High school girls basketball rankings: Bishop McNamara starts at No. 1 in Preseason MaxPreps Top 25

The race for a national title begins in Maryland as Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.) opens at the No. 1 spot in the Preseason MaxPreps Top 25 girls basketball rankings. 

Coming off a 29-3 campaign, the Mustangs return a strong backcourt led by MaxPreps All-American and Texas commit Qandace Samuels alongside standout Jaylah King and Ole Miss commit Nyair McCoy. 

Entering the year at No. 2 is defending MaxPreps National Champion Ontario Christian (Ontario, Calif.). The Knights are led by reigning MaxPreps National Player of the Year Kaleena Smith. Three other starters also return, including Virginia Tech commit Dani Robinson and Chloe Jenkins.

No. 3 Bullis (Potomac, Md.), Maryland Private School state champions last season, is headlined by MaxPreps All-American Ivanna Wilson Manyacka. Point guard Taylor Williams and forward Adina Asuelimen are also back to give the Bulldogs a balanced inside-outside attack. 

Etiwanda (Calif.) checks in at the No. 4 spot. The Eagles have a lineup full of Division I commits, headlined by Notre Dame commit Chasity Rice, Akron commit Dashia Richardson, a transfer from Millennium (Goodyear, Ariz.), and Denver commit Andrea Alamo. 

Rounding out the top five is Bishop Ireton (Alexandria, Va.), the defending VISAA Division I state champion. The Cardinals look to build off last year's finish with the return of all of their key players, led by Nina McEldon and MacKenzi Jackson. 

Beyond the top five, a pair of teams enter the season riding historic runs. No. 12 Johnston (Iowa) holds the nation's longest active streak, winning its last 79 games, while No. 20 Princess Anne (Virginia Beach, Va.) starts the year with a 71-game winning streak.

The MaxPreps Top 25 is limited to schools that compete for a state championship sanctioned by an NFHS-recognized governing body. Postgraduate or nonscholastic programs are not eligible for inclusion. 1. Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.)
2025-26: 29-3, No. 2 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Head coach: Ron James, fourth season 
Key players: Qandace Samuels, Jaylah King, Nyair McCoy, Makenzie Preston, Madyson Williams
Key losses: None
Breakdown: Samuels returns after averaging 22 points, 8 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game while leading the Mustangs to the Maryland Private School state championship game. The Mustangs' backcourt is led by MaxPreps Sophomore All-American King (18 points, 6 rebounds) and McCoy (11 points, 4 assists). Bishop McNamara also brought in transfers Preston (15.5 points) and Williams (10.2 points).  

2. Ontario Christian (Ontario, Calif.)
2025-26: 34-2, No. 1 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Head coach: Aundre Cummings, third season
Key players: Kaleena Smith, Dani Robinson, Chloe Jenkins, Skylah Archer
Key losses: Tatianna Griffin
Breakdown: Reigning MaxPreps National Player of the Year Smith is the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2027 and averaged 31.5 points, 6.9 assists and 4.5 steals per game. She returns alongside Virginia Tech commit Robinson (15.9 points) and MaxPreps Freshman All-American forward Jenkins (14.7 points, 11.3 rebounds). The Knights need to fill the void left with the transfer of Griffin. 

3. Bullis (Potomac, Md.)
2025-26: 29-7, No. 6 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Head coach: Justin Leith, fifth season 
Key players: Ivanna Wilson Manyacka, Taylor Williams, Dahlia Debourou, Adina Asuelimen
Key losses: Adora Nwude
Breakdown: The Bulldogs run through MaxPreps All-American Wilson Manyacka, who averaged 20.7 points and 11.5 rebounds per contest while leading them to the Maryland Private School state championship. Returning starters include Williams (9.4 points, 6.7 assists), Asuelimen (9 points, 8.8 rebounds) and Debourou (7.5 points). Bullis gets a boost from standout freshman Londyn Carter.  

