The SWFL girls basketball players to watch as chosen by The News-Press/Naples Daily News
Southwest Florida has annually been producing strong crops of girls' basketball players to send along to the next level.
This year will be no different as Collier and Lee County as well as LaBelle will field competitive teams with above-average players. Whether that will lead to a state championship, we'll find out in a few months, but at the start of the season, every team has goals to reach and potential glory to attain.
Rankings: Southwest Florida girls basketball rankings: Who made the Top 10 in our first 2023-24 poll?
HS Roundup for Nov. 27-Dec. 2: See this week's Basketball and Soccer results
These are the players we expect to lead their respective teams in their quests for hardcourt memories and trophies for their schools' display cases.
Here are our picks for Southwest Florida girls basketball players to watch for the 2023-24 season.
Annika Andersen
School: Naples
Year: Senior
Andersen averaged 14.3 points, 5 rebounds, 2.8 steals, and 2.3 assists last season for the Golden Eagles, and a lot is expected from her this season if Naples is to have any success.
Maia Berdebes
School: Ida Baker
Year: Junior
Berdebes is an aggressive player and scorer who dropped nearly 12 points per game last season along with 5.8 rebounds, 3.2 steals, and 2.8 assists.
Marissa Burchard
School: LaBelle
Year: Senior
Burchard is a three-time The News-Press All-Area second-team member who has scored over 1,000 points in her career and will add plenty to that total this season.
Melody Charlton
School: Palmetto Ridge
Year: Junior
Charlton returned to Palmetto Ridge after a season at First Baptist. She scored 22 points in her return to the Bears against Aubrey Rogers after averaging 11.8 points and 5 rebounds for the Lions last season.
Madison D’Elia
School: Seacrest
Year: Senior
D'Elia is a knockdown shooter who averaged 15.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.5 steals last season for the Stingrays.
Josee Fry
School: Bishop Verot
Year: Junior
Fry averaged just under a double-double last year in points and rebounds with 9.6 and 9.2 respectively. She can change a game with her height and athleticism.
Lilly Fultz
School: Gulf Coast
Year: Junior
Fultz has waited her turn behind stars like Maddie Leslie, Katie Ambrose, and Tyrah Townsend but she's the Sharks' No. 1 now. She is averaging 14.7 points in three games this season.
Kellisia Grant
School: ECS
Year: Sophomore
Grant worked hard over the summer and improved her mid-range game to go along with her ability to slash to the net. She's also a great defender with energy and quick hands.
Madelyn Hamisch
School: Aubrey Rogers
Year: Sophomore
The 6-foot-3 center is dominant on the offensive and defensive boards, is a shot blocker, and has been working on her post moves, so averaging a double-double a game is not out of the question.
Peyton Hefflefinger
School: Barron Collier
Year: Junior
Hefflefinger is a dangerous shooter who has worked on being more consistent which showed in preseason games with 26 vs. Fort Myers and 17 against ECS. She is putting the ball on the floor more this year to expand her game.
Thatiyana Holiday
School: Gateway
Year: Junior
Holiday averaged 15.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.5 steals, and 3 assists per game last season.
Angelina Insana
School: Aubrey Rogers
Year: Sophomore
Insana is a true shooting guard but will see time playing the point. She has great vision of the floor and will pass to set up easy baskets as well as drive to the hoop herself.
Ella Johnson
School: First Baptist
Year: 8th Grade
New to FBA this year, Johnson is expected to be one of the Lions' top scorers. She finishes well around the basket and has a good outside shot.
Kaya Langford
School: Canterbury
Year: Junior
Langford has a great outside shot and mid-range game, can score around the rim, and is good defensively. She averaged 12.2 points per game last season.
Arielle Marc
School: ECS
Year: Junior
Marc is a knockdown shooter who will stretch the floor and be a welcomed outlet as ECS attacks the basket. She'll share point guard duties due to her feeling for the flow of the game.
Sydney Martin
School: St. John Neumann
Year: Senior
The Belmont Abbey signee averaged 18.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.3 steals, and 1.7 blocks for the Celtics last season.
Sophia McCartney
School: St. John Neumann
Year: Senior
The Army signee averaged 19.3 points, 16.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.9 steals, and 2.3 blocks in 21 last season before being shelved by an injury. She had 19 double-doubles of which eight were 20-plus points and 20-plus rebounds.
Alex McDonough
School: Gulf Coast
Year: Senior
McDonough missed all of last season with an injury but will run the point for the Sharks this year, already averaging 9 points and 3.7 assists over the first three games.
Ellie Miller
School: Canterbury
Year: Junior
Miller averaged 12.6 points per game last season and is an excellent on-ball defender who averaged 2.4 steals per game.
Zaira Mitchell
School: ECS
Year: Senior
The Rollins signee has an excellent mid-range game and the ability to get to the basket and is as humble as they come. She averaged 14.9 points and 5.8 rebounds last season.
Ellie Morin
School: Gateway Charter
Year: Junior
A returning starter with a high basketball IQ, a smooth outside shot, and the ability to play multiple positions, she averaged 13 points per game last year.
Kenyah Moss
School: Gateway
Year: Junior
Moss averaged a double-double last season with 15.3 points and 11.3 rebounds per contest.
Maddie O’Berski
School: ECS
Year: Junior
O'Berski is a selfless player who gets her teammates involved. She has improved her 3-point percentage and is getting more aggressive to the hoop. She averaged 12 points per game last year.
Casey O'Connell
School: Canterbury
Year: Sophomore
The Fort Myers transfer is a 5-foot-11 post player who can handle the ball well, shoot the outside and mid-range shots, and can bang inside with any of the posts in this area.
Cameron O'Halloran
School: Bishop Verot
Year: Junior
The Vikings' leading scorer from last season with 10.7 points per game has improved in the offseason both offensively and defensively. She also averaged 3.1 rebounds, 2.2 steals, and 2.5 assists per game last season.
Faith Plummer
School: Lehigh
Year: Senior
Plummer averaged 13.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.5 steals, and 2.8 assists for the Lightning last season.
Rianne Smith
School: Lehigh
Year: Sophomore
Smith stood out as a freshman, scoring 9.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.4 steals per game last season.
Ty’ Nazia Smith
School: Seacrest
Year: Senior
Smith can score, pass, and play defense at a high level. She is one of the area's best point guards who averaged 13.6 points, 3.5 assists, and 5 steals last year.
Brynn Stambaugh
School: Bishop Verot
Year: Junior
The Oasis transfer averaged 13.5 points per game for the Sharks last year and should contribute to the Vikings at both ends of the floor.
Zara Stewart
School: First Baptist
Year: Junior
Also one of the top volleyball players in the area, Stewart averaged 14 points per game last year and is returning for her fourth varsity season.
Jadah Toombs
School: ECS
Year: Senior
The Fort Myers transfer averaged 13.6 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.4 steals last year. She shoots the 3 at a high percentage but can also shoot the pull-up jumper and floater. She also applies a lot of pressure on the ball defensively.
Mylee Van de Wouw
School: St. John Neumann
Year: Sophomore
The Village School transfer is already averaging 10.8 points, 4.3 assists, 3.8 steals, and 3.5 rebounds in four games for the Celtics this season.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: The Southwest Florida girls basketball players to watch during the 2023-24 season
