PRESEASON: No. 1 Etiwanda (CA) Eagles land atop Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings; No. 2 Archbishop Mitty (CA), No. 3 Westtown (PA) chasing reigning national champions

BENSALEM, Pa. – The Etiwanda Eagles of California have landed in the No. 1 slot in the Blue Star Media Elite 25 preseason girls’ basketball rankings.

Essentially, the Eagles pick up where they left off last spring when they were minted Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions. The Eagles went 32-3 but capturing a second consecutive California Interscholastic Federation Open Division state championship clinched it.

So, it was predestination the Eagles would take the top-spot in the initial Elite 25 just seven months. They have the talent and the strength of schedule to stay in their lofty position. However, the bull’s-eye is on the Eagles from the opening tap. It will be fun to watch them to fend off the competition. Getting through the CIF-Southern Section won’t be easy and the travel could become cumbersome but coach Stan Delus has a plan.

Last week in Nevada, the Eagles went 4-0 at the Border League, giving the nation a glimpse of what to expect this season. Delus tweeted last month: “Effort is a decision. Mindset is a decision. Consistency is a decision. Excellence is a decision. There are no shortcuts to success.”

The Eagles are scheduled to open the season on Wednesday, Nov. 20 against Francis Parker (San Diego).

 A check of the Elite 25 preseason rankings sees there are 13 states and the District of Columbia represented. There are four teams from California and three from Texas and Florida.

The games have already started in states such as Indiana, Mississippi, Texas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Hawaii, District of Columbia and Alabama.

So, it’s a good time to check out a game in your area.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings will return in mid-December with an update as the holiday tournament season gets underway. We will make sure to include all the major events, including She Got Game, Art Turner Classic, Nike Tournament of Champions and Iolani Classic, plus any key one-off games.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and God’s Blessings to your family and friends.

Bye for now.

Hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

2024-25 Blue Star Media Elite 25 Preseason Girls’ Basketball Rankings, Nov. 7, 2024

Statistics are from the 2023-24 season unless denoted.

1. Etiwanda, Calif. (32-3)

The Lowdown: Coach Stan Delus and the Eagles are reigning Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions after annexing a second straight CIF Open Division state title. To remain atop the nation, the Eagles lean on G Aliyahna “Puff’ Morris (Cal-Berkeley recruit), PF Grace Knox (LSU), 6-2 sophomore Aliyah Phillips, 5-7 Shaena Brew and 5-10 Arynn Finley. Add 6-6 freshman Sydney Douglas (25 major offers) and the Eagles are the team to beat.

2. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (30-1)

The Lowdown: It was a dream start, peeling off 30 straight games but lost in the CIF Open Division final to Etiwanda after claiming the CIF NorCal Open Division chip. The Monarchs are buoyed by 6-2 junior McKenna Woliczko, one of the top players in her class. The key pickup in the offseason with 5-11 junior transfer Devin Cosgriff from Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland).

3. Westtown School, West Chester, Pa. (26-2)

The Lowdown: The Moose won the Pennsylvania Independent Schools championship for the third straight year and Friends School League championship for a fourth. Expect both titles to be renewed because the senior class of 6-3 Kennedy Hall (Boston College), 6-1 Aidan Langley (Towson), 5-10 Olivia Jones (Harvard) and Kennedy Henry (Villanova) plus super sophomores Jordyn Palmer and Jessie Moses and 5-11 Atlee Vanesko (Power-4 offers).

4. Morris Catholic, Denville N.J. (27-1)

The Lowdown: The two-time defending Non-Public B state champions are driven by Tennessee-bound twin guards Mia (19.9 ppg, 5.9 apg, 4.3 rpg, 2.9 spg) and Mya (14.8 ppg, 4.5 apg) are generational players and have combined for 2,779 points and 818 assists. New coach Rahim Huland El takes over for Billy Lovett, who departed for a college gig. New Jersey’s best team keeps rolling with an aggressive schedule.

5. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (21-2)

The Lowdown: Last year’s senior class was special and will be heard from again on the college level and beyond for years. The Class of 2026 is stocked with high-end recruits F Savvy Swords,

5-11 Emily McDonald, 5-11 wing Rhylin Fehrenbach, 6-0 Sanai Green, 5-8 Zaniyah Williams, and 6-0 Olivia Jones and there’s sophomores 5-7 Taylor Brown, 6-3 Emily Forrester. The Crusaders are back and mean business.

6. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (24-4)

The Lowdown: Since the Eagles do not play for a FHSAA state title, winning the CHIPOTLE High School Nationals is paramount. Six-three Lourdes Da Silva Costa (Sweden), 6-1 combo Agot Makeer (Canada), G Aaliyah Crump (Texas commit) and transfer G Saniyah Hall are a fine nucleus. All that talent will be challenged with five games schedule against Elite 25 and trips to Hoopfest in Paradise (Bahamas) and the Tampa Christmas Invitational. CHIPOTLE is the goal and a third straight title is there for the taking.

7. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (31-3)

The Lowdown: At 6-1, Jerzy Robinson is a two-time gold medalist for the USA Basketball U17 and U16 teams. The Trailblazers added junior transfer Payton Montgomery and 6-4 Emilia Krstevski, both rim protectors. The Mission League is another challenge but getting past the CIF Southern Region Open Division final means beating No. 1 Etiwanda.

8. Duncanville, Texas (35-4)

The Lowdown: The Pantherettes captured their 12^th state championship last March in Class 6A and open the season as the Lone Star State’s top team. The core features 5-8 sophomore Samari Holmen, Old Dominion-bound G Lailia Coleman (9.0 ppg), G Jasmine Gipson (Florida Gulf Coast) and F Trystan James (UNLV). That’s a good start to repeat in 6A, one of the nation’s toughest chips to acquire.

9. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (25-4)

The Lowdown: The hope is the Ascenders take that next leap and win the CHIPOTLE Nationals crown because there is no chance at a FHSAA state title. The Ascenders went to the finals last April but fell short to in-state archrivals Montverde Academy. The building blocks for that goal starts with 6-3 Brazilian F Manuella Alves-Fernandez, who recently chose Illinois over Iowa, Miami, North Carolina and Louisville. UConn-bound PG Kelis Fisher orchestrates the offense and 6-1 Canadian Deniya Prawl lurks in the wings. G Nyla Wilson transferred in with rep as a proven scorer.

10. Lawrence Central, Indianapolis (30-1)

The Lowdown: In basketball crazy Indiana, the top team last year starts this season at No. 1 in Class 4A. The Bears won their first state title last February and have four key returnees led by 6-1 Jaylah Lampley (Mississippi State), who averaged 18.6 points. Junior G Lola Lampley (11.0 ppg), 5-7 PG Laila Abdurraqib (12.6 ppg), a New Mexico recruit, and 6-0 junior Aniyah McKenzie (12.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg) also return to coach Jannon Lampley’s squad.

11. Ontario (Calif.) Christian (28-5)

The Lowdown: Despite a coaching change, the Knights will thrive under Aundre Cummings, who is the stepdad of 5-7 sophomore sensation Kaleena Smith—the nation’s top player from the Class of 2027. Smith (34.9 ppg) can carry a team but can’t do it alone and the addition of 6-6 freshman Sydney Douglas establishes a true inside-outside combination that will work together for the next three years. The rest of the nucleus is G Alanna Neale, freshman Tatianna Griffin and 5-9 combo Dani Robinson. The national schedule includes stops in Arizona, Massachusetts, District of Columbia and Texas. Get used to the Knights’ globetrotting with Smith and Douglas in the fold.

12. Hebron Christian, Dacula, Ga. (30-2)

The Lowdown: Georgia’s Class AAA champions will take on all-comers with an aggressive scheduling approach. And why not if you roll out four returning starters 5-10 Aubrey Beckham (Georgia recruit), 5-5 Mia “M.J.” James (George Washington), 6-1 Danielle Osho (Miami) and Ja’Kerra Butler (Auburn), averaged a double-double at 14.0 points and 10.0 rebounds.

