When it was over, when the final buzzer had sounded on the Montverde girls’ basketball team’s GEICO Nationals victory, Janiah Barker wrapped her arms around her best friend. Together, they cried.

“We did this,” Barker said to Jordana Codio, “for you.”

Just over a year ago, the stars from opposite Florida coasts decided to team up for their senior seasons. Barker, a 5-star forward per ESPN, and Codio, a 4-star guard, had long been AAU teammates, and both were in search of a change of scenery — and a national championship.

They landed on Montverde, a boarding school about 25 miles outside Orlando long known as a powerhouse for men’s basketball. Second-year coach Special Jennings was intent on building that same reputation for the girls’ team, and Barker and Codio fit right into her vision.

Seventeen games into the season, everything was going according to plan. The Eagles had won 14 games, and Barker and Codio were the team’s two leading scorers. Then, near the end of the third quarter of Montverde’s game against Cardinal Mooney (Sarasota, Fla.) on Jan. 21, Codio — whose junior season had been cut short by a torn ACL — rose for a layup.

“As I planted to go up, a girl bumped me. She was a little late to help,” Codio said. “My knee buckled on the way up, and I fell down. In that instant, I already knew I had done it again.”

Splayed out on the floor, Codio “made a scene” as her teammates surrounded her. “Oh my god! Oh my god!” she shouted, more from the emotional weight of the moment than physical pain.

An MRI revealed Codio had, in fact, suffered a torn ACL and meniscus in her right knee for the second year in a row. Codio’s dreams of winning GEICO Nationals with her best friend had been dashed, but some words of encouragement from Barker helped brighten her outlook:

“Everything happens for a reason.”

Codio had good reason to believe Barker.

Her junior season at American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) had been sullied even before the first ACL tear. In response to a racial slur being used in a virtual classroom, Codio and a teammate wore “Black Lives Matter” T-shirts during pregame warm-ups. After American Heritage administration asked the players not to wear the shirts moving forward, citing a violation of uniform policy, Codio and her teammate said they would do so anyway. The following two games were then canceled. The administration said the cancellations were due to COVID-19 concerns, but others took the act as retaliation, and the story gained national attention.

It was a turbulent time, Codio said, but it brought her to a better place. She knew it was time to transfer, and she wondered if Barker might be looking to team up.

The two first met in the ninth grade on a recruiting visit to Florida, and their relationship blossomed when they discovered their on-court chemistry playing for Essence, their AAU team.

“We played really good together,” Codio said. “We were each other’s hype man.”

After three seasons at Tampa Bay Tech, where she developed into the No. 3 player in the class of 2022, Barker was also looking for a new home. She wanted to compete on the national level.

“Before I even got to Montverde, I knew GEICO was the end goal,” Barker said on an episode of WSlAM’s “All Eyes on Us.” Codio, sitting beside Barker, nodded her head silently.

For 17 games, the duo got to share the court, leading Montervde to wins over some of the nation’s best, including a 56-51 victory over Duncanville (Texas) on Nov. 26.

When Codio went down, Barker — and the rest of her Eagles teammates — found a renewed purpose.

“Everyone wanted to win for her, because she’s a fighter,” Jennings said. “We wanted to send her off the right way.”

Codio embraced her role as unofficial team mascot. Held upright by crutches, she cheered her teammates on during practice, and even helped operate the clock. By the start of GEICO Nationals last weekend, Codio had shed her crutches and was ready to watch her team from the bench.

She watched as Montverde, led by Barker’s 13 points and seven rebounds, beat DME 67-54 in the national semifinal, and then New Hope 61-57 in the final. The Eagles overcame a seven-point deficit with five minutes remaining after Jennings posed the team a question during a timeout: “How do you want to be remembered?”

As the rest of the Eagles stormed Jennings, Barker hung back and hugged Codio, who will look to mount another comeback next season as a freshman at Texas. Barker’s future is more uncertain: After Georgia coach Joni Taylor left to take the job at Texas A&M, Barker reopened her commitment.

Wherever she ends up, Barker will no doubt take inspiration from Codio’s journey. She likely won’t be the only one.

“Her story should be heard by other young girls,” Jennings said of Codio. “It takes a strong individual to go through what she’s gone through. I think that should be spoken about and celebrated.”

Josh Needelman is the High School Sports Editor at Just Women’s Sports. Follow him on Twitter @JoshNeedelman.

Is the Centennial High School (Las Vegas, Nev.) basketball team for real?

For the better part of the past decade, coach Karen Weitz’s team has run things in Nevada; the Bulldogs are seven-time state champions and counting.

But questions remain. Sure, Centennial romped to the 2022 state crown, beating Douglas (Minden), 65-9, in the semifinal and Bishop Manogue (Reno), 93-34, in the championship. All three of the Bulldogs’ defeats this season have come against out-of-state foes, though, and Centennial is rarely ranked highly among the top teams in the nation.