4. Etiwanda (Calif.)
2025-26: 30-4, No. 10 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Head coach: Stan Delus, 10th season 
Key players: Chasity Rice, Dashia Richardson, Andrea Alamo, Tess Oldenburg, Jaylee Moore
Key losses: Arynn Finley
Breakdown: Etiwanda eyes a fourth CIF State Open Division title in five years. The Eagles return five players committed to a Division I program and add another via transfer. Notre Dame commit Rice takes the point after averaging 17.8 points and 4.5 assists per game along with fellow returning backcourt player and Denver commit Alamo (12.3 points, 3.5 assists). Joining the team is Akron commit Richardson, a transfer from Millennium (Goodyear, Ariz.), who averaged 13.4 points per game.

5. Bishop Ireton (Alexandria, Va.)
2025-26: 28-7, Unranked in final MaxPreps Top 25
Head coach: Kesha Walton, ninth season
Key players: Nina McEldon, MacKenzi Jackson, Kai Davis, Kamiera Willis, Eva Willis
Key losses: None
Breakdown: The Cardinals return everyone from a team that captured the VISAA Division I state championship. Sophomore forward McEldon leads the group, averaging 12.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Joining her is junior guard Jackson, who netted 11.6 points per game. 

6. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)
2025-26: 30-3, No. 9 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Head coach: Alicia Komaki, 15th season 
Key players: Cherri Hatter, Rosie Oladokun, Hamiley Arenas, Aaliyah Mack
Key losses: Jerzy Robinson
Breakdown: The Trailblazers return the tandem of Hatter (11.6 points, 3.5 rebounds) and Oladokun (8.9 points, 7.1 rebounds). Impact from junior transfer Arenas will be a plus after averaging 23.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game at Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) as a freshman. Sophomore transfer Mack, who scored 13.2 points per game for Fairmont Prep (Anaheim), also joins Komaki's squad. 

7. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.)
2025-26: 28-3, No. 3 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Head coach: Sue Phillips, 34th season
Key players: Maliya Hunter, Ze'ni Patterson, Tee McCarthy, Zi Patterson
Key losses: McKenna Woliczko, Emma Cook
Breakdown: MaxPreps All-Americans Hunter and Patterson, a Washington commit, lead the returning group that will need to replace the production of Woliczko, now at Iowa. Hunter averaged 13.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, while Patterson added 11 points per game.  

8. Belleville (Mich.)
2025-26: 25-2, Unranked in final MaxPreps Top 25
Head coach: Jason Wilkins, seventh season 
Key players: Sydney Savoury, Paisley Stephens, Janiah Batchelor, Layla Stewart
Key losses: Se’crette Carter
Breakdown: UConn commit and MaxPreps All-American Savoury averaged 27 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. The Tigers welcome back several others, including Stephens and Batchelor, and two promising freshmen who could make an immediate impact.

9. Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.)
2025-26: 27-3, Unranked in final MaxPreps Top 25
Head coach: Tara Starks, seventh season
Key players: Erma Walker, Jaliyah Diggs, Ava Cupito, Marianna Davis, Ava Smith
Key losses: None
Breakdown: All of the Royals' top players return from last year's MSHSL Class 4A state runner-up finish, led by forward Walker, who averaged 18 points per game. Diggs and Cupito averaged 17 and 15 points per contest, respectively. 

10. Summer Creek (Houston, Texas)
2025-26: 35-4, No. 21 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Head coach: Kiara Marshall, third season
Key players: Erin Newsom, Kay'len Alexander, Addison Martin, Ty'asia Young
Key losses: Kennedy Simpson
Breakdown: The Conference 6A Division 1 state championship game MVP Newsom highlights the returning group. Other notables include Alexander and Martin. The defending 6A D1 state champions enter the season riding a 20-game winning streak.

11. Rosemount (Minn.)
2025-26: 25-3, Unranked in final MaxPreps Top 25
Head coach: Chris Orr, 15th season
Key players: Amisha Ramlall, Ashna Ramlall, Arshia Ramlall, Gianna Carpentier, Kaylee Dilger
Key losses: None
Breakdown: Everyone is back for the Irish, including Stanford commit Amisha Ramlall, who averaged 20.5 points per game. Her sister and fellow Cardinal commit Ashna Ramlall averaged 14.9 points and is joined by sister and Division II St. Cloud State commit Arshia Ramlall for the Class 4A state champions.