13. Mount Zion Prep Academy, Lanham, Md. (24-8)

The Lowdown: The Warriors are the new kid on the block of sorts. Coach Sam Caldwell takes over a program that will compete for the Maryland Private Schools championship, NACA and the Nike Tournament of Champions titles. Caldwell is eyeing the CHIPOTLE Nationals, he’s won it two different schools and hopes to become the first coach at three. The lineup features 5-9 Jailynn Clayton, 5-10 Amori Jarrett (Rhode Island), 5-11 Crystal Hardy (North Carolina A&T), 6-0 junior Alexis Riggs (Power-4 recruit), 6-4 Lily Deng (from South Sudan), 5-8 Sincere Parker, 5-9 Tiara Thompson and 6-2 F Olivia Coles. Obviously, the talent runs deep in Prince George’s County.

14. Bishop McNamara, Forestville, Md. (28-5)

The Lowdown: The Washington Catholic Athletic Conference powerhouse is experienced and coach Ronald James is ready to take on the rest of the country. At 6-2 Zhen Craft is Maryland’s top-rated recruit and will sign with Georgia while 5-9 G Vanessa Harris (Rhode Island), 6-3 PF Maisie Crowley (UMBC), G Princess-Alexandria Moody (Providence) and 5-7 sharpshooter May Amoateng (George Mason) are already to ink letters-of-intent too. Sophomore G Qandace Samuels is another great, young talent from the DMV.

15. Purcell Marian, Cincinnati (29-1)

The Lowdown: The Lady Cavaliers won the Ohio Division II state championship. It was the third straight state title for the Lady Cavaliers. Dee Alexander was named Ohio Ms. Basketball for the second consecutive year and is off to Cincinnati. Other regulars back are Ky’Aira Miller (Bowling Green pledge), G Trinity Small, G Cy’Aira Miller and sophomore C Samaya Wilkins

The Lady Cavaliers will participate at the John Wall Holiday Invitational after Christmas in Raleigh, N.C., and go for a fourth state title in Division III.

16. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel Nor, Mo. (31-0)

The Lowdown: The good news from St. Louis is coach Dan Rolfe is back after a major health scare after the Missouri Class 6 semifinals last March. The Red Knights bounced back the following day to record a fourth straight undefeated season and the seventh consecutive title for the program. The win streak also stretched 131 consecutive games. To keep the streak going, Indiana-bound Neveah Caffey, a 5-10 PG, who can fill up a scoresheet with points and assists. At 6-2, Sophia Otten (Evansville for softball) is the post and G Peyton Hills pairs with Caffey in the backcourt. The toughest game will be No. 1 Etiwanda (Calif.) on Jan. 20 at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass.

17. Bradley Central, Cleveland, Tenn. (34-1)

The Lowdown: There’s a whole lot of confident faithful in the Volunteer State that repeating in Division I Class 4A is a possibility for the Bearettes. If so, it would be a third straight and fourth in seven years. Well, not so fast. Arkansas-bound 5-10 wing Harmonie Ware was the MVP of the state tournament and 6-0 junior F Kimora Fields has several high-major offers. G Avary Brewer committed to Samford and 6-1 PF/C TaTianna Stovall is headed to Kennesaw State.

18. Sidwell Friends, Washington, D.C. (25-7)

The Lowdown: The Quakers won the Won Independent School League AA championship but lost in the  CHIPOTLE Nationals quarterfinals. The big offseason transfer was 5-7 junior Autumn Fleary and Princeton-bound G Ava Yoon is back. So are 5-10 junior Genesis Schneeberg and 6-2 junior F Jayla Jackson. Additionally, 5-8 freshman Iris Leonard is another young talent. The Quakers will have a challenging schedule especially in December.

19. South Grand Prairie, Grand Prairie, Texas (33-4)

The Lowdown: An experienced team returns that lost in the Class 6A final. At 6-0, G/F Taylor Barnes (14.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.5 spg) is headed to Cal-Berkeley and is one of the state’s top seniors. Five seniors also return with the backcourt PG Autumn Sherman and Camille Mitchell. Sophomore Payton Garrett, 5-6, is expected to make a splash this season.

