year, is back to run the show again.

Kansas — Derby
The two top scorers for last year's 23-2 team were freshmen, so it's reasonable to assume that Maryn Archer and Addy Brown will be even better this time around — which makes it reasonable to assume the Panthers will be the best in the Sunflower State.



Kentucky — Anderson County (Lawrenceburg)
Not many 29-4 teams carry an eighth-grader on their roster, but Anderson also had a seventh-grader — emblematic of a very young team that lost only one senior to graduation. And top player Amiya Jenkins is just a junior.

Louisiana — Ponchatoula
The Green Wave are a perennial power in Louisiana girls' basketball, and return four starters from a team that lost in overtime in the state finals. LSU commit Amoura Graves is the big gun, averaging 23.5 points last season.

Maine — Portland
Cousins Gemima Motema and Amanda Kabantu are refugees from the Congo who found a home on the basketball court in Maine — and they lead a roster that returns a lot of firepower from a 19-4 team.

Maryland — Bishop McNamara (Forestville)
Not surprisingly, the No. 2 team in the country is the No. 1 team in Maryland, as Bishop McNamara, loaded with talent, is expected to dominate most of its in-state opposition. Things will be tougher in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, however.

Massachusetts — Bridgewater-Raynham (Bridgewater)
Led by 6-3 junior Shay Bollin, a verbal commit to Duke, the Trojans look to build off a 21-4 season and claim a first state title since 1990.

Michigan — Edison Academy (Detroit)
It's possible the Pioneers will drop off a little after going 23-0 last year — it's also possible, led by junior Ruby Whitehorn and senior Damiya Hagemann (committed to Michigan State), that they will be even better.



Minnesota — Hopkins (Minnetonka)
The wheels keep turning for the Royals, even though coach Brian Cosgriff retired and star Paige Bueckers moved on to UConn. There's still a boatload of talent in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, and smooth sailing ahead.

Mississippi — Meridian
Even though five seniors graduated from a 29-2 team, with junior Debreasha Powe leading the way, Meridian is expected to be the Magnolia State's best.

Missouri — Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis)
Let's see, the Red Knights were 27-4 last year and return three major contributors: 5-11 senior Jaiden Bryant, 5-6 junior point guard Saniah Tyler and 6-2 sophomore Natalie Potts. To put it another way, IWA will be really good again.

Montana — Capital (Helena)
Twins Dani Bartsch and Paige Bartsch are 6-1 and 6-3, respectively, and will carry much of the load for a team that was 20-1 last year. Capital was denied a shot at the AA title due to COVID, but could well get another chance this year.

Nebraska — Pius X (Lincoln)
The defending state champs bring back 6-3 Nebraska signee Alexis Markowski and point guard Jillian Aschoff, so a changing of the guard is unlikely.

Nevada — Centennial (Las Vegas)
When the Bulldogs wins another state championship, a bunch of seniors graduate and everyone thinks the reign is over. They probably think that way this year, too.
New Hampshire — Bishop Guertin (Nashua)
The Cardinals haven't lost to a New Hampshire team since January 2018 — and with 6-0 sophomore Meghan Stack topping a young and talented roster, there's no reason to expect that 45-game winning streak to end.



New Jersey — St. John-Vianney (Holmdel)
New Jersey, as always, is loaded with talent, but the Lancers' combination of solid coaching, a deep roster (headed by Madison St. Rose) and a tradition of excellence looks to be the best of a very good group.

New Mexico — Hobbs
The Eagles went 29-1 and won the 5A championship last year, and with sophomore Wisdom Anthony and senior Elise Turrubiates returning, a repeat would not be a surprise.

New York — Christ the King (Middle Village)
It was definitely a down year for perennial power Christ the King, but in 2020-21, a young roster will be boosted by newly eligible transfers and the Royals are expected to begin a climb back to the glory days.

