Each year since 2006, MaxPreps has recognized outstanding performers in high school girls basketball. America's source for high school sports continues the tradition to close out the 2022-23 season by naming the top player in each state. Selections are based on team success and individual excellence in addition to local and state accolades.
Molly Hays of
Cody is the 2022-23 MaxPreps Wyoming High School Girls Basketball Player of the Year. The 5-foot-8 junior guard led the Broncs to a 25-0 record and the Class 4A state championship.
For the season, Hays averaged 20.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.7 steals and 3.3 assists per game. In a 65-53 win over Thunder Basin in the title game, she contributed 23 points, five rebounds, four steals
and two blocked shots.
Hays knocked down a season-high 34 points in a February win over
Evanston and scored 32 against Kelly Walsh.
Thanks in part to the efforts of Hays, Cody is 49-1 over the past two seasons with a pair of state championship game appearances.
Jordan Jones of
East (Cheyenne) was the 2021-22 MaxPreps Wyoming Player of the Year. She led the Thunderbirds to a 28-0 record and the Class 4A title, averaging 15.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.1 steals per game.
Each state's MaxPreps Player of the Year will be considered for inclusion in the MaxPreps All-America Team, which will be released in April. Past selections include 2022 WNBA Most Valuable Player A'ja Wilson (2014) as well as 2022 All-WNBA picks Skylar Diggins-Smith (2009), Sabrina Ionescu (2016), Jonquel Jones (2012), Nneka Ogwumike (2008), Kelsey Plum (2013), Breanna Stewart (2012) and Alyssa Thomas (2010).
