Meet SBLive's 2021-22 Junior All-State Girls Basketball Teams: First and Second Teams
(Lead photo by Nick Koza)
As soon as they hit the ground running as freshman, it was clear that California high school girls basketball has a special Class of 2023. The current junior class includes a multitude of the premiere players and prospects in the country, including numerous nationally-ranked ones and many other outstanding talents. With that said, it's time to unveil the first half of SBLive California's first-ever Junior All-State girls basketball awards.
Our main award criteria was players' abilities to contribute to team success relative to strength of schedule, as demonstrated primarily by individual statistics in addition to any significant intangible contributions. Players who performed at a high level in the playoffs had a significant boost in our selection process, and we also took in the opinions of coaches across the state.
MORE: ALL-STATE TEAMS | ALL-SOCAL TEAMS | ALL-NORCAL TEAMS
Additionally, keep your eyes peeled in the coming days for the second part of our Junior All-State awards – Third Team, Honorable Mentions, and the statewide 2023 watchlist.
JUNIOR OF THE YEAR:
G/F Juju Watkins – Sierra Canyon
Original photo by Rudy Schmoke
As SBLive's California Player of the Year, it's goes without saying that Watkins is our 2023 Player of the Year as well. The 5-star guard and Gatorade State Player of the Year averaged 24.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.8 steals, and two blocks per game for the Open Division State champions. You can read about Watkins' MVP season in full in our All-State post.
JUNIOR OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP:
C Breya Cunningham – La Jolla Country Day
Photo by Rudy Schmoke
After Watkins, Cunningham would be our runaway Junior of the Year. Averaging 18.4 points, 11.4 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game on over 64% shooting, the 5-star post helped lead LJCD (25-3) to a CIFSDS Open Division title, CIF Southern Region semifinals appearance, and top-10 ranking in the country. Cunningham was also on SBLive's First Team All-State, First Team All-SoCal, and First Team All-San Diego Section.
FIRST TEAM:
G Skye Belker – Windward
Photo by Ralph Thompson
Belker, a Princeton commit, averaged 18 PPG to lead the Wildcats to a CIF Division I Southern Region title/State finals appearance. She was also named to SBLive's Second Team All-SoCal and Third Team All-State.
G Jada Williams – La Jolla Country Day
Photo by Justin Fine
The 4-star UCLA commit averaged 11.4 points, 4.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game for the San Diego Section Open Division champion and No. 3 team in the state. Williams also made our Second Team All-SoCal and First Team All-San Diego Section.
G/F Ari Long – Valley View
Long averaged 31.5 points, 15.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 3.9 steals, and two blocks per game to lead the Eagles to a 26-5 record and CIFSS Division 1 playoff appearance. The Southern Section's leading scorer among underclassmen, she also hit 114 threes on over 38% from deep, and was on SBLive's Second Team All-SoCal.
G/F Karlee White – Viewpoint
Another SBLive Second Team All-SoCal selection, White helped lead the Patriots to a Southern Section Division 1 championship with 20.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game, including a career-high 37 points in the finals.
G/F Chloe Briggs – Ontario Christian
Briggs averaged 22.7 points, 11 rebounds, 9.1 assists, 2.3 steals, and a block per game to lead the Knights to a 31-5 record, CIFSS 2-A finals appearance, and Division II Southern Region semifinals appearance. The 4-star prospect's 283 assists was the most in the whole country, and she was also on our Third Team All-State and Second Team All-SoCal.
G/F Alyssa Jackson – Vanden
Jackson averaged team-highs of 19.7 PPG and 4.8 APG for the CIFSJS Division 3 champion and Northern Region Division I quarterfinalist. She also averaged 5.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game for the 26-4 Vikings, and made SBLive's First Team All-NorCal and Third Team All-State.
F Etoyah Montgomery – Clovis West
Photo by Jim Malone
SBLive's 2021-22 Central Section Player of the Year guided the Golden Eagles (28-4) to a CIFCS Open Division championship with 15.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game. Montgomery was also named to SBLive's Second Team All-State and First Team All-NorCal.
F/C Mary Carter – Antelope
Carter averaged 24.8 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 3.1 blocks, and 1.8 steals per game to lead the Titans (26-7) to the finals in both the SJS Division 2 and CIF Northern Region Division II playoffs. She is also a member of our First Team All-NorCal.
