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Ohio's best: The top 24 girls basketball players in the state ahead of the 2023-24 season

USA TODAY Network Ohio
·8 min read
Purcell Marian guard Dee Alexander, right, is the reigning Ohio Ms. Basketball and the unanimous choice by USA Today Network Ohio for the top-ranked girls basketball player in the state.
Purcell Marian guard Dee Alexander, right, is the reigning Ohio Ms. Basketball and the unanimous choice by USA Today Network Ohio for the top-ranked girls basketball player in the state.

The state of Ohio continues to produce high-quality high school basketball players who will put their talents on display this winter.

As a preview to this season, the high school sports staff of the USA Today Network's 21 Ohio newspapers and websites compiled a who's who of the Buckeye State's prep girls basketball players.

This is one of a series that includes boys basketball's top 24 players this winter and, in fall, included football, volleyball, boys soccer and girls soccer.

Ohio's best: The top 23 high school girls soccer players in 2023

Ohio's best: The top 23 high school volleyball players in 2023

How they were ranked

USA TODAY Network Ohio staff across the state researched and compiled a list of its respective area's top players. The journalists voted on these players using a point system. Those points were tabulated to determine the top 24 players.

1. Dee Alexander, Purcell Marian

As a sophomore last season, the 2023 Ohio Ms. Basketball winner led Purcell Marian to its second consecutive state championship while averaging 26.2 points and 10.1 rebounds. She was named first-team All-Ohio and Player of the Year in Division II. Alexander was selected to USA Basketball’s U16 Women’s National Team as well as the 2023 UA Next Elite 24. She is the No. 4 player in her class in the nation according to ESPN HoopGurlz Class of 2025 and was the unanimous No.-1 pick by USA Today Network Ohio.

2. Berry Wallace, Pickerington Central

Wallace, a 6-1 senior forward/center, averaged 14.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists as a junior to help the Tigers win their eighth consecutive Division I district championship. They lost in a state semifinal. An Illinois commit, Wallace is ranked second in Ohio by Prep Girls Basketball in the class of 2024, and 20th in the class nationally by ESPNW. She was named first-team All-Ohio last season.

Pickerington Central's Berry Wallace (23) has committed to Illinois
Pickerington Central's Berry Wallace (23) has committed to Illinois

3. Sinai Douglas, Toledo Start

The Toledo Start star was named first-team All-Ohio in Division I last year and was a Ms. Basketball finalist. Douglas is committed to Michigan State. She is the top player in Ohio’s senior class, according to Prep Girls Hoops, and is ranked 90th in the nation according to ESPN.

4. Seini Hicks, Purcell Marian

Hicks was a Division I second-team All-Ohio pick as a junior last year for West Clermont, but the 6-0 forward has now transferred to two-time reigning state champion Purcell Marian. The Ohio State commit was ranked as the No. 4 player in the 2024 class in Ohio according to Prep Girls Hoops after averaging 13 points and 10 rebounds last season.

Seini Hicks, left, shown playing for West Clermont last year, will suit up for Purcell Marian in 2023.
Seini Hicks, left, shown playing for West Clermont last year, will suit up for Purcell Marian in 2023.

5. Corri Vermilya, Loudonville

Vermilya averaged 29.5 points, 12.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 6.5 steals last season while leading Loudonville to a conference title and a district semifinal appearance. The Ashland University commit scored 59 points in a 71-68 victory over Mansfield Senior and had 40 or more points three times. She was the Division III, District 4 and conference player of the year while being a Ms. Basketball candidate. She's ranked No. 3 in the class of 2024 according to Prep Girls Hoops.

6. Naomi Benson, Streetsboro

Benson was the Women’s Tri-County Basketball Coaches Association Underclassman of the Year for Divisions II-IV while averaging 15.3 points, 14.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.9 blocks last season. The 6-2 junior is ranked No. 57 in the ESPNW rankings for the 2025 class and has a number of Power Five offers.

Streetsboro's Naomi Benson has been ranked the sixth best Ohio girls basketaball player by USA Today Network Ohio.
Streetsboro's Naomi Benson has been ranked the sixth best Ohio girls basketaball player by USA Today Network Ohio.

7. Kendall Braden, Toledo Christian

Ranked in the top five of her senior class in Ohio, Braden was a Division IV All-Ohio first-team pick after averaging 22.4 points last season. The 5-9 shooting guard is committed to Toledo.

8. Saniyah Hall, Laurel School

The 6-0 sophomore is ranked as the No. 3 player in the nation in the ESPN HoopGurls rankings after averaging 20.8 points and earning a first-team All-Ohio selection in Division III last season.

9. (tie) Jamisyn Stinson, Sheridan

The 5-11 North Florida-committed senior averaged 21.5 points per game to earn a first-team All-Ohio selection for Division II last season.

Sheridan's Jamisyn Stinson, left, has committed to North Florida.
Sheridan's Jamisyn Stinson, left, has committed to North Florida.

9. (tie) Natiah Nelson, Africentric

The 5-10 senior guard/forward averaged 14.0 points and 6.0 rebounds last season to lead the Nubians to their first state championship since 2019 and eighth overall. Nelson, a DePaul commit, was named Division III first-team All-Ohio. She had 17 points and seven rebounds in the state final as Africentric defeated Doylestown Chippewa 75-62.

Africentric's Natiah Nelson (21) has committed to DePaul.
Africentric's Natiah Nelson (21) has committed to DePaul.

11. Emily Bratton, Bloom-Carroll

The 5-7 senior point guard and Miami University commit averaged 23.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.9 steals last season to earn first-team All-Ohio honors in Division II. She also was MSL-Buckeye and Division II district Player of the Year.

