Division-I prospects litter the Peoria-area girls basketball landscape for the upcoming season.

The Illinois High School Association opens the 2023-24 campaign with games on Nov. 13. Postseason play across the four classes begins with regionals from Feb. 10-16. Sectionals will be Feb. 20-22 with supersectionals being played on Feb. 26. CEFCU Arena on the Illinois State University campus hosts the state finals from Feb. 29 through March 2.

Here are 15 players to watch in and around the Peoria area. All players were named Journal Star all-area, all-state or all-conference last season. Athletes are listed in alphabetical order with statistics and honors from the 2022-2023 season.

2022-23 all-area team: The Journal Star girls basketball player of the year and the entire Peoria all-area team

Lexi Baer, Peoria Notre Dame

Baer comes to PND following her freshman year at Richwoods. The 6-foot forward averaged 12.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game last season, while shooting 44.4 percent and 41.8 percent from 3-point land. Her accolades include all-Big 12 Conference first team along with special mention all-state honors by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association. She currently holds a scholarship offer from Bradley.

Kaitlin Cassidy, Peoria Notre Dame

Cassidy will be part of PND's Big 3 with Baer and Mya Wardle in their search for a Class 2A state championship. The 5-foot-11 junior forward averaged 12.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.8 blocks, while shooting 51 percent from the field last season. She was named all-Big 12 first team as well as picking up all-tournament team honors at the Fairbury Prairie Central and Manual holiday tournaments.

Emily Dana, Peoria Heights

Dana put together a breakout season for the Heights, who won 16 games as a Class 2A team. This year, however, the Patriots are back in Class 1A and look to win their first regional since 1992. The 5-foot-6 senior guard averaged 14.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.3 steals, while handing out 55 assists in 30 games. She was selected as an all-Prairieland Conference-North Division first-team player.

Dalia Dejesus, Deer Creek-Mackinaw

Dejesus was a key figure in helping the Chiefs make the Class 2A Elite Eight for the first time in program history. The 5-foot-11 sophomore forward averaged 17.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.9 steals, 2.5 assists and 2.3 blocks last season. She was an all-Heart of Illinois first-team selection along with being all-state honorable mention by The Associated Press and IBCA all-state second team.

Aaliyah Guyton, Peoria High

The reigning Journal Star girls basketball player of the year and Iowa commit is back for her senior season. As a junior, the 5-foot-8 guard averaged 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.1 steals in helping Peoria High to a Class 3A third-place finish. She was named Big 12 Conference Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons, while earning first-team all-state by the AP and the IBCA.

Ava Heinz, Brimfield

Heinz looks to build off a stellar sophomore season. The 6-foot-1 junior forward/center averaged a double-double last season with 15.5 points and 10.2 rebounds, while shooting 49.5 percent from the field and 78.3 from the free-throw line. She posted season-highs of 30 points and 17 rebounds. Heinz was unanimous all-Prairieland-North Division first team, third-team IBCA all-state and AP all-state honorable mention.

Kamryn Heider, Richwoods

The 5-foot-7 senior guard will need to take up an expanded scoring role with Baer heading to PND. Heider averaged 11.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.4 steals, while shooting 42.7 percent from the field last season for the Knights, who have first-year coach Shamar Hill taking over the program. She was named all-Big 12 first team along with being an IBCA special mention all-state selection.

Kiarra Kilgore, Galesburg

The reigning Western Big Six player of the year is back for her final season. The 5-foot-9 senior guard averaged 21.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.9 steals for the Silver Streaks, who won 26 games and made it to a 3A sectional last season. She committed to Missouri S&T in August. A few of her other individual accolades include all-WB6 first team, IBCA second-team all-state and honorable mention all-state by the AP.

Lily Luczkowiak, Illini Bluffs

Luczkowiak has committed to Illinois Central College following a breakout junior season. The 5-foot-10 senior forward averaged 18.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.2 steals and 1.7 assists as the Tigers won 19 games and played for a Class 1A regional title. Her accolades include first-team honors by both the Inter-County Athletic and Tomahawk conferences. Plus, Luczkowiak was a third-team all-state pick by the IBCA.

Danielle Ruffin, Peoria High

Ruffin fit in nearly flawlessly during the Lions' run to their 3A third-place finish last season. Her and Guyton will lead a strong senior class featuring Niasha Rutherford and Allannah Jackson. Ruffin, a 5-foot-4 senior guard, averaged 8.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.6 assists. She was one of the five Peoria High starters named to all-Big 12, taking second-team honors.

Julia Sollberger, Dunlap

Sollberger will be counted on more than ever as Sophia Remmel and Payton Haley both have graduated. The Northern Illinois commit averaged 12.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.6 steals for the Eagles, who will be under first-year coach Becky Fulkerson this season. The 5-foot-8 senior guard was named all-Mid-Illini first team along with picking up special mention all-state honors by the IBCA.

Avery Tibbs, Washington

Tibbs made a big impact in her first varsity season with the Panthers, who made a run to the 3A Sweet Sixteen. The 5-foot-8 sophomore guard was Washington's second-leading scorer with 12.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.4 steals, while shooting 58 percent as well as 57 percent from the 3-point line. She was the first freshman named all-Mid-Illini first team since 2014.

Mya Wardle, Peoria Notre Dame

Wardle will look to guide PND to a 2A state championship. She's committed to Eastern Kentucky following a stellar junior season where she averaged 15.6 points, 7.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 2.7 steals. Her accolades included all-Big 12 first team, IBCA all-state first team and AP all-state honorable mention. Look for her freshman sister, Emy Wardle, to make big-time contributions for the Irish this season.

Allison Wheeler, Canton

The Little Giants welcome back their scoring and rebounding leader in the 6-foot junior guard/forward. Wheeler posted 12.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals, while shooting 42.1 percent from the field. Her presence could help Canton contend for a top-three spot in the Mid-Illini. She earned all-M-I first-team honors to go with all-tourney honors at the Rock Island and Ottawa holiday tournaments.

Kaitlin White, Fieldcrest

With the graduation of Ashlyn May, look for White to take over as the focal point in the Knights offense. The 5-foot-6 senior guard averaged 14.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 2.6 assists for Fieldcrest, which won 32 games and made back-to-back 2A Elite Eight appearances. She was named all-Heart of Illinois first team and IBCA all-state special mention, while also being on the St. Bede and Integrated Seed all-tourney teams.

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA girls basketball preview: Peoria players to watch for 2023-24