F/C Meadow Roland – San Joaquin Memorial
Photo by Ralph Thompson
Roland steered the Mustangs to a Central Section Division 1 title and CIF Division II State finals appearance/NorCal title averaging 19.2 points, 11 rebounds, 3.4 steals, three blocks, and 1.7 assists per game. She was also named to SBLive's Third Team All-State and First Team All-NorCal, and was a finalist for Central Section Player of the Year.
C Amanda Muse – Heritage (Brentwood)
Another SBLive First Team All-NorCal honoree and a 4-star center, Muse lifted the Patriots to a CIFNCS Open Division playoff appearance with 17.1 points, 10 rebounds, and 4.2 blocks a game.
SECOND TEAM:
G Audrey Harris – Faith Christian
Harris was the national leader in scoring average by a wide margin with 45.6 points per game, and added 17 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 4.7 steals, and a block a game. She was a First Team All-NorCal honoree.
G Jocelyn Medina – Pierce
Medina was second in California and third in the country in scoring average with 38.6 PPG to go with 10.8 rebounds, 6.3 steals, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game. She was another SBLive First Team All-NorCal selection.
G Caia Elisaldez – Mater Dei
Elisaldez averaged 11.9 points and team-highs of 4.9 assists and 3.1 steals per game – all career-highs – to help lead the Monarchs (23-6) to a State Open Division playoff birth and top-four ranking in the Southern Section.
G Nia Coleman – Monte Vista
Coleman helped guide the Mustangs to a CIFNCS Division 1 championship averaging 14.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 3.9 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game. She made SBLive's Second Team All-NorCal.
G/F Trinity Zamora – Piedmont
Zamora, another All-NorCal Second Teamer, put up a gaudy line of 23 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, three steals, and three blocks per game for the North Coast Section Division 4 finalist.
G Sydni Summers – Corona Centennial
Summers helped guide the 26-7 Huskies to the CIF Open Division State quarterfinals/SoCal semifinals averaging 14.2 points, a team-high 5.4 assists, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.4 steals a game.
G Brooklyn Perry – St. Mary's (Stockton)
Perry averaged 14.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.9 steals per game for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 1 semifinalist and State Division I quarterfinalist.
G Ashley Chea – Flintridge Prep
The second-leading scorer among non-seniors in the Southern Section, Chea averaged 29.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.7 steals, and 2.4 assists per game to hoist the Wolves into the Division 2-AA playoffs.
G Makiah Asidanya – Salesian College Prep
Photo by Ralph Thompson
Asidanya led the Division I State champion with 10.4 points per game, and also averaged 3.3 rebounds, 2.4 steals, and 1.5 assists per game. She was named to SBLive's Second Team All-NorCal.
G/F Gracyn Lovette – Marin Catholic
The top player in the North Bay and an SBLive All-NorCal Second Teamer, Lovette led the Wildcats to an NCS Division 4 title on 16.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.1 steals and 2.1 assists per game.
F Hana Speaks – Marlborough
Photo by Alison Moser
Photo by Alison Moser
Speaks broke out to average 18 points, nine rebounds, and six assists per game on a whopping 47% from three for the Mission League co-champs, and was named league co-MVP.
F Katie Leeth – Lincoln (Lincoln)
Leeth led the Fighting Zebras to the Division 3 finals in both the Sac-Joaquin Section and CIF Northern Region playoffs averaging team-highs of 19 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.7 blocks, and 3.3 steals per game on 52% shooting.
F Talia Maxwell – Central (Fresno)
Maxwell led the Grizzlies to the Central Section Division 1 semifinals and CIF Division III State quarterfinals averaging team-highs of 21.5 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.4 steals, and 2.6 blocks per game.
F Jayionne "Juice" Brown – Orangewood Academy
Brown broke out for team-highs of 13.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game to go with 2.4 APG to help lift the Spartans to the CIF Southern Region Division I finals.
F Sa'lah Hemingway – Etiwanda
Photo by Nick Koza
Hemingway helped lead the Eagles to a 29-1 record, Southern Section Open Division title, and top-five ranking in the country with 8.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, three assists, and two steals per game.