Bloom-Carroll's Emily Bratton (3) has committed to Miami University.
Bloom-Carroll's Emily Bratton (3) has committed to Miami University.

12. Destiny Robinson, Fremont Ross

As a junior last season, the University of Toledo commit was named to the Division I All-Ohio second-team. Robinson averaged 16.1 points with 6.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.1 steals last year on the way to being named the Three Rivers Athletic Conference and District V Player of the Year.

13. Caitlyn Holmes, Akron Ellet

Holmes, a 5-7 junior guard, averaged 20 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals per game last season. She shot 50% from the field to lead Ellet to its first undefeated City Series season and first sectional championship in more than 20 years. She has received Division I offers from assorted Mid-American Conference schools.

Ellet High School's Caitlyn Holmes, left, has been ranked as the 13th best girls basketball player in Ohio by USA Today Network Ohio.
Ellet High School's Caitlyn Holmes, left, has been ranked as the 13th best girls basketball player in Ohio by USA Today Network Ohio.

14. Gigi Bower, Olentangy Liberty

The 5-9 senior guard and Ohio University commit earned second-team All-Ohio honors in Division I last season after averaging 15.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.8 assists. She also was OCC-Central Player of the Year and first-team all-district. Liberty finished as a district runner-up.

Olentangy Liberty's Gigi Bower has committed to Ohio University.
Olentangy Liberty's Gigi Bower has committed to Ohio University.

14. Journey Hildebrand, Brunswick

The 5-11 Kent State signee entered her senior campaign having already scored more than 1,100 points in her career. In her three seasons, Hildebrand has earned an All-Ohio honor each year.

16. Harper Annarino, Granville

Annarino is a 6-0 senior who can score at all three levels, averaging 15.9 points and 7.1 rebounds on 53% shooting from the field, 39% from 3-point range and 76% from the foul line last season, leading Granville to its first Division II regional final since 1994 and earning All-Ohio second-team honors. The University of Charleston signee led the Blue Aces to an unbeaten run through the Licking County League and made a buzzer-beater to win a district championship game against Hartley.

Granville's Harper Annarino is a University of Charleston signee.
Granville's Harper Annarino is a University of Charleston signee.

17. Mackenzie Blackford, Solon

As a junior, Blackford scored her 1,000th career point in the 2022-23 season and averaged 19.1 points per game. In addition to playing for Solon, Blackford plays for Legends U and has signed to play for Duquesne University next season.

18. Sophia Gregory, Beloit West Branch

As a junior last year, Gregory averaged 15.2 points with 9.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.9 steals and 2.6 blocks. Gregory was special mention in the Division II All-Ohio selections as a sophomore and again as a junior. She has committed to Youngstown State.

19. JoJo Eberhart, Marysville

A 5-11 senior guard, Eberhart led Marysville in scoring (10.4 points), rebounding (5.0) and steals (3.5) and added 3.6 assists per game last season, propelling the Monarchs to their first district championship. She was first-team All-Ohio in Division I, first-team all-district and OCC-Cardinal Player of the Year. Marysville lost to Pickerington Central in a regional final.

JoJo Eberhart (21) helped Marysville win its first district title last winter.
JoJo Eberhart (21) helped Marysville win its first district title last winter.

20. Elise Bender, Whitehouse Anthony Wayne

Bender is a 6-0 junior who averaged over 17 points last season while earning a Division I All-Ohio third-team selection. She has offers from Loyola Chicago, Oakland and Harvard.

21. Grace Kingery, North Ridgeville

The Ball State commit averaged 21.6 points last season, helping the Rangers to a 15-9 record and a district semifinal appearance. Kingery was named to the Division I All-Ohio third-team and is North Ridgeville’s all-time leading scorer with 1,305 points entering this season.

22. Braelyn Even, Badin

The 5-10 sophomore was the Greater Catholic League Coed Player of the Year and first-team All-Ohio in soccer. As a freshman in basketball last winter, Even was Division II first-team All-Ohio for a team that went 24-3. Even averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.2 steals and 4.0 assists.

Badin's Braelyn Even, shown driving to the basket in the Division II regional final with Purcell Marian, has been ranked one of the top girls basketball players in Ohio in 2024.
Badin's Braelyn Even, shown driving to the basket in the Division II regional final with Purcell Marian, has been ranked one of the top girls basketball players in Ohio in 2024.

23. Izzy Callaway, Copley

The 5-7 senior averaged a team-high 18.8 points last season to go with 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game. Copley went 23-2, including 14-0 to win the Suburban League American Conference championship, and was a Division II district runner-up. She has committed to Walsh University.

Copley's Izzy Callaway has been ranked among the top 24 girls basketball players in the state by USA Today Network Ohio.
Copley's Izzy Callaway has been ranked among the top 24 girls basketball players in the state by USA Today Network Ohio.

24. Cam Hoover, Peninsula Woodridge

The 6-0 senior averaged 15.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 2.6 steals last season and shot 51.2% on 2-point field goals and 37% on 3-pointers. Hoover has committed to Murray State. She was named to the Women’s Tri-County Basketball Coaches Association's first team.

Others receiving votes

Jeniya Bowers, Africentric; Ellie Bruce, Fisher Catholic; Kennady Dodds, Stow-Munroe Falls; Luvrain Gaskins, Columbiana Crestview; Naomi Keib, Smithville; Erica King, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary; Riley Kubitz, Sullivan Black River; Alyssa Massucci, Warren Howland; Mya Oliver, John Glenn; Madison Parrish, Mason; Addison Rhodes, Columbiana Crestview; Taylor Scohy, Bellbrook; and Ashley Shroades, Southern Local.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio high school girls basketball's top 24 players for 2023-2024