Top 50: Talented girls basketball players make up the Times-News' 2023-24 D-10 watchlist

tom reisenweber, erie times-news

Thu, Dec 7, 2023, 7:51 AM·12 min read

District 10 is in the midst of a solid era of top girls basketball players. This winter, 14 of the 24 all-district players were set to come back, but McDowell will be without standout Caylen Spano because of a season-ending leg injury.

The returning players include numerous college prospects, two major Division I recruits and talented players in all four classes. There are freshmen ready to make an immediate impact and sophomores who had breakout freshman seasons last winter.

With Kennedy Catholic a strong contender to repeat as state champions this year and loaded teams — such as Cathedral Prep — ready to make a run, D-10 is in for an entertaining season of girls basketball.

The Erie Times-News' Preseason Top 50 Girls Basketball Players list is mostly made up of all-region players and some who were nominated for all-region last year. The list is in no particular order:

Layke Fields

Kennedy Catholic, jr., 6 feet, forward

Fields is the returning Class 2A player of the year in the state after scoring 19.3 points per game last year. She also averaged 10.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game to lead the Golden Eagles to a state championship.

Olivia Kulyk

Mercyhurst Prep, sr., 6-0, guard/forward

Kulyk is an NJIT recruit who is already over 1,000 points in her career. She scored 19.4 points per game as a junior and knocked down 64 3-pointers. She is going to finish among the all-time leaders in Mercyhurst Prep history.

Makayla Presser-Palmer

Northwestern, so., 6-1, guard/forward

Presser-Palmer stormed onto the varsity scene last year with more than 400 points as a freshman. She was an easy choice for the all-district team and is one of the top returning players in District 10. She scored 17.8 points per game last year to go with 11.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 3.6 steals per game.

Lia Krarup

Wilmington, jr., 5-7, guard

Krarup followed up an impressive freshman season with an even better sophomore year. She averaged 20.3 points per game last winter and drilled 79 3-pointers. She is on track to become one of the all-time scorers in Mercer County.

Monique Vincent

Kennedy Catholic, jr., 5-5, guard

Vincent is a talented point guard who runs the offense for the Golden Eagles. She averaged 9 points, 5 assists and 2.6 steals per game last winter to help Kennedy win a state championship.

Bella Magestro

Kennedy Catholic, so., 5-8, guard

Magestro put together a big freshman year to be named all-state. She averaged 12.2 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 2.5 steals per game for the Golden Knights.

Jayden McBride

Cathedral Prep, sr., 5-11, guard/forward

The Georgetown recruit has been one of the top basketball players in District 10 throughout her career. She averaged 16.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.3 steals per game last year as she piled up major Division I offers. Those numbers would be even more impressive if McBride played full games, but the Ramblers dominated most of their opponents last year.

Lena Walz

Cathedral Prep, sr., 5-10, guard

Walz is one of the top shooters in District 10 and is a St. Bonaventure commit. She averaged 12.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.4 steals per game as a junior and continually knocked down clutch 3-pointers to help the Ramblers have a big season.

Brooke Przybylski

Harbor Creek, jr., 5-7, guard

Przybylski has been a standout for Harbor Creek since her freshman season. She averaged more than 12 points per game last winter and is a leader on the floor as well for the Huskies.

Addie Biel

Cathedral Prep, jr., 6-2, forward

Biel is a dominant inside presence for the Ramblers. She averaged 12.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game as a sophomore. She had several big games with the season on the line as well last winter.

Bre Heidt

Fairview, jr., 6-1, center

Heidt has emerged as one of the top centers in District 10. She is a key defender to protect the rim and she averaged more than 11 points per game during a breakout sophomore season to be named all-district.

Aundraya Neavins

Erie, jr., 5-8, point guard

Neavins made an immediate impact for the Royals last year at point guard. She averaged more than 11 points, 3 steals and 3 assists per game. Erie High is building toward a championship team and Neavins is a big part of that effort.

Sammie Ruhlman

Warren, sr., 5-10, guard

The D'Youville commit takes her turn as a leader this year after learning from her older sisters. Ruhlman was voted as the region co-player of the year last year as she put together a big junior season.

District 10 tracker: Winter high school sports schedules, results, standings and stats

Lainie Harrington

Conneaut, jr., 5-10, guard/forward

Harrington is a standout in several sports and was voted the region co-player of the year as a sophomore. Conneaut was a solid contender last year and Harrington could lead them to a region title.

Chloe Yazembiak

Northwestern, sr., 5-8, guard

Yazembiak is a Penn State Behrend recruit who is a difference-maker for the Wildcats. She is a solid complement to Presser-Palmer as the two make up a tough duo to stop on the basketball court.

Alex Cozzens

North East, 5-11, sr., forward

Cozzens is a two-time all-region selection and a solid inside presence for the Grapepickers. Cozzens is a standout in several sports and will be counted on to lead the way this winter in North East.

Caitlin Stephens

West Middlesex, 5-10, sr., forward

Stephens is another multisport standout and a senior leader for the Big Reds. She is one of two senior captains on the team and is looking for a big season after making the all-region first team last winter.

Amaiya Nelson

McDowell, 5-10, sr., forward

Nelson scored 10.1 points per game and hauled in 5.4 rebounds per game as a junior to be voted to the all-region second team in a region loaded with talented players.

