Freshmen stars: Top 50 class of 2023 girls basketball players in the Southern Section

With the 2019-2020 high school girls basketball season over, we're taking a look at the best players in Southern California, class by class. Here's a look at the top freshmen in the Southern Section. All statistics and other information referenced are from the 2019-2020 season.

The list is in alphabetical order by last name. Please email lance@wpsblivest.wpengine.com to submit a photo or nominate a player who isn't on the list. Check at the end of the article for additional top-50 freshmen who we missed in the initial post.

TOP 50 FRESHMEN IN SOUTHERN SECTION GIRLS BASKETBALL

Alline Ballard – C – Campbell Hall

Part of a stacked Vikings underclassmen corps, Ballard averaged 9.4 points and a team-high 11.1 rebounds per game.

Tia Barefield – G – Rancho Christian

One of two Eagles on this list, Barefield averaged 14.2 points, 3.1 steals, and a team-high four assists per game.

Breyonna Bell – G – Twentynine Palms

Bell averaged 13 points and 3.7 steals per game for the 21-9 Wildcats.

Chloe Briggs – G/F – Ontario Christian

One of the top freshman prospects in the country, Briggs had a record-breaking season for the 32-4 Knights: 33.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 4.9 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game.

Lily Caddow – F – Trinity Classical Academy

Caddow averaged 13.2 PPG for 18-9 TCA.

Ayana Campbell – G – Cajon

Campbell averaged 9.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 3.5 steals per game on 51% shooting.

Celine Castaneda – G – Tesoro

Castaneda averaged 12.5 points, 2.5 assists, four rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game shooting a lofty 59% from the field.

Ashley Chea – G – Flintridge Prep

Chea averaged 5.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.8 steals per game in only 18 MPG over 50% shooting from the field.

Ellie Chen – G – La Salle

Chen led the 4-AA semifinalist with 17.4 points and 1.9 steals per game.

Chantel Christy – G – St. Mary's Academy

Christy averaged 14.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, seven assists, and 4.6 steals per game.

Nicole Chuang – G – West (Torrance)

Chuang averaged 9.2 points and 1.9 assists per game knocking down 38% of her threes.

Morgan Clay – G/F – Paramount

Clay was one of the best players on 4-A finalist Paramount.

Kimberly Cruz – G – Compton

Cruz averaged 8.4 points, 6.3 assists, and 2.3 steals per game in efficient fashion.

Shaylynn Deyager – F/G – Rancho Christian

Deyager led Rancho with 15.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game, plus 2.5 APG and 1.4 SPG.

Emma Dudley – F – Brentwood School

Dudley averaged 6.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.6 steals per game for 22-8 Brentwood.

Amanda Edwards – G – San Juan Hills

One of a few promising freshmen on the 22-6 Stallions, Edwards averaged 8.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and a steal per game.

Caia Elisaldez – G – Mater Dei

Elisaldez was one of SoCal's better point guards as a freshman for the Open Division champion.

Dalayja Floyd-Hurt – G – Bishop Montgomery

Floyd-Hurt averaged five points, three rebounds, two assists, and four steals per game.

Amber Furch – G – Brentwood School

One of the best wing scorers in the class, Furch averaged 18.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.7 steals per game. She knocked down 99 threes on way to a mark of 47% adjusted FG.

Karen Garcia – G – Santa Monica

A polished shooting guard for a freshman, Garcia was one of the top scorers for CIF Division II state semifinalist SaMo.

Maddison Holden – G – Campbell Hall

Holden led the Vikings with 16 points and 3.3 steals per game to go with 4.5 RPG and 2.6 APG.

Mika Jarrett – G – Oxnard

Jarrett averaged 10.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and two steals per game.

Heaven Johnson – F/C – M.L. King

Johnson rebounded at a high clip and protected the paint in limited minutes for the Division 1 semifinalist and CIF Division 1 regional semifinalist.

Samajanae Jones – F – Arroyo Valley

Jones anchored the paint for 24-6 Arroyo Valley with a team-high two BPG and 10.8 RPG.

Amaya Lacy – G/F – Millikan

Lacy averaged 10.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.1 steals, and two assists per game for the 26-4 Rams.