North Carolina — Southeast Raleigh (Raleigh)
After a 27-1 season and a state title, graduation took a toll on Southeast Raleigh, but with junior Bobbi Smith topping a deep roster, the Bulldogs look like the best in the Tar Heel State once more.

North Dakota — Century (Bismarck)
Though Century didn't finish the season as well as expected, the Patriots were still 21-4 – and with sophomore guard Logan Nissley back, they could be better this year.

Ohio — Reynoldsburg
The Raiders were 18-8 last year in a state known for strong girls basketball. But a pair of transfers — Alexia Mobley (bound for Louisville) and Imarianah Russell — will add enough to an already solid roster to make them the preseason favorite.



Oklahoma — Norman
All of the firepower is back from a 24-1 team, including Texas Tech commit Chantae Embry, a power forward who controls the paint, and sharpshooter Kelbie Washington (42 percent from three-point distance).

Oregon — West Linn
With 6-4 Aaronette Vonleh inside and Audrey Roden on the perimeter, the Lions have the foundation for a top-notch offense — but they also have everyone back from a 21-6 team and that makes them a clear preseason favorite.

Pennsylvania — Archbishop Wood (Warminster)
The Vikings were once known as a classic Philly pass-the-ball-10-times team, but no more. Now the talent gets up and down the floor, and there's a lot of it on the roster — which makes them very tough to beat.

Rhode Island — South Kingstown (Wakefield)
Despite losing six seniors from a 20-2 team, the Rebels — led by 5-11 junior Jamisen Hill — are expected to reload and remain the best in state.

South Carolina — Cardinal Newman (Columbia)
The Cardinals finished the season on a 22-game winning streak, and with Ashlyn Watkins and Tanaja Kennedy both back, there's every reason to believe the train will keep rolling.

South Dakota — Washington (Sioux Falls)
With 6-5 senior Sydni Schetnan and 6-1 junior Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda, Washington has a one-two punch no other team in South Dakota can deal with — and maybe a lot of other states, too.



Tennessee — Ensworth (Nashville)
Though graduation hit 28-0 Ensworth hard, the Cambridge sisters — Jaloni Cambridge, who starred as an eighth-grader last year, and Kennedy Cambridge, now a junior — should keep the Tigers ahead of the pack in 2020-21.

Texas — Duncanville
The definition of "perennial power" has to include a reference to mighty Duncanville, which year in and year out, not only is one of the best in Texas, but is also one of the best in the nation. This year, sadly for Lone Star State rivals, will not change that perception.

Utah — Fremont (Plain City)
With senior Emma Calvert and junior Timea Gardiner back for another go-round, the Silverwolves are primed to improve on a 24-3 record from last season, erase the bitter taste of a postseason upset and claim a state title.
Vermont — Rice Memorial (South Burlington)
Rice Memorial's young players were thrown into the fire last season, playing the toughest schedule in the state, and with some talented transfers, are expected to take a great leap forward in 2020-21.

Virginia — Paul VI (Chantilly)
The Panthers moved their campus from Fairfax to Chantilly but the school's rule over Virginia won't be affected. Led by Duke commit Lee Volker, deep and well-coached Paul VI will once again be the class of the Old Dominion.

Washington — Chiawana (Pasco)
The Riverhakws, as usual, are a state title threat, and with Oregon State-bound Talia Von Oelhoffen (26.2 ppg) leading the way, could claim that so-far elusive championship.

West Virginia — Huntington
The focus of West Virginia girls basketball fans will shift to Huntington this season, as transfers and a veteran roster should lift the Highlanders above the competition.

Wisconsin — Beaver Dam
Though Beaver Dam may have lost a little from its 25-3 team of 2019-20, there's lot of talent coming back — and little reason to expect much of a drop off. In short, look for Beaver Dam to be the Badger State's best once again.



Wyoming — Thunder Basin (Gillette)
Thunder Basin won the 4A state title in 2019 — in its second year of varsity play — and was on track for another championship in 2020 before COVID canceled the playoffs. So it's no surprise the Bolts are expected to the best in Wyoming again this season.