Meet the The Clarion Ledger's 2023 Mississippi high school girls basketball Dandy Dozen
The Clarion-Ledger has released its annual Dandy Dozen, a collection of Mississippi's top high school girls basketball players heading into the 2023-24 season.
The Dandy Dozen is the newspaper's recruiting list. It is decided by conversations with basketball recruiting reporters, recruiting rankings, observations on the court and individual success.
The Clarion-Ledger's top 12 high school prospects will be listed alphabetically.
Anaisha Carriere
Harrison Central | Senior
Guard | 6-3
Carriere, a Mississippi State signee, has helped Harrison Central and coach Nancy Ladner to the Coliseum twice already. Carriere averaged 14.2 points a game last season and has a tremendous perimeter game and can beat her defender off the dribble as well.
Jakera Ducksworth
West Jones | Junior
Guard/Forward | 5-11
Ducksworth averaged 15.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.7 steals in a MHSAA Class 5A state title season. Ducksworth earned the Most Outstanding Player of the Game honors in the championship game.
Taelar Felton
Clinton | Senior
Guard | 5-3
This is Felton’s third consecutive year making the Clarion-Ledger’s Dany Dozen list. Felton averaged 16.7 PPG, 3.7 assists and 4.1 steals a game last year and helped Clinton to a 20-8 record last year. She recently committed to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
Na'Kaiyla Tootie Lockett
Starkville | Senior
Guard | 5-10
Lockett averaged 23.5 points 4.6 rebounds and 2.8 steals last season, leading Noxubee County to a 26-4 record. Lockett transferred from Noxubee County this summer, where she previously led the Lady Tigers to back-to-back state title appearances. Lockett recently committed to Itawamba Community College this fall.
Dekyra Mitchell
Holmes County Central | Senior
Guard | 5-7
Mitchell averaged 18 points, 2.9 assists, 4.1 steals and 2.9 rebounds last season. Mitchell recently committed to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
Anna "A. P." Patterson
Bay Springs | Senior
Center | 6-1
Patterson averaged 15.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks for the 21-6 last season. Expect Patterson to lead her team again this year as they are loaded and return almost their entire starting lineup. Patterson holds offers from several junior colleges and a Division I offer from Mississippi Valley State.
Macie Phifer
Ingomar | Junior
Forward | 6-0
Phifer led Ingomar last year in scoring and rebounding with 16.9 points and 7.5 rebounds. She holds offers from North Alabama, Louisiana Monroe, Southern Miss, Belmont, South Alabama, Appalachian State, LA Tech, Western Carolina, Middle Tennessee State, and Murray State.
De’Mya Porter
Bogue Chitto | Senior
Post | 6-3
Porter averaged 21.5 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks last season. Porter committed to Southern University and is an elite Post player with significant upside, helping Bogue Chitto's chances of having a successful season in MHSAA 2A.
Alana Rouser
Germantown | Senior
Forward | 6-0
Rouser surpassed 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds last season and averaged 13.7 points and 12.4 rebounds. She has signed with Florida Atlantic. Rouser helped Germantown to a 29-2 record and the MHSAA 6A state title last season.
Jade Rucker
Tupelo | Junior
Guard | 6-1
Rucker, a two-time Dandy Dozen selection, missed the 2022-23 season with a torn ACL. Rucker is again healthy and primed to help lead Tupelo to a state title push. She holds offers from Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Jackson State, Southern Miss, UL-Monroe and Memphis, among others.
Nicole Sandifer
Magee | Senior
Forward | 5-11
Sandifer averaged 24.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and four steals a game and is the most athletic player in the state regardless of class. Sandifer has signed with Grambling State this fall. She attacks the basket aggressively and led Magee to a 17-10 record last season. Expect the Lady Trojans to make a deep run this year.
Jahanna "Jo Jo" Wilson
Callaway | Junior
Guard | 5-3
Wilson averaged 15 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.7, assists, and 3.5 steals and led her team to the MHSAA 5A state championship game last season. She also holds an offer from Lane College. She is being recruited by Jackson State, UL-Monroe, Mississippi Valley State, Southern Miss, Alcorn State, Dillard, Loyola University and Xavier University.
Michael Chavez covers high school sports, among others, for the Clarion-Ledger. Email him at mchavez@gannett.com or reach out to him on X, formerly Twitter @MikeSChavez.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi high school girls basketball: Dandy Dozen 2023