Libby Opp

General McLane, jr., 5-7, guard

Opp is one of the top outside shooters in District 10. She plays in a brutal region but still stands out as a top scorer each night the Lancers take the floor.

Emma Marsteller

Lakeview, sr., 5-5, guard

Marsteller was voted the District 10 breakout player of the year last winter. She averaged 11.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game as a junior and is a Penn State Behrend recruit.

Estella Adams

Franklin, sr., 5-8, guard

Adams was voted to the all-region first team last winter as a leader for the Knights. Expectations are high for Franklin with most of its team back led by Adams.

Emma Mild

West Middlesex, sr., 5-5, guard

Mild is another senior leader and captain for the Big Reds this season. She was voted to the all-region first team last year in a region full of talented players.

Brooke VanTassel

Union City, so., 5-10, forward

VanTassel was voted to the all-region first team as a freshman and is an impact player for the Bears. She could be in for a big career at Union City as a solid forward in the paint.

Taylor Stagl

Northwestern, sr., 5-3, guard

Stagl led the Wildcats in scoring as a sophomore before missing last year with an injury. Northwestern has several top scorers back this year and Stagl could play a big role as the Wildcats make a run at the region title.

Pressley Washil

Mercer, sr., 5-7, guard

Washil can score the ball on drives or knock down shots from the outside. She was voted to the all-region second team last winter in a loaded region.

Ava Godfrey

Mercer, sr., 5-4, guard

Godfrey is another senior leader for the Mustangs as she has been a big part of the program throughout her career. She was voted to the all-region second team last winter.

Alayna Cadman

Jamestown, so., 5-7, guard

Cadman had a breakout freshman season as she was voted to the all-region second team. She will be counted on to play a big role for the Muskies this winter.

Tori Harvey

Kennedy Catholic, fr., 5-8, guard

Harvey could step in and be an impact player for the defending state champions right away. She is the younger sister of former Kennedy star Sky'Ler Thomas.

Paige Garrity

Fairview, fr., 5-5, point guard

Garrity is the younger sister of Fairview all-time scorer Hope Garrity. She has been a big deal in the AAU circuit and could step up to lead the Tigers over the next four years.

Madison Eimer

Maplewood, jr., 5-5, point guard

Eimer is a leader for the Tigers as the point guard that runs the offense. She is one of the top defenders in the region and was voted to the all-region second team as a sophomore.

Lindsey Greco

Saegertown, jr., 5-8, guard

Greco is from a basketball family that knows how to win games. She was voted to the all-region second team last year and is a big-time guard ready to lead the Panthers this winter.

Cathryn Reynolds

Union City, sr., 5-8, guard

Reynolds has been an impact player for the Bears since freshman year. Reynolds is a standout player in several sports and was voted to the all-region team last season.

Clara Steinberg

Eisenhower, so., 5-8, point guard

Steinberg had a breakout freshman season as she scored 15 points per game and averaged 4.1 steals and 4.3 assists per game. She was voted to the all-region second team and could be in for a big career.

Alaina Rodemoyer

North East, sr., 5-6, guard

Rodemoyer is another scoring option for the Grapepickers as she can score from the outside and drive to the basket. She was voted to the all-region second team last winter and could be an impact player, once again, for the Grapepickers.

Mia Mangini

Mercyhurst Prep, sr., 5-7, guard

Mangini was an important part of the Lakers' success last year. She helped Mercyhurst Prep win a District 10 championship last winter and was voted to the all-region team as a result.

Lily Polk

Girard, sr., 5-9, guard

Polk was a bright spot on a tough season for Girard. The YellowJackets nearly lost its team to low numbers but Polk helped pull the team together and was voted to the all-region team.

GiGi Gaston

North East, jr., 5-5, guard

Gaston took over at point guard last year and can drive to the basket for the Grapepickers. With plenty of experience back, Gaston always has solid options to find for baskets for the 'Pickers.

Brooke Miller

Northwestern, sr., 5-6, guard

Miller is a returning starter for the Wildcats at the guard position. She is one of several experienced players back for Northwestern looking to make a run at the region title this year.

Piper Como

Grove City, sr., 5-6, sr., guard

Como had a big junior year in which she scored 13 points per game. She is a three-year starter and all-region selection who will be counted on to lead the way this season.

Kimora Roberts

Hickory, jr., 5-8, forward

Roberts is one of two returning starters for the Hornets this winter after an impressive sophomore season. She could be an impact player in several ways for Hickory as the Hornets look to get back to contender status.

Halle Kuzminski

Warren, sr., 5-10, forward

Kuzminski is another solid contributor for the Dragons back this year. She was voted to the all-region first team and gives the Dragons a big inside presence as a solid rebounder.

Hannah Brady

Conneaut, sr., 5-10, forward

Brady has a big role to play this year as she is the only senior on the roster. Brady was voted to the all-region first team last winter and will be counted on as a leader this winter.

Alana Stuart

Warren, jr., 5-6, guard

Stuart is one of the top softball players in the area and a solid contributor for the basketball team as well. She was voted to the all-region second team last winter and could have another solid season this winter.

Katie Boal

Franklin, jr., 6-3, center

Boal is another multisport standout that can make an impact on the basketball court. She was voted to the all-region team last year and is one of the top returning centers in District 10.

Jamie Blum