12. Johnston (Iowa)
2025-26: 27-0, No. 11 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Head coach: Chad Jilek, 15th season 
Key players: Kelli Kalb, Ari Phillips, Daya Phillips, Paige Andernacht, Mariah Dixon, Aly Aguirre
Key losses: Jenica Lewis
Breakdown: The Dragons enter the year with the nation's longest winning streak at 79 games after capturing their third consecutive state title. They return guards Kalb (12.3 points) and Ari Phillips (10 points). Johnston also add sophomore transfer Aguirre.

13. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
2025-26: 26-8, Unranked in final MaxPreps Top 25
Head coach: Jody Wynn, third season 
Key players: Tatiana Griffin, Addi Archer, Marissa Bishop, Nelly Strong, Janai Turner
Key losses: Harmony Golightly, Amiah Lewis
Breakdown: MaxPreps National Sophomore of the Year Griffin, the No. 1 overall prospect in the class of 2028, transferred in after averaging 21.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per game for Ontario Christian. Griffin joins forward Archer, a Rancho Christian transfer who averaged 10.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, and standout freshman Turner. 

14. Creekside (Fairburn, Ga.)
2025-26: 26-4, Unranked in final MaxPreps Top 25
Head coach: Akennia Ellis, 10th season 
Key players: C’india Dennis, Maliha Harris, Sydnee Hunter, Jacy Mitchell
Key losses: Kiana Harvey, Ryleigh Roberson
Breakdown: Auburn commit and point guard Dennis is back after an ACL injury suffered in the second game of last season. Fellow backcourt players Harris and Hunter stepped up in her absence, averaging 15.8 and 13.1 points, respectively. Mitchell added 12.5 points per contest, giving the rotation four double-digit scoring threats.

15. Windward (Los Angeles, Calif.)
2025-26: 18-14, Unranked in final MaxPreps Top 25
Head coach: Dante Dixon, second season
Key players: Amel Cook, Charis Rainey, Angelina Habis, Emma Powell 
Key losses: Shiloh Johnson
Breakdown: Five-star guard Cook returns after missing her junior season with a knee injury. The Wildcats feature a strong backcourt with USC commit Rainey and Princeton commit Habis, along with the addition of talented freshman Powell.

16. Sandy Creek (Tyrone, Ga.)
2025-26: 26-7, Unranked in final MaxPreps Top 25
Head coach: Tishay Lewis, sixth season
Key players: Morghan Reckley, Madison Reckley, Kandyce Hopkins, Jordyn Avila
Key losses: Deyla McCoy, Yogi Boynton 
Breakdown: MaxPreps Sophomore All-American Morghan Reckley averaged 23.9 points per game before logging 29 points and 6 rebounds in a postseason game for the Class AAA state runner-up. Other key returning players are Madison Reckley (9.7 points) and Hopkins (6.2 points, 6.4 rebounds). The Patriots are also expected to get an immediate impact from freshman Avila. 

17. Centennial (Corona, Calif.)
2025-26: 24-5, Unranked in final MaxPreps Top 25
Head coach: Matt Tumambing, second season
Key players: Sydney Douglas, Armanyie Reed, Talithakoum Poialii-Hunkin
Key losses: Cydnee Bryant
Breakdown: MaxPreps Sophomore All-American center Douglas (6-foot-7) averaged 19.1 points and 9.9 rebounds per game before posting 21 points and 10 rebounds in the CIF Division I state final. She returns alongside guards  Reed and Poialii-Hunkin, who tallied 14.1 and 12.4 points per game, respectively.

18. Miami Country Day (Miami, Fla.)
2025-26: 31-2, No. 15 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Head coach: Ochiel Swaby, 23rd season 
Key players: Jalynn Belton, Kori Edge, Kennedy Deal 
Key losses: Kamie Ellis, Casey O’Connell
Breakdown: Belton returns after leading the Class 2A state champions with 13.1 points per game. Other top returning players are point guard Kori Edge (8.5 points, 4 assists) and forward Deal (6.9 points, 5.5 rebounds).