Jadyn Lee – G – Peninsula

One of the best freshmen in SoCal, Lee averaged 18.9 points and 3.3 steals per game for the 2-A semifinalist and CIF Division III regional finalist.

Kyori Lloyd – F – Bishop Montgomery

Lloyd averaged eight points and seven rebounds per game for the Division 1 quarterfinalist.

Ari Long – G/F – Valley View

One of SoCal's top freshmen, Long led the Eagles with 18 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game to go with 3.1 APG and 4.2 SPG.

Jada Long – G – Beaumont

Long led Beaumont with 14.4 points and 2.8 assists per game on their way to a 9-1 finish in the Mountain Pass League.

Gizelle Moreno – G/F – Cantwell-Sacred Heart

Moreno averaged 10.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game.

Sydney Nelson – G – Roosevelt

Nelson averaged 10.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game for the Division 1 quarterfinalist.

Kaiya Mack – G – Esperanza

Mack was Second Team All-Crestview League for 25-4 Esperanza.

Princess McCauley – F – San Jacinto Valley Academy

McCauley led SJVA to the 5-AA finals as a freshman, leading the Wolves with 21.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 5.4 steals per game to go with 2.5 APG.

Brielle Minor – G – Santa Monica

Minor was a strong passer, defender, and rebounder at either guard spot for the CIF Division II Southern Region finalists.

Gizelle Moreno – F – Cantwell-Sacred Heart

Moreno averaged 10.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.

Ariel Perkins – G – Eisenhower

Perkins averaged 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and team-highs four assists and 3.3 steals per game for the 3-A finalist.

Sofia Ruelas – G – Sierra Canyon

Ruelas got minutes, touches, and buckets as a freshman in arguably the most stacked backcourt rotation in the country.

Jaushlynn Ruffin – F – Compton

Ruffin averaged 9.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game on 51% shooting.

Makayla Rutledge – G – Murrieta Valley

Rutledge led the Nighthawks with 11.6 points, three assists, and 3.7 steals per game to go with 4.7 RPG.

Hemingway Sa'lah – F – Eisenhower

Sa'lah had one of the best freshman campaigns in SoCal for the Division 3A finalist. She led the Eagles with 15.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game, plus two assists and 2.8 steals.

Siyanda Salter – C/F – Millikan

Salter averaged four points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game.

Breanna Scoby – G – Hawthorne

Scoby led Hawthorne with 16.4 PPG last season.

Sydni Summers – G – Corona Centennial

Summers was the second-leading scorer on one of the best teams in SoCal averaging 10.3 PPG.

Aima Tuiasosopo – F – Quartz Hill

Tuisosopo averaged 11.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game on 50% shooting.

Juju Watkins – F/G – Windward

One of the top prospects in all of high school basketball, Watkins averaged over 20 PPG for one of the best teams in the country.

Karlee White – G/F – Viewpoint

White averaged 15 points, 8.5 rebounds, and three assists per game.

Reese Wong – G – La Salle

On top of 7.4 PPG, Wong led the Lancers in assists (3.3 APG) and three-point shooting (37 makes on 40% shooting from deep).

Savannah Wynn – G – Hesperia

Wynn averaged 8.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 5.2 steals per game.

Samerika Young – F/C – Artesia

The top player on 5-AA champion Artesia, Young led the Pioneers with 12.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks per game.

Kristan Yumul – G – Westlake

Yumul averaged 8.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 2.4 steals per game. 

UPDATES:

These players weren't in the initial post but deserved to be on the list and have been added.

Brya Arroyo – G – Gahr

Arroyo averaged over 12 PPG shooting a blistering 46% from downtown and scored well against many of Gahr's toughest opponents.

Majesty Cade – G/F – J.W. North

Cade averaged 12.8 PPG for North, a Division 1 playoff team.

Omamoke Okah – F/C – Oaks Christian

Okah had one of the best freshman seasons in SoCal, averaging 14.6 points, 15.3 rebounds, and two blocks per game.

Hana Speaks – F/C – Marlborough

Speaks averaged five points and close to four rebounds per game spending time both starting and as a sixth woman for the Mustangs. Marlborough was a CIFSS 2-AA semifinalist and made the second round of the CIF Division 1 state playoffs.