When two of your teammates are daughters of former NBA players — and NBA players who combined to play 28 years in the league — it's hard to get much attention. Especially when one of those players is one of the best in the nation in her class.
But if you're Sierra Canyon's Juju Watkins, the spotlight always finds its way to you. Watkins, the MaxPreps National Junior of the Year, gets to delight Southern California high school fans and some lucky folks around the country for another years with her size, athleticism and skill.
And what they'll see transcends statistics, as a lot of girls around the country put up big numbers. But how many can dunk, drain NBA-range threes and handle the ball like a 5-foot-8 point guard?
The answer, of course, is none — which is why Watkins tops not only this list, but the list of all the players in the country.
The players below were honored for their high school performances, both individual and team. Club and international play were not factored in. Thanks to all the coaches who posted information on MaxPreps and helped us gather statistics.
First TeamBreya Cunningham, La Jolla Country Day (La Jolla, Calif.)
6-4 | Center | UncommittedHer inside presence was the starting point for the No. 9 Torreys, and she averaged 18.4 points and 11.9 rebounds for the season. La Jolla Country Day will be formidable again as Cunningham and all the key players return next season.
Milaysia Fulwiley, Keenan (Columbia, S.C.)
5-6 | Point guard | UncommittedThe numbers — 29.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 4.6 steals a game — speak for themselves, but Fulwiley also led the Raiders to the AAA title.
Gisella Maul, Cedar Park (Texas)
5-10 | Guard | UncommittedTexas is always one of the most competitive states in the nation, and Maul averaged 25.3 points and 8.2 rebounds a game, shot 50 percent from the field, 37.8 percent from 3-point distance and 84 percent from the free throw line for the 37-0 and 5A champion Timberwolves.
MAXPREPS NATIONAL JUNIOR OF THE YEAR
Juju Watkins, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)
6-0 | Junior | Wing | UncommittedThe best player in the country is just a junior, and though it seems almost impossible, Watkins' statistics — 25.0 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.9 blocks a game — could be even better next year.
Mikaylah Williams, Parkway (Bossier City, La.)
6-0 | Wing | UncommittedOne of the greatest players to come out of the Bayou State was a 6-0 wing named Seimone Augustus — and that's exactly who Williams is being compared to. She averaged 22.8 points and 8.4 rebounds a game for the 34-3 Panthers.
Second Team
Kamorea Arnold, Germantown (Wis.)
5-6 | Point guard | UConnShe did it all for the 23-6 Warhawks, averaging 24.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 4.5 steals a game — and Geno Auriemma noticed.
Zoe Brooks, St. John-Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.)
5-10 | Guard | UncommittedPaired with All-American Madison St. Rose to give the Lancers one of the deadliest backcourts in the country. Brooks averaged 18.0 points and 3.6 assists a game for the No. 4 team in the MaxPreps Top 25.
Jadyn Donovan, Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.)
6-0 | Forward | UncommittedThough she lacks the size of the prototypical power forward, her ability to snake her way inside for rebounds and follow shots made her a key player for the unbeaten and MaxPreps National Champion Quakers. She is also an excellent defender to go along with her 15.2 points and 8.4 rebounds a game.
Chloe Kitts, DME Academy (Daytona Beach, Fla.)
6-2 | Forward | UncommittedLong and athletic, Kitts averaged 18.7 points and 8.2 rebounds a game for the No. 14 team in the country.
Ashlynn Shade, Noblesville (Ind.)
5-9 | Wing | UConnShade shined for the Millers — who won the 4A state title — with 20.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.
Third TeamAudi Crooks, Bishop Garrigan (Algona, Iowa)
6-3 | Center | UncommittedCrooks put up very big numbers — 23.5 points and 12.5 rebounds a game with 72.3 percent shooting — in Iowa's smallest classification, but there's no doubt she would shine at any level.
Natalie Potts, Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis)
6-2 | Forward | UncommittedThe Red Knights finished with a 29-0 record, won the 6A title and were No. 10 in the final MaxPreps Top 25. Potts' 19.3 points and 8.6 rebounds a game were a big reason why.
Qadence Samuels, Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.)
6-1 | Forward | UncommittedSamuels scored 15.7 points a game and added 7.4 rebounds against one of the toughest schedules in the county.
Sayvia Sellers, Anchorage Christian (Anchorage, Alaska)
5-7 | Point guard | UncommittedThe Lions won the 4A championship as Sellers averaged 24.0 points, 6.1 assists and 4.6 rebounds.
Ciera Toomey, Dunmore (Pa.)
6-3 | Forward | UncommittedToomey is long and athletic — she's an excellent golfer, too — and averaged 18.5 points a game while shooting 39.2 percent from beyond the arc.
Honorable MentionChloe Clardy, Conway (Ark.)
5-9 | Guard | UncommittedWith a mascot like the Wampus Cats, Conway will always be cool, but with a player like Clardy — 25.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists a game — they're really good in basketball too.
Hannah Hidalgo, Paul VI (Haddonfield, N.J.)
5-6 | Point guard | UncommittedThough the Eagles went 24-4 in competitive New Jersey, some overlooked Hidalgo and her 25.4 points and 4.0 assists per game. We didn't.
Donovyn Hunter, South Medford (Medford, Ore.)
5-11 | Guard | Uncommitted Hunter led the Panthers to a 24-5 record by averaging 22.6 points a game.
Reniya Kelly, Hoover (Ala.)
5-5 | Point guard | North CarolinaHoover went 33-3 and finished No. 18 in the MaxPreps Top 25 with Kelly leading the way at 14.7 points a game, hitting over 41 percent of her 3-point attempts.
Taliah Scott, St. Johns Country Day (Orange Park, Fla.)
5-9 | Guard | ArkansasNoting that high school games are just 32 minutes long, the 31.5 points per game average by Scott is equivalent to an NBA player dropping 47 points a game.
Delaney Thomas, St. John's (Washington, D.C.)
6-2 | Forward | UncommittedThe Washington Catholic Athletic Conference is one of the toughest in the country and Thomas averaged 17.6 points and 7.5 rebounds a game against that elite competition.
Samantha Wagner, Reagan (San Antonio)
6-1 | Wing | TexasAveraged 25.9 points and 12.5 rebounds a game for the Rattlers, who went 28-8 in the 6A Division.
Amari Whiting, Burley (Idaho)
5-10 | Guard | OregonThe Bobcats won the Idaho 4A championship with a 26-1 record with Whiting contributing 26.9 points, 10.5 rebounds and 5.7 steals per game.
Sahara Williams, Waterloo West (Waterloo, Iowa)
5-11 | Forward | UncommittedLed the Warhawks to a 23-3 record by scoring 19.7 points a game and adding 7.5 rebounds.
Solé Williams, Princeton (Cincinnati)
5-9 | Guard | UncommittedThe Vikings finished with a 22-4 record in a competitive Ohio high school landscape and Williams contributed 23.2 points a game on 53 percent shooting — including 39 percent from beyond the arc.