STARTERS
F. Ava Ryan, Stone Bridge–Stone Bridge had a lot of talented guards on the roster this season, but Ryan’s presence in the paint was a massive reason for the Bulldogs’ run to the state tournament. A double-double machine down low, Ryan can also get up and down the floor well and handle the ball. She’s a good passer as well, and an all-around good athlete–she’s committed to Arkansas to play soccer. While Ryan’s future is in that sport, she’ll be able to tell people she was all-state in basketball as well.
G-F. Natalya Wooten, South County–Wooten really stepped up her game this season, and that was reflected in her being voted First Team All-State. Even with capable ballhandlers around her, she proved herself adept at running offense and drawing defenders to her. When she wasn’t delivering assists she was scoring–attacking the rim and shooting her jumper. She’s also a good rebounder and defender–a triple-double threat next year.
F. Jocelynn Kinlaw, Oakton–Kinlaw also showcased a vastly-improved offensive game this season. Always a dominant rebounder, the forward of course got her share of stick-backs at the basket. But, Kinlaw has become a far more versatile player than that. Now, she’s pretty consistent attacking from the perimeter and knocking down a few outside shots. Look for a few more 20-20 point-rebound games next season.
G. Mya Bundick, Woodgrove–Bundick had a breakout junior season, demonstrating next-level competency in just about every facet of the game. She’s a distributor who gets into the lane on offense and finds teammates, though she’s also capable of scoring a bunch (over 15 ppg). She is an able and willing defender who knows how and when to quickly trap opponents. Bundick is also a great rebounder, which helps the Wolverines initiate transition as wanted/needed.
G-F. Keira Stanford, Heritage–With a great Heritage senior class alongside her and the Pride sometimes engaged in lower-scoring slugfests, Stanford didn’t always put up gaudy statistics. Don’t be fooled–she had a really good season. She’s got triple-double potential as she can do it all. Stanford can act as a point guard, bang down in the post, rebound, and pass very well. She’s a real weapon.
RESERVES
F. Meme Conteh, Potomac–Potomac had a pretty good overall lineup, but Conteh really stacked up points and rebounds to spark the Panthers. The Cardinal District Player of the Year, Conteh had games where she was simply unstoppable at the rim. For example, she had 33 points in the Cardinal District title game. Plus, she runs the floor well, going coast-to-coast off steals like a guard.
F. Leylani Abraham, Gainesville–Forward Leylani Abraham continues to draw Division I interest after a very solid season for the Cardinals. She’s very long, and we enjoy watching her come out of seemingly nowhere to block opponents’ shots with her long arms. Very content to play within the team’s offense, Abraham is still likely a 20-10-type player next season.
G-F. Janey Salinas, Osbourn Park–Osbourn Park is completely loaded with talent, so their players don’t always get their due statistically. Salinas (plus Tierney Myers) is one of those players. She’s one of the best pure shooters in the area and she’s got great size, but she’s also content to do what her team needs her to do, especially rebound in small lineups. She will score a ton next season.
G. Mariah Overton, Hayfield–Overton was always good, but she noticeably improved last offseason and this year. If you love defense, there’s no way you don’t love Overton–her footwork and the way she watches both her cover and the ball are top-notch. On the offensive end she demonstrated the ability to score consistently on both the drive and from outside. She’s a playmaker.
G-F. Gabrielle Dillard, Lightridge–Dillard is a physical wing who is relentless attacking the basket. She uses her body well on the drive, often using a spin move to deliver her a great look at point blank range. If she misses, well, that’s not the end of the world, because she’s an excellent rebounder as well. She is a physical defender too, unafraid to take a charge or take it all the way off a steal.
G. Madison Huynh, Battlefield–We’ve been saying it for three years now, but we’re still not sure people understand how good Madison Huynh is. The Bobcats are more than just her, but the scoring point guard makes everything go. This season she averaged around 15 points per game and five assists per game. As good a scorer and shooter (and defender) she is, you don’t want to foul her. She’s almost automatic at the line.
G. Camilla Diamond, Skyline–Diamond had a very good year, but she really took her game to another level late as she led Skyline to the Class 3 State Championship Game. She’s a high-energy guard, very good in transition, who can play the point if necessary. Want some stats? Diamond had 22 points, 10 rebounds and 11 steals in the Hawks’ Regional Championship win. She will attack you on defense like almost nobody else–she averaged five steals a game on defense.
HONORABLE MENTION–Serena Gul (Langley); Kathryn Wagener (Washington-Liberty); Olivia Shiplett (Yorktown); Elena Debevec (Yorktown); Ainsley Lomas (Yorktown); Cora Stevens (McLean); Amelia Hilton (Chantilly); Molly Veley (Centreville); Ava Andersen (Westfield); Anna Marsh (South County); Maia Melendez (South County); Makyah Mason (South County); Delores Harkless (West Potomac); Nancy Ngalieu (West Potomac); Lina Hashimi (West Potomac); Samantha Hiltner (Highland); Corrine James (West Springfield); Hollin Horn (West Springfield); Pacey Magnuson (Lake Braddock); Nia Broughton (Fairfax); Regan Kauffman (Edison); Eryn Chemoiwa (Rock Ridge); Simone Diby (Rock Ridge); Sicily Ure (Tuscarora); Grace Ellingson (Gainesville); Tierney Myers (Osbourn Park); Angel King (Patriot); Mariann Akinyemi (Potomac); Reese Jackson (Freedom-South Riding); Sadie Auch (Briar Woods); Sheila Suarez (Stone Bridge); Ella Rossiter (Potomac Falls); Mikayla Bowe (Lightridge); Sammy Boyers (Loudoun County); May Marsh (Woodgrove); Avery Ryan (Sherando); Charlotte Lieu (Meridian); Karsyn Bunch (Skyline); Ivy Cavins (Liberty); Azya King-Story (Warren County)