19. Lone Peak (Highland, Utah)
2025-26: 16-11, Unranked in final MaxPreps Top 25
Head coach: Nancy Warner, 14th season
Key players: Nation Williams, Peyton Warner, Maddie Pope, Charli Warner
Key losses: Kennedy Woolston, Lave Holdcraft
Breakdown: The Knights return a backcourt led by Warner (12 points) and Maddie Pope (9.6 points). They also add impact transfer forward Williams, a MaxPreps Junior All-American, who averaged 18.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per game at Centennial (Las Vegas, Nev.).

20. Princess Anne (Virginia Beach, Va.)
2025-26: 28-0, No. 4 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Head coach: Ladeja James, first season
Key players: Micah Ojo, Run Sveinbjornsdottir
Key losses: Tristan Rickenbacker, Jizelle James, Alauna Olds, Amaya Olds, Amani Olds
Breakdown: North Carolina commit and MaxPreps All-American Ojo averaged 16.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per contest for the undefeated VHSL Class 5 state champions. The Cavaliers enter the year with a 71-game winning streak.

21. Millennium (Goodyear, Ariz.)
2025-26: 25-4, Unranked in final MaxPreps Top 25
Head coach: Danny Soliman, fifth season
Key players: Brooklynn Williams, Mariah Brownlee, Amaya Ribbens-Brown, Kolbi Brooks, Kinsey Murray, Braya Neal Tiffany 
Key losses: Dashia Richardson, T'maea Eteuati 
Breakdown: Point guard Brooks (23.2 points, 4.1 assists) arrives from Desert Vista (Phoenix), while fellow Valley Vista (Surprise) transfers Murray (21.8 points, 7 rebounds) and Neal-Tiffany (9.6 points, 3.8 assists) reload the backcourt for the back-to-back Open Division state champions. The trio helps offset the loss of leading scorer Richardson to Etiwanda.

22. Westlake (Austin, Texas)
2025-26: 40-1, Unranked in final MaxPreps Top 25
Head coach: Vickie Benson, fifth season 
Key players: Molly Frazer, Geralynn Byers-Veal, Townsend Hamilton, Peyton Hensle
Key losses: Tamia King, Wynn Thorne
Breakdown: Frazier and Byers-Veal lead the group of returning players for the Chaparrals, which finished as the Conference 6A Division 2 state runner-up. Frazer netted 14.8 points per game and Byers-Veal, a MaxPreps Freshman All-American, averaged 9.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

23. North Paulding (Dallas, Ga.)
2025-26: 30-2, Unranked in final MaxPreps Top 25
Head coach: Wesley Willis, sixth season 
Key players: Kenzie Hinkson, Morgan Landrum, Talya Arnold, Brooklyn Arnold, Kalee Hinkson
Key losses: Amiyah Leacock
Breakdown: Hinkson and Landrum highlight the returning group for the Wolfpack, which captured the Class AAAAAA state championship. Landrum was named MVP of the tournament after putting up 17 points and 21 rebounds in the title game. 

24. Flower Mound (Texas)
2025-26: 29-9, Unranked in final MaxPreps Top 25
Head coach: Sherika Nelson, 20th season
Key players: Maci Pringle, Brooklyn Gray, Lorelei Ebert
Key losses: Kennedy Jensen, Paige Bennett
Breakdown: Tennessee commit Pringle averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds per game for the Jaguars, which reached the Conference 6A Division 1 state final. Other top returning players are guard Gray (12.4 points) and forward Ebert (7.8 points, 6.8 rebounds).

25. Principia (St. Louis, Mo.)
2025-26: 30-2, Unranked in final MaxPreps Top 25
Head coach: Sam Pearson, first season
Key players: Dasia Scott, Loganne Love, Aniyah Poniewaz, Paige Ivy, Nadia Bateman, Nya Walker
Key losses: None
Breakdown: The Panthers return all of their key players, highlighted by Georgia Tech commit and MaxPreps Junior All-American Scott. She averaged 20.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game for the Class 3 state champions. Love (13.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists) also returns to help anchor a Panthers team riding a 20-game winning streak.