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.
Juju Watkins of
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) is the 2022-23 MaxPreps California High School Girls Basketball Player of the Year for the second straight season. The 6-foot senior guard led the Trailblazers
to a 31-1 record, the Southern Section Open Division title and the Southern California Open Division regional final.
For the season, Watkins averaged 28.0 points, 14.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.6 steals per game. She broke the school record with 60 points in a game against Notre Dame in January.
Sierra Canyon's Juju Watkins is the MaxPreps California Player of the Year. The Trailblazers' senior and USC commit was last year's MaxPreps National Player of the Year. (Photo: Louis Lopez)
Headed to USC, Watkins was last season's MaxPreps National Player of the Year and was named to this year's McDonald's All American squad as well as the Nike Hoops Summit team. She led Sierra Canyon to a 61-3 record in her two seasons with the program.
Watkins was the 2021-22 MaxPreps California Player of the Year. She averaged 25.0 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists for the
Trailblazers, the California Open Division champion and No. 3 team in
the country.
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).
