The 50 best Iowa high school girls basketball players ahead of the 2023-24 season
The Iowa high school girls basketball season is almost here – the first games are scheduled for Friday – and the level of talent statewide has never been higher.
With last year’s graduating class off on new adventures in college basketball, there is plenty of room for new players to step into the spotlight. The season hasn’t even begun and some athletes already stand out from the crowd.
Could new names emerge during the season and solidify their spot on a list down the road? Absolutely.
But for now, let’s take a look at the top 50 girls high school basketball players in Iowa heading into the 2023-24 season.
1. Jenica Lewis, Johnston
Position: Guard
Year: 2026
Offers: Iowa, Iowa State, Arizona State, Baylor, Colorado, Creighton, Dayton, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Louisville, Marquette, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Penn State, TCU, Tennesse, UCLA, USC, West Virginia, Wisconsin
Despite her high-level recruiting status, no one knew what to expect from Lewis in her first high school season. She did not disappoint and helped Johnston to a Class 5A runner-up finish, averaging 12.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. Elected one of three team captains as a sophomore.
2. Divine Bourrage, Davenport North
Position: Guard
Year: 2025
Offers: Iowa, Iowa State, Alabama, Arizona State, Baylor, DePaul, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Purdue, Rutgers, Tennessee, Utah, Vanderbilt, West Virginia
Part of a dynamic duo that led Davenport North to the Class 5A quarterfinals in 2023. She has only seen her recruitment grow in the months since. Averaged 13.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.7 steals in her sophomore season of high school basketball.
3. Journey Houston, Davenport North
Position: Guard
Year: 2025
College: Iowa
Teammate to Bourrage but excels in different elements of the game at Davenport North. Averaged 18.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 3.8 steals en route to the Class 5A state quarterfinals.
4. Aili Tanke, Johnston
Position: Guard
Year: 2024
College: Iowa State
Part of a standard of success at Johnston, and Tanke has been a not-so-quiet contributor. Averaged 15.5 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game in 2023.
5. Callie Levin, Solon
Position: Guard
Year: 2024
College: Iowa
Was Iowa’s first commit in the 2024 class and just seems to get better with every season. Put up an average of 18.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 3.7 steals while helping Solon to the Class 3A state semifinal a season ago.
6. Jayla Williams, Ankeny
Position: Guard
Year: 2026
Offers: Iowa State, Bowling Green, Colorado State, Illinois State, Kansas State, Marquette, Minnesota, St. Thomas Wisconsin, Wisconsin-Green Bay
Collected several offers before beginning her high school career, and more are sure to come if she keeps playing like she did as a freshman. Averaged 11 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game.
7. Ava Zediker, Dowling
Position: Guard
Year: 2025
College: Creighton
Emerged as one of the top players in the state during Dowling’s run to the state semifinals. Consistent contributor with 19.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.6 steals as a sophomore.
8. Amani Jenkins, Johnston
Position: Center
Year: 2025
College: Marquette
Transferred to Johnston after leading Des Moines North to a conference title and an 18.4 record. Averaged 19.7 points, 11.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 2.2 steals and 2.6 blocks per game.
9. Elise Jaeger, West Des Moines Valley
Position: Forward
Year: 2024
College: UNI
The Northern Iowa women’s basketball commit was a major part of Valley’s run to the state quarterfinals, averaging 12.7 ppg, 9.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.9 steals in 2023.
10. Macy Comito, Carlisle
Position: Guard
Year: 2026
Offers: Drake, Bradley, Eastern Illinois, Marquette, South Dakota, Wisconsin Green Bay
Jumped onto the scene as a freshman. Led Carlisle to a 15-8 record in her first year of high school basketball with 13.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.4 steals.
11. Libby Fandel, Xavier
Position: Guard
Year: 2025
Offers: Drake, BYU, Illinois State, Marquette, Murray State, South Dakota, South Dakota State
Stepped up for Xavier last season and collected several offers in the process. She collected an average of 16.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3 assists and 2.9 steals in her sophomore season.
12. Ellie Muller, Dowling
Position: Forward
Year: 2026
Offers: Iowa State, Drake, Colorado State, Illinois State, Minnesota, St. Thomas
Division I college coaches like the Dowling sophomore’s length, and it helps that she was a solid right hand to Zediker. Helped the Maroons to a 20-5 record with 8.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game.
13. Grace Knutson, Cedar Falls
Position: Guard
Year: 2024
College: Drake
Led Cedar Falls in the Tigers’ 15-7 run last year, averaging 21 points, six rebounds, 3.1 assists and two steals per game.
