Best high school athletes of 2022-23: Meet the national girls basketball players of the year

The high school sports season is finished in most states and wrapping up in others, so SBLive Sports is starting to take a look back at some of the best high school athletes of 2022-23.

We'll start with fall and winter sports to give all the spring athletes still competing a chance to finish strong.

Over the next month we'll be highlighting some of the players of the year in volleyball, football, basketball, wrestling, soccer, track and field, softball, baseball and lacrosse.

Here are 20 high school girls basketball players who had a 2022-23 season worthy of national recognition.

Dee Alexander, soph., Purcell Marian (Ohio)

Alexander earned honors as Ohio's Ms. Basketball after averaging 26.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.4 steals per game this season and led the MVC in points per game, field-goal percentage (57.8) and steals (3.9). She's won state championships in both of her years playing high school basketball.

KK Arnold, sr., Germantown (Wisconsin)

A two-time Gatorade Wisconsin player of the year and five-star UConn signee, Arnold was dominant once again for the Division 1 state semifinalist. She averaged 23.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 3.3 steals per game, shooting 48% from the field and 36% on 3-pointers.

Madison Booker, sr., Germantown (Mississippi)

Heading from one Germantown to another, Booker put an exclamation point on one of the most prolific high school careers in Mississippi history, leading the Mavericks to a Class 6A state championship and earning recognition as the state’s only McDonald’s All-American. The Texas signee scored 26 points in her final game, cementing her legacy with a 64-43 win over Tupelo in the title game.

Zoe Brooks, sr., St. John Vianney (New Jersey)

When it was Brooks' turn to lead storied St. John Vianney, she did not disappoint, earning honors as SBLive National Player of the Year. The North Carolina State-bound point guard was simply magnificent for the Lancers, averaging 22.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.5 steals and 4.1 assists per game for a team that finished 31-1 and finished No. 7 in the country in SBLive's final Power 25 rankings.

Jaloni Cambridge, jr., Ensworth (Tennessee)

She might not be big (5-foot-5), but she is certainly dangerous with the ball in her hands. The nation's top-ranked player in the class of 2024 averaged 26.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.3 steals and 3.8 assists for the Division II Class 2A state runner-up. She was named the Gatorade Tennessee player of the year.

Aaliyah Chavez, soph., Monterey (Texas)

The No. 3 player in the class of 2025, Chavez was good as anybody in the country on the offensive side of the ball for a 32-4 team that spent much of the season ranked in the top 25 in the country. She averaged 30 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 3.1 steals per game on uncommon efficiency — 56% from the field, 48% from the 3-point line, and 87% from the free-throw line.

Chloe Clardy, sr., Conway (Arkansas)

Clardy has been the undisputed best player in Arkansas for the past two seasons, and she'll be taking her talents to Stanford next year. In a senior season full of highlights that included going toe-to-toe with a tough Sidwell Friends team at the GEICO Invitational, Clardy finished her season by leading Conway to a state championship win over North Little Rock.

Breya Cunningham, sr., La Jolla Country Day (California)

The most powerful low-post presence in the country. Cunningham, a five-star Arizona commit, averaged 18.4 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 1.9 steals per game on 67% shooting. She teamed up with guard Jada Williams to lead the Torreys to their second consecutive CIF San Diego Section Open Division title and a No. 8 finish in the nation.

Jadyn Donovan, sr., Sidwell Friends (Washington, DC)

A Duke signee, and top-three senior prospect, Donovan led the Quakers' formidable national title defense in 2022-23. With her team playing one of the toughest schedules in the country, Donovan averaged 14.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and two steals in less than 20 minutes per game.

Joyce Edwards, jr., Camden (South Carolina)

The No. 2-ranked player in the Class of 2024, Edwards was as good as it gets on both sides of the ball for the best team in South Carolina by leaps and bounds. With nightly totals of 28.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 3.5 steals, 2.6 blocks on 65% shooting (all team-highs), Edwards did it all as the only double-digit scorer for a 29-2 state champion and top-50 team in the nation. She scored at least 20 points in 29 of 31 games.

