It would be hard to go wrong no matter what player from first team of the MaxPreps
California Girls Basketball All-State Team is chosen state Player of the Year. After all, the squad includes the National Sophomore of the Year, a Junior All-American and three McDonald's All-Americans.
Ultimately, however, the play of
Aliyahna Morris of
Etiwanda won out, making her the California Player of the Year. As noted by National Girls Basketball Editor Aaron Williams in her story, Morris led Etiwanda to a third straight Open Division championship and also defeated four nationally ranked teams during a 28-5 season. Morris also had 32 points in a regional win over Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.).
Woodland Christian (Woodland) has been a perennial contender in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 5 under 12-year coach Shiloh Sorbello, but this year the Cardinals went the extra mile in winning the CIF Division 5 state championship with a 47-41 victory over Rosamond. In winning the championship, Woodland Christian became the first team from Yolo County to capture a state title. The historic first earns Sorbello the MaxPreps California Coach of the Year honors.
The California girls basketball all-state team consists of 30 players on six teams of five players each. Players are listed with their local and national honors along with statistics when available.
Aliyahna "Puff" Morris of Etiwanda leads the MaxPreps California Girls Basketball All-State Team as the Player of the Year after leading the Eagles to their third straight Open Division title. The Cal commit averaged 24 points as Etiwanda went 28-5. (FILE PHOTO: David Steutel)
First Team
Kaleena Smith, Ontario Christian (Ontario)
5-6 | Guard | Sophomore
741 points | 23.2 ppg | 8.1 apg | 4.5 spg | 2.8 rpg
Honors: MaxPreps National Sophomore of the Year, MaxPreps All-American second team, Los Angeles Times All-Stars Player of the Year, Press-Enterprise All-Inland Empire, Southern Section Open Division Player of the Year.
Aliyahna Morris, Etiwanda
5-5 | Guard | Senior
24 ppg | 4 rpg | 3 apg
Honors: McDonald's All-American, MaxPreps All-American first team, Los Angeles Times All-Stars, Press-Enterprise All-Inland Empire Player of the Year, Southern Section All-Open Division,
Grace Knox, Etiwanda
6-3 | Center | Senior
16 ppg | 13 rpg | 2.6 bpg
Honors: McDonald's All-American, MaxPreps All-American honorable mention, Los Angeles Times All-Stars, Southern Section All-Open Division, Press-Enterprise All-Inland Empire.
Jerzy Robinson, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth)
6-0 | Guard | Junior
26.9 ppg | 10.2 rpg
Honors: MaxPreps Junior All-American Team, MaxPreps All-American, second team, Los Angeles Times All-Stars, Los Angeles Daily News All-Area Player of the Year, Southern Section All-Open Division.
Addison Deal, Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
6-0 | Guard | Senior
19.9 ppg | 7.1 rpg | 5.9 apg | 3.6 spg
Honors: McDonald's All-American, MaxPreps All-American second team, Los Angeles Times All-Stars, Orange County Register All-County Player of the Year, Southern Section All-Open Division.
Second Team
Ella Gunderson, San Ramon Valley (Danville)
5-10 | Guard | Sophomore
17.2 ppg | 6.1 rpg | 3.5 apg
Honors: San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro Player of the Year, Bay Area News Group All-Bay Area first team.
Karyss Lacanlale, Acalanes (Lafayette)
5-5 | Guard | Senior
14.3 ppg | 5.7 apg | 2.9 spg | 2.8 rpg
Honors: San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro first team, Bay Area News Group All-Bay Area Player of the Year.
Maliya Hunter, Archbishop Mitty (San Jose)
6-2 | Forward | Freshman
10.6 ppg | 5.0 rpg
Honors: MaxPreps Freshman All-American Team, San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro first team, Bay Area News Group All-Bay Area first team.
Tati Griffin, Ontario Christian
5-11 | Forward | Freshman
17.8 ppg | 8.2 rpg
Honors: MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year, MaxPreps All-American honorable mention, Los Angeles Times All-Stars, Press-Enterprise All-Inland Empire, Southern Section All-Open Division.
Nina Cain, McClatchy (Sacramento)
6-2 | Center | Senior
18.3 ppg | 9.2 rpg | 3.0 apg | 2.2 spg
Honors: Sacramento Bee All-Metro Player of the Year.
