Coaches' picks: Preseason Top 34 players in Delaware high school girls basketball
brad myers, delaware news journal
·2 min read
The players come and go, but the top teams remain the same in Delaware high school girls basketball.
So when the state’s top coaches were asked to rank the best players going into the 2023-24 season, the same schools who have dominated the sport over the last 10-20 years placed several athletes near the top.
Ursuline has four of the top 18 players in our preseason rankings. Caravel has five of the top 19, and six overall. Sanford has two among the top eight, and St. Elizabeth has three in the top 24.
Ursuline's Jezelle Banks (left) and St. Elizabeth's Ericka Huggins are ranked among the players in Delaware high school girls basketball in a coaches poll.
But there are other talented players around the state. Woodbridge and Archmere both have an athlete ranked in the top 10. Cape Henlopen has two in the top 15, and Smyrna, Seaford and Delaware Military Academy each have a player among the top 20.
It is always a fun exercise to see who the coaches think will be best going into a season. But things will change rapidly once the ball starts to bounce. New players will emerge, and others who may not have played a big role last season will step forward.
But for now, take a look at the coaches’ preseason ranking of the Top 34 players in Delaware high school girls basketball.
A.I. du Pont's Jourdyn Henderson hurries toward the basket as William Penn's Layla Farrington (20) follows.
31. Ny'Aijah Jackson, sr., A.I. du Pont
William Penn's Sa'Vea Owens (left) defends as A.I. du Pont's Ny'Aijah Jackson drives to the basket.
30. Laila Jacobs, jr., Middletown
29. Bridget Malloy, so., Archmere
Archmere's Bridget Malloy (front) struggles for the ball against Woodbridge's Kamryn Spence (center) and Tianna Neal in the Blue Raiders' 42-36 win in the second round of the DIAA state tournament Friday, March 3, 2023 at Archmere Academy.
28. Sydney Hilliard, sr., A.I. du Pont
Sydney Hilliard (right) has transferred from St. Elizabeth to A.I. du Pont.
27. Claire Watson, sr., Tatnall
Tatnall's Claire Watson (2) looks to pass against Charter School of Wilmington's Catherine Cole in the first half of the Hornets' 58-31 win at Charter, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023.
26. Delaney Burroughs, sr., Odessa
Delaney Burroughs has transferred from Red Lion Christian to Odessa.
25. Jordin Tate, jr., Caravel
Jordin Tate (right) has transferred from Ursuline to Caravel.
24. Makayla Sullivan, so. St. Elizabeth
St. Elizabeth's Makayla Sullivan (left) vies for a rebound with Ursuline's Norah McGlinchey in the second half of Ursuline's 66-47 win at Ursuline Academy, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023.
23. Londen Bungy, sr., Howard
22. Destiny Smith, sr., Howard
21. Taniyah Reese, so., St. Elizabeth
Ursuline's Taylor Brown (1) takes the ball up court with teammates Skylar Boulden (left) and Chamira Marshall-Brothers as St. Elizabeth's Taniyah Reese (23) and ZaMylah Seda-Owens turn back on defense in the first half of Ursuline's 66-47 win at Ursuline Academy, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023.
20. Maya Hill, jr., DMA
DMA guard Maya Hill (10) grabs the rebound against Archmere on Tuesday.
19. Brycelyn Stryckning, so., Caravel
Sanford's Dallas Pierce (left) defends against Caravel's Brycelyn Stryckning in the first half of a DIAA state tournament semifinal, Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at the Bob Carpenter Center.
18. Emma Anthony, so., Ursuline
Ursuline's Emma Anthony shoots in the second half of Ursuline's 66-47 win against St. Elizabeth at Ursuline Academy, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023.
17. Amira Tingle, jr., Seaford
Amira Tingle of Seaford
16. Kai Burnette, jr., Smyrna
15. Faith Re, jr., Cape Henlopen
Faith Re of Cape Henlopen races upcourt closely guarded by Woodbridge's Payton Keeler.
14. Skylar Bolden, so., Ursuline
Ursuline Academy's Skylar Bolden moves the ball against Woodbridge High School during the first DIAA Girls Basketball semifinal game at the Carpenter Center in Newark, Wednesday, March 8, 2023. Ursuline won 62-47.
13. Kyla Reed, sr., Appoquinimink
12. Anaya Price, sr., Caravel
Sanford's Zy Kilgoe (left) drives against Caravel's Anaya Price in the first half of a DIAA state tournament semifinal, Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at the Bob Carpenter Center.
11. Amalia Fruchtman, so., Cape Henlopen
Amalia Fruchtman of Cape Henlopen trying to pull down an offensive rebound between a pair of Woodbridge defendersduring the first quarter of Monday night's playoff game.
10. Jasiyah Crawford, sr., Caravel
Caravel's Jasiyah Crawford (left) tries to hold a rebound against Sanford's Ellie Carter-Soriano in the first half of a DIAA state tournament semifinal, Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at the Bob Carpenter Center.
9. Lucy Oliver, sr., Archmere
Archmere's Lucy Oliver goes to the basket between Woodbridge's Iyanna Mims (left) and Payton Keeler in the Blue Raiders' 42-36 win in the second round of the DIAA state tournament Friday, March 3, 2023 at Archmere Academy.
8. Tyler Edwards, sr., Sanford
Sanfor's Tyler Edwards takes her share of the net after the Warriors' 58-46 win in the DIAA state tournament championship game at the Bob Carpenter Center, Friday, March 10, 2023.
7. Cherish Bryant, jr., Caravel
Cherish Bryant (left) has transferred from Tatnall to Caravel.
6. Reghan Robinson, sr., Woodbridge
Woodbridge High School junior Reghan Robinson (1) dribbles against Ursuline Academy senior Sophia Filipowski (3) during the first DIAA Girls Basketball semifinal game at the Carpenter Center in Newark, Wednesday, March 8, 2023. Ursuline won 62-47.
5. Jada Snow, jr., Sanford
Ursuline's Emma Anthony (10) tries to draw a charge against Sanford's Jada Snow in the second half of the Warriors' 58-46 win in the DIAA state tournament championship game at the Bob Carpenter Center, Friday, March 10, 2023.
4. Chastity Wilson, jr., Caravel
Sophomore Chastity Wilson pushes the ball up the court as Tatnall senior Kali Clayton tries to avoid making contact during the Caravel's 57-54 win over the Hornets in a quarterfinal girls basketball matchup on March 6, 2023.
3. Taylor Brown, fr., Ursuline
St. Elizabeth's Giavonna Cutler (left) defends a drive by Ursuline's Taylor Brown in the second half of Ursuline's 66-47 win at Ursuline Academy, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023.
2. Ericka Huggins, sr., St. Elizabeth
St. Elizabeth's Ericka Huggins (left) looks for a rebound against Ursuline's Olivia O'Hara in the first half of Ursuline's 66-47 win at Ursuline Academy, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023.
1. Jezelle Banks, fr., Ursuline
Ursuline's Jezelle Banks reacts as reserves keep up the heat against St. Elizabeth late in the second half of Ursuline's 66-47 win at Ursuline Academy, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023.
