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Ursuline star is Player of the Year, leads All-State girls basketball team

The 29th point from Jezelle Banks in the state title game was deposited in dramatic fashion.

The freshman guard from Ursuline, who had already poured in five 3-pointers and defended the perimeter with harrowing intensity, was down to the second of two free throws in a tie game. From the flick of her wrist, the ball swished through the net. The final two seconds ticked off the clock and Banks ran down the court with her first state championship.

For her efforts, Banks has been named Delaware's Player of the Year and leads the Delaware Sportswriters and Broadcasters Association’s All-State girls basketball team. She is a member of the first team for the second time, having earned one of five spots as an eighth grader a season ago.

Ursuline's Jezelle "GG" Banks celebrates after leading the Raiders with 29 points in their 49-48 win over Caravel in the DIAA championship at the Bob Carpenter Center, Saturday, March 9, 2024.
Ursuline's Jezelle "GG" Banks celebrates after leading the Raiders with 29 points in their 49-48 win over Caravel in the DIAA championship at the Bob Carpenter Center, Saturday, March 9, 2024.

Banks is joined on this year's first team by teammate and fellow freshman Taylor Brown, Sanford senior Tyler Edwards, St. Elizabeth senior Ericka Huggins and Caravel junior Chasity Wilson.

The second team consists of Padua junior Abby Grillo, A.I. du Pont senior Sydney Hilliard, Archmere senior Lucy Oliver, Woodbridge senior Reghan Robinson and Sanford junior Jada Snow.

Caravel junior Cherish Bryant, Smyrna junior Kai Burnette, Cape Henlopen sophomore Amalia Fruchtman, Delaware Military junior Maya Hill and Caravel senior Anaya Price are on the third team.

The team is determined through the combined voting of the state’s head coaches and media members who frequently cover Delaware high school basketball.

DSBA All-State girls basketball team

First team

Jezelle Banks, fr., Ursuline, Player of the Year

Ursuline's Jezelle "GG" Banks reacts after assisting on a basket in the second half of the Raiders' 49-48 win against Caravel in the DIAA championship at the Bob Carpenter Center, Saturday, March 9, 2024.
Ursuline's Jezelle "GG" Banks reacts after assisting on a basket in the second half of the Raiders' 49-48 win against Caravel in the DIAA championship at the Bob Carpenter Center, Saturday, March 9, 2024.

Taylor Brown, fr., Ursuline

Ursuline's Taylor Brown is introduced with the starters before the DIAA championship at the Bob Carpenter Center, Saturday, March 9, 2024.
Ursuline's Taylor Brown is introduced with the starters before the DIAA championship at the Bob Carpenter Center, Saturday, March 9, 2024.

Tyler Edwards, sr., Sanford

Sanford senior Tyler Edwards (22) drives the ball against Ursuline Academy during the girls basketball game at Sanford gym in Hockessin, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. Sanford won 81-76 in overtime.
Sanford senior Tyler Edwards (22) drives the ball against Ursuline Academy during the girls basketball game at Sanford gym in Hockessin, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. Sanford won 81-76 in overtime.

Ericka Huggins, sr., St. Elizabeth

Chasity Wilson, jr., Caravel

Caravel's Chasity Wilson (left) pursues the ball with A.I. du Pont's Sydney Hilliard in the first half a DIAA state tournament semifinal at the Bob Carpenter Center, Wednesday, March 6, 2024.
Caravel's Chasity Wilson (left) pursues the ball with A.I. du Pont's Sydney Hilliard in the first half a DIAA state tournament semifinal at the Bob Carpenter Center, Wednesday, March 6, 2024.

Second team

Abby Grillo, jr., Padua

Sydney Hilliard, sr., A.I. du Pont

A.I. du Pont's Laila Selby-Blaylock (left) and Sydney Hilliard move for the ball against Caravel's Cherish Bryant in the first half a DIAA state tournament semifinal at the Bob Carpenter Center, Wednesday, March 6, 2024.
A.I. du Pont's Laila Selby-Blaylock (left) and Sydney Hilliard move for the ball against Caravel's Cherish Bryant in the first half a DIAA state tournament semifinal at the Bob Carpenter Center, Wednesday, March 6, 2024.

Lucy Oliver, sr., Archmere

Reghan Robinson, sr., Woodbridge

Jada Snow, jr., Sanford

Sanford junior Jada Snow (35) drives the ball against Ursuline Academy during the girls basketball game at Sanford gym in Hockessin, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. Sanford won 81-76 in overtime.
Sanford junior Jada Snow (35) drives the ball against Ursuline Academy during the girls basketball game at Sanford gym in Hockessin, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. Sanford won 81-76 in overtime.

Third team

Cherish Bryant, jr., Caravel

Caravel's Cherish Bryant is introduced with the starters before the DIAA championship at the Bob Carpenter Center, Saturday, March 9, 2024.
Caravel's Cherish Bryant is introduced with the starters before the DIAA championship at the Bob Carpenter Center, Saturday, March 9, 2024.

Kai Burnette, jr., Smyrna

Kai Burnett of Smyrna trying to put the ball up closely guarded by Amalia Fruchman of Cape Henlopen.
Kai Burnett of Smyrna trying to put the ball up closely guarded by Amalia Fruchman of Cape Henlopen.

Amalia Fruchtman, so., Cape Henlopen

Cape Henlopen sophomore Amalia Fruchtman (15) handles the ball against Saint Mark's during the first-round game in the DIAA Girls Basketball Tournament at Saint Mark's gym in Milltown, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. Saint Mark's won 53.49.
Cape Henlopen sophomore Amalia Fruchtman (15) handles the ball against Saint Mark's during the first-round game in the DIAA Girls Basketball Tournament at Saint Mark's gym in Milltown, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. Saint Mark's won 53.49.

Maya Hill, jr., Delaware Military

Anaya Price, sr., Caravel

Caravel's Anaya Price (facing camera) and Chasity Wilson share a consoling hug after Ursuline's 49-48 win in the DIAA championship at the Bob Carpenter Center, Saturday, March 9, 2024.
Caravel's Anaya Price (facing camera) and Chasity Wilson share a consoling hug after Ursuline's 49-48 win in the DIAA championship at the Bob Carpenter Center, Saturday, March 9, 2024.

Honorable mention

Sophia Baffone, so., Saint Mark's; Maleyah Bell, sr., Sussex Tech; Sara Benson, jr., Dover; Delaney Burroughs, sr., Odessa; Jasiyah Crawford, sr., Caravel; Journey Handy, sr., Delmarva Christian; Ny'Aijah Jackson, sr., A.I. du Pont; Danielle Kanse, sr., Charter of Wilmington; Lauren McDonald, sr., Saint Mark's; Kaniah Murray-Chambers, sr., Howard; Faith Re, jr. Cape Henlopen; Kyla Reed, sr., Appoquinimink; Amira Tingle, jr., Seaford; Ashtyn Torbert, sr., Dover; Eva Walker, jr., Conrad.

Brandon Holveck is a high school sports reporter. Contact him at bholveck@delawareonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Ursuline's Banks leads 2024 Delaware All-State girls basketball team