Third Team
Kaeli Wynn, Mater Dei
6-1 | Foward | Junior
17.6 ppg | 7.3 rpg
Honors: MaxPreps Junior All-American Team, Orange County Register All-County first team, Southern Section All-Open Division.
Amalia Holguin, Sage Hill (Newport Beach)
5-8 | Guard | Junior
14.2 ppg | 4.1 apg | 3.8 rpg | 2.4 spg
Honors: MaxPreps Junior All-American Team, Orange County Register All-County first team, Southern Section All-Open Division.
Layla Dixon, Carondelet (Concord)
5-11 | Guard | Junior
13.5 ppg | 6.1 apg | 5.9 rpg
Honors: San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro first team, Bay Area News Group All-Bay Area first team,
Alexis Swillis, Clovis West (Fresno)
6-3 | Center | Senior15.2 ppg | 8.9 rpgHonors: Central Section Player of the Year, TRAC Player of the Year.
Jordin Blackmon, Bishop Montgomery (Torrance)
5-10 | Guard | Senior
14.7 ppg | 6.9 rpg
Honors: Los Angeles Times All-Stars, Southern Section All-Open Division, Daily Breeze Player of the Year.
Fourth Team
Bay Cordova, Mission Hills (San Marcos)
5-7 | Guard | Sophomore
15.0 ppg | 4.8 rpg | 3.2 apg | 2.7 spg
Honors: San Diego Section Player of the Year.
Sophia Mindermann,
Folsom5-10 | Guard | Senior
16.0 ppg
Honors: Sacramento Bee All-Metro large school Player of the Year.
Amel Cook, Windward (Los Angeles)
6-10 | Guard | Freshman
11.2 ppg | 7.4 rpg | 3.5 apg | 2.9 spg
Honors: MaxPreps Freshman All-American Team, Southern Section All-Open Division.
Julia Wilson, Rancho Christian (Temecula)
5-10 | Guard | Senior
21 ppg | 6.3 rpg
Honors: Los Angeles Times All-Stars, Press-Enterprise All-Inland Empire, Southern Section Division 1 Player of the Year.
Emmi Almeida, Caruthers
5-7 | Guard | Junior
12.4 ppg
Honors: Division 2 state championship MVP.
Fifth Team
Jolyn Ding, Pinewood (Los Altos Hills)
5-8 | Guard | Senior14.4 ppg | 6.1 rpg | 3.5 apg
Honors: San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro Peninsula Player of the Year, Bay Area News Group All-Bay Area first team.
Alyssa Rudd, San Ramon Valley
5-8 | Guard | Junior
14.8 ppg | 9.9 rpgHonors: San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro first team, Bay Area News Group All-Bay Area first team.
Izzy McFadden, Marin Catholic (Kentfield)
5-8 | Guard | Senior
18 ppg
Honors: San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro North Bay Player of the Year.
Riley Walls, Clovis West
5-9 | Forward | Senior
13.1 ppg | 6.1 rpg | 6.1 spgHonors: TRAC All-League.
Ze'Ni Patterson, Archbishop Mitty
5-9 | Guard | Sophomore
9.1 ppg | 2.3 rpgHonors: MaxPreps Sophomore All-American honorable mention, San
Francisco Chronicle All-Metro first team, Bay Area News Group All-Bay
Area first team.
Sixth Team
Adyra Rajan, Fairmont Prep (Anaheim)
5-9 | Guard | Junior22.9 ppgHonors: Orange County Register All-County first team, Southern Section All-Open Division.
Lev Feiman, Brentwood School (Los Angeles)
5-9 | Guard | Senior
15.0 ppg | 3.5 apg | 7.2 rpg | 2.6 spgHonors: Los Angeles Times All-Stars, Southern Section All-Division 1.
Hamiley Arenas, Notre Dame (SO) (Sherman Oaks)
5-10 | Guard | Senior
23.3 ppg | 10.5 rpg | 3.1 apg | 2.8 spgHonors: MaxPreps Freshman All-American; Los Angeles Daily News All-Area team.
Lauren Harris, Faith Christian (Yuba City)
5-11 | Guard | Junior
29.9 ppg | 14.2 rpg | 6.7 apg | 2.7 spg
Honors: Sacramento Bee All-Metro Smallest School Player of the Year.
Delaney White, Oak Park
5-7 | Guard | Junior
16.5 ppg | 7.5 apg | 7 rpg | 3.5 spg
Honors: Los Angeles Daily News All-Area first team; Southern Section Division 2AA Player of the Year.
