Meet the finalists for SBLive's 2022-23 Texas Class 4A girls basketball Player of the Year
Sunnyvale standout Micah Russell advances the ball in the UIL Class 4A state championship loss to Waco La Vega in March.
Photo by Tom Dendy
SBLive has selected finalists for our Class 1A-6A and Private School Player of the Year awards to be chosen by readers.
First we took a look at private school (TAPPS), then Class 6A boys, Class 5A boys, Class 4A boys, Class 3A boys, Class 2A and 1A.
On the girls side, we started with the private schools associations, then Class 6A and Class 5A. Next up? Here are the six finalists for the Class 4A Texas girls basketball player of the year:
(Editor's note: Players are listed in alphabetical order)
Averi Aaron, Boerne Jr. C/PF
The Greyhonds reached the state semifinals before falling to Sunnyvale, though Aaron had a team-high 14 points. She was the District 27-4A defensive MVP. She recorded her 1,000th career rebound this year – a year after surpassing the 1,000 point mark in points.
Shun’teria Anumele, Brookshire Royal Jr. PG
The District 25-4A MVP averaged 24.8 points, 5.7 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game for the Falcons. Garnered 5 Division I offers the last two months of the season, the most recent were Southern Illiniois and UTEP.
Grace Booth, Glen Rose Jr. SG/SF
The 5-foot-10 combo guard helped the Tigers reach the final four for the first time since 1971, but lost to eventual champion Waco La Vega in the semifinals. She was the District 6-4A co-offensive MVP.
Monica Bottley, Silsbee Jr. PG
The 5-foot-3 guard earned the 22-4A District MVP for the second straight year. Reached the 2,000-point mark in February and capped her year with 24.5 points, 3.5 assists and 3.7 steals per game for the Tigers.
Saniya Burks, Rice Jr. PG
She scored more than 23 points in all 37 games for the Bulldogs, including a season-high 46 vs. Malakoff. She finished with 1,231 points this season and now has more than 2,500 in her career. The District 18-4A MVP averaged 33.3 points per game.
Sophiya Bustillos, El Paso Riverside Jr. PG
She converted on 47% of her shots from the field and 31 from the 3-point line for the Rangers. Scored 21.8 points per game, while adding 6.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 4.3 steals per contest for the area champs. She was voted the District 2-4A MVP.
Tatum Harborth, Geronimo Navarro Sr. SG/PG
The Panthers standout scored 20.3 points per game, while hitting 49% of her shots from the field. She also added 4.9 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 3.7 steals per game. Surpassed the 2,000-point mark in January.
Micah Russell, Sunnyvale Sr. SG/PG
She averaged 20.6 points, 3 assists and 3.6 steals per game for the Class 4A runners-up. She was named the District 14-4A MVP. The Ouachita Baptist signee was a McDonald’s All-American nominee as well. She surpassed 1,600 points in her career in January.
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Lead photo by Tom Dendy
