Bucks County's Top 12: Best girls basketball players going into the 2023-24 season

Melissa Hanejko, Bucks County Courier Times

Wed, Dec 6, 2023, 5:33 PM·6 min read

From elite scorers to lockdown defenders, basketball teams from schools in Bucks County and Montgpmery County are loaded with top-tier talent.

Check out our list of the area's Top 12 returning players, by position. If you're not familiar with these student-athletes, you're going to be hearing their names often this winter and beyond.

Neshaminy junior Lola Ibarrondo jumps for a rebound during a PIAA first-round state playoff game against Archbishop Carroll in March.

Top 12 returning players in Girls Basketball

Forwards:

Holly Gohl, Upper Moreland, senior

A four-year starter and three-time first-team All-SOL selection, Gohl begins the season just shy of 1,000 career points. The forward possesses a tremendous work ethic that applies on both ends of the floor. Gohl led the team in nearly every category last season, including points, rebounds, blocks, steals and assists. Her quiet confidence and leadership have been crucial to the success of the Golden Bears, who played in the PIAA 5A state quarterfinals a year ago.

Layla Matthias, Pennsbury, senior

The 5-foot-10 forward’s boundless energy and natural leadership have paid dividends for a Falcons’ squad that relies on grittiness and athleticism over size. The three-year starter led the team in rebounds, assists and deflections last year. She was the top offensive rebounder in the SOL with 156 offensive boards. In the district quarterfinals, Matthias posted eight rebounds, three assists and four steals to lead the Falcons to a 32-27 OT win.

More: Preseason Poll! Who do you think will be our Girls Basketball Player of the Year?

Reese Zemitis, Neshaminy, senior

A cornerstone of a high-achieving Neshaminy team for years, the four-year starter will be playing Division 1 basketball at Bucknell University next year. She received 16 Division 1 offers before making her decision in April. The 6-foot-1 forward is a three-time first-team All-SOL selection and has helped Neshaminy reach the state playoffs the past two years and was named third-team All State last season. Zemitis averaged 13.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, and is on pace to surpass 1,000 career points early this season.

More: 35 standouts poised for big seasons in Bucks County area girls basketball

More: Girls Basketball: Which teams will top the standings this year in Bucks County?

Guards:

Amber Howard, Bensalem, senior

The 6-foot-1 guard, who was heavily recruited since her freshman year, signed her letter of intent to play Division 1 basketball for North Carolina A&T State University. Last season, she averaged 12 points and seven rebounds and is on pace to surpass 1,000 career points. She is also a solid defender who can guard any position.

More: Tip-Off Primer: What to know about girls basketball in the Bucks County area this season

Lola Ibarrondo, Neshaminy, senior

The Holy Family commit’s speed and athleticism make her a force on both offense and defense. The guard led the team in both assists (68) and steals (60) last year, while scoring 10.5 points per game. She is on pace to reach 1,000 career points this season.

Sanyiah Littlejohn, Lansdale Catholic, junior

As a sophomore, Littlejohn played a key role in helping the Crusaders win their first-ever state championship. With her excellence at distributing the ball and running the offense, the point guard dished out five assists a game. She also averaged 12 points, five rebounds and three steals. Littlejohn earned first-team All-Catholic honors last year and has received multiple Division 1 offers.

Ava Renninger, Archbishop Wood, senior

A second-team All-State and first-team All-PCL selection last year, Renninger has been a key piece to a Vikings’ team that has won three straight state championships. Renninger has committed to play D1 basketball at Fairleigh Dickinson University, but she continues working to improve her game. The point guard’s ability to facilitate and control a game are tops in the league and she is also shooting the deep ball at a high level. She scored 21 points, going 9-for-11 from the field, in the PIAA Class 5A state championship.

Caleigh Sperling, North Penn, senior

The 5-foot-10 guard is an elite scorer who can score at the rim, from midrange and from the 3-point line. Sperling, who recently committed to Thomas Jefferson University, led the team in scoring with 18 points per game and is stepping into a new leadership role this season for the Knights, who have improved steadily the past couple of seasons.

Sofia Vitucci, Pennsbury, senior

The Falcons’ guard brings both athleticism and a high basketball IQ to the court. Calm under pressure, Vitucci thrived despite being the focal point of opposing defenses last season. Vitucci scored 16 points per game, along with 3 rebounds and 1.5 assists. In the playoffs, Vitucci shouldered much of the offensive load for a defensive-minded Falcons’ team. She scored a game-high 24 points in an upset of Abington, and in the district quarterfinals, she had eight of her 17 points in OT to secure the win. She scored 17 of the Falcons’ 23 points in their first-round victories in the PIAA 6A playoffs. She enters her senior season with 901 points.

Center/Forward:

Gianna Johnson, George School, senior

The 6-foot-4 center was named second-team All State last season. After earning numerous Division 1 offers, Johnson decided on the University of Delaware. Johnson excelled in the paint last year, shooting 50 percent on 2-point field goals and averaging 12 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks per game.

Lily Milewski, Conwell-Egan, junior

The 6-foot forward averaged more than 8 rebounds per game, with three on the offensive end. The volleyball standout also dealt out 1.5 blocks per game. In addition, she led the Eagles in scoring, netting 12.5 points per game. During the offseason, Milewski worked to improve her perimeter game and ball handling.

Guard/Forward:

Emily Knouse, Archbishop Wood, junior

A talented all-around player with a knack for hitting 3-pointers at just the right time, Knouse, who recently committed to St. Joseph’s University, received multiple Division 1 offers before she finished her sophomore year. Last season, she had games with seven and eight 3-pointers. At 6-foot, the guard/forward is proficient at deflecting passes and she can shoot the deep ball at a high level. In the offseason, she has worked to get her shot off quicker as well as attacking the basket off the dribble and cutting to the rim with effective finishes.