MaxPreps 2013 Girls Basketball All-American Team

The bar has been raised to an even higher level when it comes to the MaxPreps Girls Basketball All-American Team with the NCAA-champion UConn Huskies. The last two National Players of the year (Breanna Stewart and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis) each helped UConn win the national title, and proved that recognition from MaxPreps can lead to even bigger things.

Selections are based on team success, statistics and local, regional and state honors from the recently completed season. Potential at the college or professional level is not a consideration. Players in post-graduate programs are not eligible for inclusion.

Highlighted by National Player of the Year Diamond DeShields, we present the MaxPreps 2013 Girls Basketball All-American Team.

FIRST TEAM

Player of the Year
Diamond DeShields, Norcross (Ga.)
6-2 | Senior | Wing
Headed to: North Carolina

DeShields led Norcross to three state titles, and her high-flying athleticism sets her apart from any other prep players in the nation -- and she's already a veteran on the international scene with USA Basketball.

Jordin Canada, Windward (Los Angeles)
5-6 | Junior | Guard
Committed to: UCLA

Canada is the most complete point guard in the country, and with Windward, a smaller school in California, she had to play 32 minutes in every big game. And since Windward finished No. 8 in the Xcellent 25, there were plenty of big games.

Linnae Harper, Whitney Young (Chicago)
5-7 | Senior | Guard
Headed to: Kentucky

Harper isn't really a guard -- she's a basketball player. She can pretty much do anything a team needs done, and do it really well. But even at 5-7, rebounding might be her biggest strength.

Mercedes Russell, Springfield (Ore.)
6-5 | Senior | Center
Headed to: Tennessee

Russell is the prize post in the Class of 2013, and should be a great complement to Bashaara Graves, who was one of the best college freshmen in the country for the Volunteers this season.

Victoria Vivians, Scott Central (Forest, Miss.)
6-1 | Junior | Wing
Uncommitted

Vivians averaged an amazing 39.7 ppg this year, but perhaps even more amazing is that she took 476 free throws. There are teams that don't take that many free throws in a season.


SECOND TEAM


Editor's note: Katie Lou Samuelson is the Mater Dei player named to the second team, not her sister Karlie, as was previously reported.

Lindsay Allen, St. John's (Washington, D.C.)
5-7 | Senior | Guard
Headed to: Notre Dame

She may not fill Skylar Diggins' shoes, but Allen was the lead guard on one of the nation's best (No. 3 overall) teams. St. John's lost just once, playing one of the toughest schedules in the nation.

Makayla Epps, Marion County (Lebanon, Ky.)
5-9 | Senior | Guard
Headed to: Kentucky

Unbeaten Marion County finished No. 5 in the nation, and Epps was the driving force. Some question how well she'll do in college, but in high school -- which is what these teams are about -- she was spectacular.

Taya Reimer, Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.)
6-2 | Senior | Wing
Headed to: Notre Dame

Reimer is one of those players who does everything, and does everything well. She should be an immediate contributor to one of the top collegiate programs in the country.

Katie Lou Samuelson, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
6-3 | Sophomore | Wing
Uncommitted

If you like shooters, you'll love Samuelson. In fact, you'll really love her, because not only is she an assassin, she's tremendously accurate up to, and including, NBA 3-point distance.

Brianna Turner, Manvel (Texas)
6-3 | Junior | Forward
Uncommitted

Turner has always had potential, but she's become more physical and more confident since she burst onto the scene as a freshman.

THIRD TEAM
Ariel Atkins, Duncanville (Texas)
5-10 | Junior | Wing
Committed to: Texas

The unbeaten Pantherettes, No. 2 in the Xcellent 25, were led by the dynamic and athletic Atkins. The outstanding defender will try to lead No. 2 Duncanville to its third-straight 5A title next year.

Lexie Brown, North Gwinnett (Suwanee, Ga.)
5-8 | Senior | Guard
Headed to: Maryland

Brown, the daughter of former NBA guard Dee Brown, is a superb all-around player who sparked North Gwinnett to the No. 19 spot in the Xcellent 25.

Asia Durr, St. Pius X Catholic (Atlanta)
5-9 | Sophomore | Guard
Uncommitted

Durr is the next great Georgia player -- and there have been a lot of them recently. If Durr continues to develop, she'll be a worthy successor to Maya Moore and this year's Player of the Year, Diamond DeShields.

Kailee Johnson, Central Catholic (Portland, Ore.)
6-3 | Senior | Forward
Headed to: Stanford

Central Catholic suffered in the rankings because it didn't do well at the Nike TOC -- but Johnson was out with a concussion. When she returned, Central Catholic won 23 in a row and the state title.

Kathryn Westbeld, Fairmont (Kettering, Ohio)
6-1 | Junior | Forward
Uncommitted

Fairmont finished No. 4 in the Xcellent 25, and the strong, high-motor Westbeld was a big part of the reason why. Though she's not as tall as many posts, she dominates the paint.


FOURTH TEAM

Alaina Coates, Dutch Fork (Irmo, S.C.)
6-5 | Senior | Center
Headed to: South Carolina

The niece of former NFL tight end Ben Coates, Alaina Coates was an inside force for unbeaten state champion Dutch Fork.

Emmonnie Henderson, Edwardsville (Ill.)
6-2 | Senior | Post
Headed to: Louisville

Another power player, Henderson can take over games near the basket, yet is comfortable in transition. She could step right in at Louisville next year.