20. Archbishop Wood, Warminster, Pa. (26-5)

The Lowdown: One for the thumb might be the mantra for the Vikings, who aim for a fifth straight Class 5A state championship. Last year, coach Mike McDonald’s squad annexed a fourth straight title and a program record-setting ninth, the most by a girls’ program in PIAA history. The regular rotation will consist of 6-0 super sophomore Ryan Carter, Emily Knouse (Saint Joseph’s commit), junior Colleen Besachio, Makayla Finnegan and then Emma Seckinger, Sophia Topakas or Sophia McDonald are in line for the final slot but will share playing time. The PIAA title is key but so is earning the Philadelphia Catholic League hardware with a trip to the famed Palestra on the Pennsylvania campus in Philadelphia.

21. Red Bank (N.J.) Catholic (26-5)

The Lowdown: Three of the five losses came to Elite 25 teams but the Caseys rebounded to win the Non-Public A title. The top returnees include Division I recruits Tessa Carman (Monmouth) and Christina Liggio (Navy) and 6-1 junior Addy Nyemchek, a Top 50 recruit in her class. Nyemchek averaged 15.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.9 steals.

22. Winter Haven, Fla. (23-6)

The Lowdown: The Blue Devils won a regional title and advance to the Class 7A semifinals. The starting five of PG Jaeden Williams, 5-8 junior Serenity Hardy, 6-4 sophomore C Victoria Hall, 5-8 junior Quin’nya Gray de Sanders and 5-11 Dashanique Henry are back and so are key reserves.

23. Sacred Heart Academy, Louisville, Ky. (31-17)

The Lowdown: It was a historic four-peat for the Valkyries last March and now the chase starts for a fifth straight. Seven returnees dot the roster and there’s a 20-game win streak to maintain as soon as the contests begin. Six-foot G ZaKiyah Johnson is a four-year regular, played for the USA U-18 National Team and recently committed to LSU over locals Kentucky and Louisville. She’s joined in the lineup by F Morgan Frey, sophomore G Amirah Jordan and post Addison Kincaid.

24. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (29-3)

The Lowdown: The Royals won the vaunted double last year, taking home the hardware in CHSAA Class AA and the New York State Catholic titles. The encore for coach Bob Mackey is to repeat in both while maintaining another rugged schedule with early trips to Virginia and Arizona for the Nike Tournament of Champions—both in December. The young triumvirate of Croatian international 6-5 post Olivia Vukosa and sophomore guards 5-7 Josephine Pinnock and Arielle Lopez bodes well for the future.

25. Johnston, Iowa (29-0)

The Lowdown: After etching a perfect record and capturing a third state championship in five years, the Class 5A title holders will feature junior all-state 5-11 G Jenica Lewis and Virginia Tech-bound 6-2 PF Amani Jenkins, who decommitted from Marquette when coach Megan Duffy left for the Hokies. In Iowa, keep an eye on Dowling Catholic (West Des Moines), who lost to the Dragons in the final.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Thomas Dale, Chester, Va. (24-2)
2. Cardinal O’Hara, Springfield, Pa. (26-4)
3. St. Paul VI Catholic, Chantilly, Va. (19-15)
4. Archbishop Carroll, Radnor, Pa. (19-10)
5. Albertus Magnus, Bardonia, N.Y. (23-4)

Geography: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.

Midwest

1. Pewaukee, Wis. (29-1)
2. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (38-0)
3. Dowling Catholic, West Des Moines, Iowa (20-4)
4. Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minn. (27-4)
5. Millard West, Omaha, Neb. (27-1)

Geography: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Southland

1. DME Academy, Daytona Beach, Fla. (20-7)
2. Frisco (Texas) Liberty (26-7)
3. Dr. Phillips, Orlando, Fla. (27-4)
4. Edmond (Okla.) Memorial (23-4)
5. Cannon School, Concord, N.C. (23-7)

Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

Far West

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (25-8)
2. Clackamas, Ore. (23-4)
3. Clovis West, Fresno, Calif. (31-3)
4. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (24-4)
5. Bountiful, Utah (24-3)

Geography: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ High School Basketball Rankings are released weekly from December until the conclusion of the high school season in April. Criteria considered are the quality of the team and its players, strength of schedule, tradition, and quality of the team’s league, conference, region or district. The rankings are compiled by Blue Star Media’s Christopher Lawlor, who consults with a national network of coaches, talent evaluators and prep sports writers. The final rankings will be released at the conclusion of the season. Follow him on X at @clawlor.