Video: Bailee Adkins highlights See the Suddenlink Player of the Year in action.
Though Bailee Adkins' senior season was in some ways St. Joseph Central's most successful ever, it began in tragedy. Her father, who was her basketball mentor and biggest fan, was killed in a May household accident.
The frustration continued when Adkins missed the start of the season with an ankle injury. But once back on the court, Adkins led St. Joseph Central to a 22-1 record and the No. 13 national ranking.
The biggest number for Adkins was not points scored — though 10.3 a game isn't bad — but rather assists. She handed 7.3 per game as the point guard for the West Virginia powerhouse, which has won nine of the last 11 state titles. This year's championships were not played due to the coronavirus pandemic
Adkins also had 4.3 rebounds, but her 4.3 steals were an indication of her elite status as a defender.
In short, the 5-foot-7 Adkins has a complete skill set, and coupled with her leadership over a 92-22 four-year career, marks her as the best all-around player in the state.
With a 92-22 prep career record, Adkins has an all-around game that fills the stat sheet and translates well to the next level where she'll play for the Flyers.
Baylee Goins, Nitro
5-8 | Junior | Guard | UncommittedYou could see this coming: The explosive Goins led the way for Nitro, scoring 26 points per game before ending the season on an even more impressive scoring streak. Goins averaged 38.5 points a game down the stretch for Nitro, but don't forget she also led the team with 7.6 assists a game and also grabbed 7.4 rebounds.
Grace Hutson, St. Joseph Central
5-10 | Junior | Wing | UncommittedCoaches always fantasize about the transfer who completes the puzzle, and after graduation hit St. Joseph Central, the arrival of Grace Hutson from Virginia was a dream come true. Hutson averaged 19.5 and 4.5 rebounds a game, plus 2.8 steals, as she joined Adkins to give St. Joseph Central a powerful perimeter combo.
Haley McClure, Greenbrier East (Lewisburg)
5-11 | Senior | Wing | Coker UniversityHer
long-range shooting and inside scoring triggered the Greenbrier East
offense, and the team rode her skills to a 19-4 record. McClure was also
an effective shot blocker, but despite her achievements, she was not
the most well-known player in the program — coach Jim Justice also
happens to be the governor of West Virginia.
Marley Washenitz, Fairmont Senior (Fairmont)
5-8 | Sophomore | Guard | UncommittedShe built on the promise of her freshman season with another outstanding year, averaging a double-double with 24.5 points and 10.0 rebounds for 23-5 Fairmont Senior. She also ran the show, handing out eight assists a game, and triggered the defense with nine steals per game.
Second TeamKaitlyn Ammons, Morgantown
6-3 | Junior | Post | UncommittedShe's already a significant blip on the Division I college radar, thanks to her athleticism and height. She can step out and hit perimeter shots — including three-pointers — and also run the floor. She was hampered by an ankle injury early in the season, but still averaged 15 points and seven rebounds a game.
Morganne Andrews, Martinsburg
6-0 | Senior | Forward | NavyShe almost didn't get to play her senior season, as after a late December tournament, the team bus hit some black ice, skidded and flipped over before landing in the median strip. Luckily, no one was hurt, and Andrews and her teammates finished the season with a deep playoff run, thanks in great part to Andrews' scoring, free-throw shooting and shot-blocking.
Taylor Buonamici, North Marion (Farmington)
5-8 | Senior | Guard | Fairmont StateThere are shooters and there are makers, and Buonamici is definitely a shot-maker. Not only did she convert 77.4 percent of her free throws, she also connected on 40 percent of her 3-pointers en route to 17.9 points a game. And she also knew when to give the ball up, averaging 4.4 assists a game for 24-1 North Marion.
Kaylee Reinbeau, Wheeling Central Catholic (Wheeling)
6-1 | Senior | Wing | Bucknell Without her, the Maroon Knights won one game and lost five, which is a quick read on her value. Other numbers show she led the team in scoring, rebounds, steals and assists, with 19.2 points 12.4 rebounds 4.7 assists and 4.1 steals a game. Oh, and she totaled more than 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds for her career.
Hannah Roberts, St. Joseph Central
6-0 | Junior | Center | UncommittedThe inside presence for the state's best team, Roberts averaged 12.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Oddly, though, St. Joseph Central didn't actually play that many West Virginia teams — only five all season — so many Mountain State fans may not realize how good she actually is.
Third TeamKatlyn Carson, North Marion (Farmington)
5-10 | Sophomore | Post | UncommittedThough she's hardly a dominating presence in the paint at 5-10, that doesn't stop her from blocking shots — to the tune of 5.5 per game. In fact, she had 16 blocks in one game, and averaged 11.0 points and 9.0 rebounds for 24-1 North Marion as well.
Aleea Crites, Parkersburg
6-0 | Senior | Forward | Rio Grande She was a force inside for the 20-5 Big Reds, averaging more than 10 points and nearly seven rebounds a game – and that doesn't include her shot-blocking ability. But don't think Crites just settles for close-in baskets; she can step out and shoot from range as well.
Skylar Davidson, Wyoming East (New Richmond)
5-4 | Junior | Guard | UncommittedShe did a lot of things well, but 8.4 assists a game and a 2.7 assist-to-turnover ratio are definitely the highlights. Not many college point guards are that prolific and that efficient, and in addition, Davidson averaged 14.9 points and 4.8 steals a game.
Dionna Gray, St. Joseph Central
5-3 | Sophomore | Guard | UncommittedAnother topflight talent for the Irish, the diminutive Gray was simply too quick and too fast for opponents to deal with. She averaged 11.3 points and 3.9 assists a game against the strongest schedule played by any team in the state.
Victoria Sturm, Lincoln (Shinnston)
5-9 | Junior | Guard | UncommittedShe was the leading scorer for 19-6 Lincoln at 15.9 points game, but also filled the stat sheet with rebounds (4 per game), assists (3.1) and steals (2.1). Strum also came up with a big game in AA playoffs against Nitro, hitting 10-of-18 shots en route to 26 points in a 63-55 win.