Jordan Reynolds, Central Catholic (Portland, Ore.)
5-10 | Senior | Guard
Headed to: Tennessee

Unlike so many girls, Reynolds just kept getting better and better as she got older. Her all-around game will easily adapt to the next level.

Tyler Scaife, Hall (Little Rock, Ark.)
5-9 | Senior | Guard
Headed to: Rutgers

Scaife is extremely athletic, and showed well in the McDonald's All-American Game. She'll join the long parade of McDonald's stars who've gone to Rutgers in the past.

Jatarie White, Providence Day (Charlotte, N.C.)
6-4 | Junior | Center
Uncommitted

Great touch for her size, and plenty of strength. She's one of the uncommitted prizes in the Class of 2014.


FIFTH TEAM

Nia Coffey, Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.)
6-2 | Senior | Forward
Headed to: Northwestern

A smooth lefty, Coffey can score, rebound and defend -- which is why Hopkins has been one of the best teams in Minnesota as long as she's been there.

Gabby Green, St. Mary's (Albany, Calif.)
6-2 | Junior | Guard
Uncommitted

Green turned it on down the stretch for St. Mary's, using her remarkable combination of size and skills. Though a natural two guard, she's more than adequate at the point, which makes her especially valuable.

Stephanie Mavunga, Brownsburg (Ind.)
6-3 | Senior | Post
Headed to: North Carolina

A strong inside presence, Mavunga is a nice complement to other UNC recruits, wing Diamond DeShields and point guard Jessica Washington.

Kelsey Plum, La Jolla Country Day (Calif.)
5-11 | Senior | Guard
Headed to: Washington

A left-handed scorer who will accept any challenge, Plum carried the Torreys deep intothe  postseason after most of her help graduated the year before.

Ieshia Small, Florida State University (Tallahassee, Fla.)
5-10 | Senior | Wing
Headed to: Baylor

Small won't replace Brittney Griner, but she can step in on the perimeter and help with her athleticism and ability to get to the basket.


HONORABLE MENTION

Dejanae Boykin, Flowers (Springdale, Md.)
6-1 | Sophomore | Forward
Undecided

Boykin is an athletic inside player who has plenty of room to develop -- but college coaches are excited about her right now.

Kalani Brown, Salmen (Slidell, La.)
6-3 | Sophomore | Post
Uncommitted

Daughter of long-time NBA player P.J. Brown, Kalani Brown still has some developing to do, but the potential is obvious.

McKenzie Calvert, Steele (Cibolo, Texas)
5-9 | Junior | Guard
Committed to Baylor

Steele lost to No. 2 Duncanville in the state finals, and Calvert's outstanding passing, speed and athleticism were a big reason why Steele got that far.

Oderah Chidom, Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland, Calif.)
6-3 | Senior | Forward
Headed to: Duke

The long and athletic Chidom was just one of six Big Six-level players for No. 7 Bishop O'Dowd -- on a lesser team, she would have stood out even more.

Saniya Chong, Ossining (N.Y.)
5-10 | Senior | Guard
Headed to: Connecticut

Chong is a big-time scorer and excellent passer who made Ossining a factor in always-tough New York.

Rebekah Dahlman, Braham (Minn.)
5-9 | Senior | Guard
Headed to: Vanderbilt

Minnesota prep fans bemoan the fact that Dahlman didn't stay at home for college, as the do-everything guard was one of the state's best.

Becca Greenwell, Owensboro Catholic (Ky.)
5-9 | Senior | Guard
Headed to: Duke

Greenwell battled a knee injury all season but when she was on the court, the all-around player was a difference-maker.

Kelli Hayes, Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.)
6-1 | Junior | Wing
Uncommitted

Hayes is a smooth player in a traditionally strong program whose athleticism and basketball IQ have college coaches lining up.

Jessica Jackson, Jacksonville (Ark.)
6-2 | Senior | Forward
Headed to: Arkansas

One of the last elite players to sign, Jackson will take her athleticism and off-the-chart hops to Arkansas.

Erica McCall, Ridgeview (Bakersfield, Calif.)
6-2 | Senior | Forward
Headed to: Stanford

McCall will bring toughness to the Stanford frontcourt, but she also has skills to back up her physicality.

Raigyne Moncrief, American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.)
5-10 | Senior | Guard
Headed to: LSU

Moncrief will fit right in the SEC, which is turning into a league dominated by athletic defenders who can score in transition.

Ashley Morrissette, Twinsburg (Ohio)
5-7 | Senior | Guard
Headed to: Purdue

Morrissette ran the show for Twinsburg, which lost just once this season, and her mental toughness and explosive first step were keys to the team's success.

Alyssa Rice, Reynoldsburg (Ohio)
6-3 | Junior | Post
Uncommitted

Tons of potential in a 6-3 post who can shoot and is comfortable on the perimeter.

Lindsey Spann, Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.)
5-6 | Senior | Guard
Headed to: Penn State

Spann was the lead guard for a team that was in and out of the Xcellent 25 for the past two seasons. She played against the best at Good Counsel, so she should adjust quickly at Penn State.

Marques Webb, Hoover (Ala.)
6-1 | Senior | Forward
Headed to: Vanderbilt

A power player with a knack for rebounding, Webb will give Vanderbilt an inside presence it often lacks.

A'ja Wilson, Heathwood Hall Episcopal (Columbia, S.C.)
6-4 | Junior | Post
Uncommitted

Wilson begins with the advantage of being left-handed, but at 6-4 with a soft touch, she's even tougher to guard.