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.
Laci Steele of
Edmond North (Edmond) is the 2022-23 MaxPreps Oklahoma High School Girls Basketball Player of the Year. The 5-foot-11 senior forward helped the Huskies to 28-0 and win the Class 6A state championship.
For the season, Steele averaged 21.3 points and nearly seven rebounds per game. She scored 19 points in the title game to help Edmond North win its second consecutive state crown and earn tournament MVP honors.
Laci Steele of Edmond North is the MaxPreps Oklahoma Player of the Year after leading the Huskies to back-to-back state titles. (Photo: Gray Siegel)
After tallying more than 2,000 points at the high school level, Steele will continue her career next year at North Carolina State.
Darianna Littlepage-Buggs of
Classen SAS (Oklahoma City) was the 2021-22 MaxPreps Oklahoma Player of the Year. Now a freshman at Baylor, Littlepage-Buggs averaged 15.6 points and 13.3 rebounds per game for the Class 4A state champions.
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).