14. Vanessa Bickford, Dallas Center-Grimes
Position: Guard
Year: 2024
College: Minnesota
Put up an impressive performance on a roster loaded with talent. Averaged 8.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.6 steals, helping the Mustangs to the Class 4A state championship.
15. Trishelle Miller, Sioux City East
Position: Guard
Year: 2026
Offers: Drake, Colorado State, St. Thomas, South Dakota, South Dakota State
Made 47.5% of her field goal attempts to lead Sioux City East to a 17.5 record in her freshman season. Averages 20.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, four assists and 2.1 steals per game.
16. Alliyah Thompson, Ballard
Position: Forward
Year: 2024
Experienced a not-so-quiet rise to becoming one of the best players in Iowa. Averaged 16.4 points, seven rebounds, 1.8 assists, 2.9 steals and 2.2 blocks for Ballard, which made it to the 4A semifinals in 2023.
17. Aaliyah Riley, Johnston
Position: Guard
Year: Senior
College: Northwest Missouri State
One of the top defensive players and facilitators on a Johnston squad that finished just short of the 5A state championship. Averaged 13.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game.
18. Nakia Ollivierre, Waterloo West
Position: Guard
Year: 2026
College: Army
The only freshman in the state to score more than 500 points last season. Led AGWSR with 21.6 points, five rebounds, 3.4 assists and three steals per game before transferring to Waterloo West.
19. Haylee Stokes, Estherville Lincoln Central
Position: Guard
Year: 2025
Offers: Maryville, Minnesota State, Southwest Minnesota State
Led Estherville Lincoln Central to a 24-1 record and a spot in the state quarterfinals with 20.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.9 assists and five steals per game.
20. Mya Crawford, Ankeny Centennial
Position: Guard
Year: 2025
College: Drake
Helped the Jaguars put together an 18-7 overall record and a trip to the 5A semifinals. Averaged 8.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.5 steals per game.
21. Abby Tuttle, North Polk
Position: Guard
Year: 2025
College: UNI
Made 43.9% of her shots for 11.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game.
22. Reagan Pagniano, Pleasant Valley
Position: Guard
Year: 2025
One of the highest scorers on a Pleasant Valley squad that went 26-0 on the way to winning the 5A state championship. Averaged 12.9 points, 1.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.1 steals per game.
23. Lindsey Davis, Nodaway Valley
Position: Guard
Year: 2024
College: Upper Iowa
Davis is the top returning scorer from last season after tying for third statewide with 591 points in 23 games played. The Upper Iowa commit averaged 25.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 4.7 steals and 1.3 blocks per game.
24. Jayden Kuper, Monticello
Position: Forward/Guard
Year: 2025
Led a Monticello squad that went 18.6 last season. Averaged 18.7 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 3.8 steals per game.
25. Payton Petersen, Dike-New Hartford
Position: Center/Forward
Year: 2024
Just because Petersen will play volleyball in college, that doesn’t mean she isn’t one of the top players in the state. She averaged 16.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.7 steals last season when Dike-New Hartford put together a 26-1 record and won a state championship.
26. Quinn Vice, Pleasant Valley
27. Karis Finley, Cedar Falls
28. Yazmeen Whitsitt, Decorah
29. Jadyn Petersen, Dike-New Hartford
30. Afton Schlumbohm, Central Lyon
31. Kamryn Kurt, North Linn
32. Whitney Jensen, Remsen-St. Mary’s
33. Brooklyn Stanley, Bishop Heelan
34. Morgan Miller, Iowa City Regina
35. Erica Houge, Collins-Maxwell
36. Alyssa Bartlett, Southeast Polk
37. Sydney Huber, Mount Vernon
38. Ava Locklear, Clear Creek Amana
39. McKenna Sievers, Newell-Fonda
40. Alizabeth Jacobsen, Underwood
41. Maddie Casey, Iowa City Liberty
42. Brooklyn Love, Waterloo West
43. Sophia Hope, Waukee
44. Sadie Maas, Waukee Northwest
45. Jaeden Pratt, Ankeny Centennial
46. Ashtyn Kelderman, Boyden-Hull
47. August Palmer, Iowa City High
48. Maclayn Houston, West Harrison
49. Sophia Reynolds, Pella
50. Carmindee Ricke, Remsen St. Mary’s
Just missed the cut:
Kendall McDaniel, West Des Moines Valley
Emilie Sorensen, Waukee
Averie Lower, Clear Creek Amana
Kirsten Hauck, Waukee
Sophia Reynolds, Pella
Carlee Julius, Des Moines Lincoln
Alyssa Hertel is the college sports recruiting reporter for the Des Moines Register. Contact Alyssa at ahertel@dmreg.com or on Twitter @AlyssaHertel.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Top 50 players in Iowa high school girls basketball for 2023-23 season