Milaysia Fulwiley, sr., Keenan (South Carolina)

The five-star South Carolina commit was as individually dominant as any player in the country for the SCHSL 2A semifinalists, averaging 24.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 6.4 assists, six steals and 2.6 blocks per game. In the McDonald's All-American Game, Fulwiley scored 17 points, including 11 in a row at one point, to help Team East stay close until the end.

Hannah Hidalgo, sr., Paul VI (New Jersey)

A top-five recruit in the class of 2023, Hidalgo was mostly a blur to defenses — averaging 29.7 points on 61% shooting, 7.4 steals, 6.7 rebounds and five assists as the Gatorade state player of the year. The Notre Dame signee also scored an event-record 26 points at the McDonald's All-American Game in March (co-MVP) and had 13 points, a game-high eight assists and five steals at the Nike Hoop Summit.

ZaKiyah Johnson, soph., Sacred Heart (Kentucky)

The No. 2 player in the class of 2025, Johnson was the best player on both sides of the ball and leading rebounder on the top team in Kentucky (and No. 16 team in the country). She averaged 22.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, two steals and 1.1 blocks per game on 52% shooting (40% on 3-pointers), and has a reputation as an on-ball stopper guarding any position.

Tessa Johnson, sr., St. Michael-Albertville (Minnesota)

Johnson's ability to get to the rim and get to her mid-range jumper was unparalleled in Minnesota. The South Carolina commit led the Knights to Class 4A title after averaging 23.6 points and six assists per game. She was named Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year and was the lone McDonald's All-American from the state. 

Kate Koval, jr., Long Island Lutheran (New York)

A top-three recruit in class of 2024, Koval had an outstanding season for the Crusaders (15.1 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per game on 60.7% shooting). She also set a GEICO Nationals single-game scoring mark (38 points) and was MVP of the Nike Tournament of Champions.

Mjracle Sheppard, sr., Montverde Academy (Florida)

The best player and a two-way leader on the top team in the country, this Mississippi State signee averaged team-highs of 11.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.7 steals and 3.2 assists for the national champions. Sheppard set up a loaded lineup for success while always taking on the toughest defensive assignment.

Kennedy Smith, jr., Etiwanda (California)

Ranked as a top-10 prospect in her class following a tremendous junior campaign, Smith averaged 24.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 3.5 steals, and 2.2 blocks per game to lead Etiwanda to its first CIF Open Division state title. In the Eagles' 69-67 state championship victory over Archbishop Mitty, Smith put on a show — 30 points, 13 rebounds, six steals and four blocks. She's also an elite on-ball defensive ace, able to lock up guards and post players.

Juju Watkins, sr., Sierra Canyon (California)

There isn't much the Gatorade national player of the year and top-ranked senior in the country can't do on the basketball court. The USC signee averaged 27.3 points, 13.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.6 steals per game to lead Sierra Canyon to a CIF Southern Section Open Division championship and 31-1 record. Watkins also scored 25 points to help lead Team West to a victory at the McDonald's All-American Game, where she was named co-MVP. 

Mikaylah Williams, sr., Parkway (Louisiana)

Rated as the No. 2 senior in the country, Williams led Parkway to a 32-5 record and state championship. The Louisiana Gatorade player of the year and LSU signee averaged 17.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.6 steals per game as her squad finished the season on 19-game winning streak. Williams also scored a game-high 22 points to lead Team USA to victory at the Nike Hoop Summit.

Kailey Woolston, sr., Lone Peak (Utah)

Woolston was a lights-out shooter and leader for the Utah state champion. In the regular season, the BYU signee averaged 20.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.8 steals per game on incredible shooting splits — 52% from the field, 47% from the 3-point arc and 92% from the free-throw line. At the State Champions Invite, she had 32 points in a win against Desert Vista and 28 points in a loss to reigning national champion Sidwell Friends.