The MaxPreps National Player of the Year will be named at the conclusion of the 2024-25 high school girls basketball season, marking the 20th year for that honor going back to Jacki Gemelos in 2006. Maya Moore (2007), Breanna Stewart (2012), A'ja Wilson (2014), Sabrina Ionescu (2016), Paige Bueckers (2020) and Juju Watkins (2022 and 2023) are among the winners in the years since.
See the complete list of MaxPreps National Player of the Year winners at the bottom of the page.
At the approximate mid-point of the current season, it's time to look at the candidates to join that list. Standouts from California, Florida, Maryland, New York, Oregon, Texas and Utah are among those who made the cut.
Worthy of mention though not included is junior forward
McKenna Woliczko of
Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), who was a leading candidate for POY honors before suffering a season-ending knee injury earlier this month.
Sienna Betts, Grandview (Aurora, Colo.)
6-4 | Post | Senior | UCLAA double-double seemingly every time she steps on the court, Betts is averaging 22.6 points, 19.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 3.6 blocks and 2.2 steals per game for the 7-3 Wolves. She has posted a double-double in every game this season and had a triple-double of 28-22-11 against No. 1 Ontario Christian at the Nike Tournament of Champions.
Aaliyah Chavez, Monterey (Lubbock, Texas)
5-11 | Point guard | Senior | UncommittedA scoring machine who recently notched her fourth 1,000-point season, Chavez is averaging 36.0 points 9.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game for the 25-4 Plainsmen. Chavez is on pace to finish in the top 20 nationally for career points.
Jazzy Davidson, Clackamas (Ore.)
6-1 | Guard | Senior | USCAveraging 28.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 2.3 blocks per game for the 8-2 Cavaliers. Despite being in foul trouble in the first half of an overtime loss to No. 2 Archbishop Mitty, Davidson put up 35 points including a pair of clutch free throws to send the game into the extra frame.
Addison Deal, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
6-0 | Guard | Senior | IowaA point guard with a shooter's touch and size and strength to finish in traffic, the future Hawkeye is averaging 19.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.8 steals per game for nationally-ranked Mater Dei. The Monarchs are 17-2 with a pair of wins over teams ranked in the MaxPreps Top 25 at the time of the game.
Saniyah Hall, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
6-2 | Guard | Junior | UncommittedAveraging 19.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.7 steals per game for the 13-1 Eagles. The transfer from Ohio has more than 25 offers, including heavyweights like LSU, South Carolina, UConn and USC. She has given Montverde steady contributions every night, posting double figures in scoring in each of the team's 14 games this season.
Olivia Jones, Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.)
6-0 | Guard | Junior | Uncommitted
Helping the Crusaders reload after losing a trio of Division I standouts to graduation. Jones is averaging 20.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game as Long Island Lutheran is 11-0 against a stout national slate of opponents.
Jerzy Robinson, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)
6-0 | Guard | Junior | UncommittedAn elite scorer with the physical game to play down low, Robinson is averaging 22.5 points and 9.3 rebounds for the No. 8 Trailblazers. The five-star has a high of 31 points in a win over reigning Nevada 5A champion Bishop Gorman earlier in the season.
6-0 | Guard | Senior | Duke
Fills the stat sheet for the 13-0 Riverhawks, averaging 25.7 points, 9.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.7 steals per game. She has gone for more than 30 four times this season.
Kaleena Smith, Ontario Christian (Ontario, Calif.)
5-6 | Point guard | Sophomore | UncommittedSmith's scoring average is down from last year's 34.9 points per game but her impact might be greater on a team starting two freshmen. She is averaging 23.3 points, 7.9 assists and 4.8 steals per game.
Ivanna Wilson-Manyacka, Bullis (Potomac, Md.)
6-2 | Forward | Sophomore | UncommittedEqually adept banging in the paint for a rebound or stepping out and knocking down 3-pointers, Wilson-Manyacka is averaging 18.5 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game. She has posted a double-double in all but two games.
Past MaxPreps National Players of the Year
2006 — Jacki Gemelos, St. Mary's (Stockton, Calif.)
2007 — Maya Moore, Collins Hill (Suwanee, Ga.)
2008 — Nneka Ogwumike, Cy-Fair (Cypress, Texas)
2009 — Skylar Diggins, South Bend Washington (South Bend, Ind.)
2010 — Chiney Ogwumike, Cy-Fair
2011 — Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
2012 — Breanna Stewart, Cicero-North Syracuse (Cicero, N.Y.)
2013 — Diamond DeShields, Norcross (Ga.)
2014 — A'ja Wilson, Heathwood Hall Episcopal (Columbia, S.C.)
2015 — Ali Patberg, Columbus North (Columbus, Ind.)
2016 — Sabrina Ionescu, Miramonte (Orinda, Calif.)
2017 — Megan Walker, Monacan (Richmond, Va.)
2018 — Christyn Williams, Central Arkansas Christian (North Little Rock, Ark.)
2019 — Azzi Fudd, St. John's (Washington, D.C.)
2020 — Paige Bueckers, Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.)
2021 — Raven Johnson, Westlake (Atlanta)
2022 — Juju Watkins, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)
2023 — Juju Watkins, Sierra Canyon
2024 — Jaloni Cambridge, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