The Bulldogs can put those doubts to rest this weekend, when they take the court at Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa in the first iteration of the State Champions Invitational, along with Sidwell Friends (D.C), Woodward (Ga.) and Lake Highland (Fla.).

Key to Centennial’s efforts will be Montaya Dew, a junior forward committed to Arizona who scored 15 points in the state title win. But Dew, and the Bulldogs, will be facing stiffer competition than ever before. Centennial, which did not qualify for the JWS  rankings until the end of its state tournament. opens the tournament Friday against Sidwell Friends.

1. Sidwell Friends (D.C.), 27-0

The Quakers look to finish out their perfect season with a State Champions Invitational championship this weekend.

2. Hopkins (Minn.), 25-1

The Royals capped off a near perfect season with a 72-56 win over St. Michael-Albertville in the AAAA state semifinal.

3. DeSoto (Texas), 33-2

The Eagles completed their “legacy tour” with a 40-23 win over South Grand Prairie and a second consecutive 6A state championship.

4. Classen SAS (Okla.), 23-1

The Comets won the school’s first state championship in any sport with a 55-22 win over Tuttle in the 4A state finals.

5. St. John Vianney (N.J.), 32-1

The Lancers ended their season in style, defeating Rutgers Prep, 72-52, in the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions finals.

6. Sierra Canyon (Calif.), 29-2

The Trailblazers rolled Archbishop Mitty, 85-61, to claim their second straight CIF Open Division state crown.

7. Montverde (Fla.), 20-3

The Tigers defeated DME, and then New Hope, to claim the GEICO Nationals championship.

8. Cedar Park (Texas), 36-0

Gisella Maul scored 27 points as the Timberwolves earned their second straight 5A state championship with a 45-40 win over Memorial.

9. New Hope (Md.), 28-3

The Tigers beat IMG in the GEICO Nationals semifinal but then fell to Montverde, 61-57.

10. Incarnate Word (Mo.), 29-0

The Red Knights routed Kickapoo, 67-50, to claim the Class 6 state crown and complete a perfect season.

11. Etiwanda (Calif.), 28-1

Despite their loss to Sierra Canyon in the state semifinal, the Eagles put together a season worth remembering.

12. Lake Highland Prep (Fla.), 23-4

The Highlanders look to make a statement at the State Champions Invitational.

13. La Jolla Country Day (Calif.), 24-3

The Torreys’ season came to an end in the CIF open division region semifinal.

14. Hazel Green (Ala.), 33-0

The Trojans defeated Oxford 55-38 in the 6A championship game for their fifth straight state title.

15. Johnston (Iowa), 26-0

The Dragons beat Waterloo West 51-31 to claim the 5A state title one year after losing in the championship game.

16. Woodward Academy (Ga.), 28-2

The War Eagles play Lake Highland in the State Champions Invitational semifinal.

17. DME (Fla.), 21-4

DME fell to Montverde, 67-54, in the GEICO Nationals semifinal.

18. Lone Peak (Utah), 23-0

The Knights beat Fremont in the 6A state championship to cap a perfect season.

19. Noblesville (Ind.), 25-4

The Millers beat Franklin Community 76-52 to claim the 4A state title, the program’s second state crown and first since 1987.

20. South Bend Washington (Ind.), 27-3

The Panthers annihilated Silver Creek 93-35 in the 3A state championship game last weekend.

21. Centennial (Nev.), 17-3

The Bulldogs will play for the first time in more than a month this weekend at the State Champions Invitational.

22. IMG (Fla.), 12-5

The Ascenders beat Bishop McNamara, 67-48, in their opening round GEICO Nationals game but then fell to New Hope.

23. Fremont (Utah), 24-3

The Timberwolves fell to Lone Peak in the 6A state final.

24. Duncanville (Texas), 34-7

The Pantherettes’ season came to an end Feb. 26 with a loss to DeSoto in the 6A Region II final.

25. Hoover (Ala.), 34-3

The Buccaneers beat Vestavia Hills, 73-64, to claim the 7A state crown.

Josh Needelman is the High School Sports Editor at Just Women’s Sports. Follow him on Twitter @JoshNeedelman.

When Chance Gray returned to school on Thursday, she received a hero’s welcome.

Gray, the star Winton Woods High School (Cincinnati, Ohio) point guard and Oregon signee, had been in Chicago for the McDonald’s All-American game. Woods on Tuesday started and scored 14 points for the East in its 95-75 win over the West on ESPN2, a performance that earned her JWS Player of the Week honors and a triumphant return to school.

Gray was serenaded by the pep band as she walked through the doors, as well as classmates and teachers who lined up in the hall to show their appreciation. The senior, who transferred from Lakota West High School (West Chester, Ohio) before this year, shyly scratched her face as she took in the scene.

“I was just, like, shocked,” Gray said.

The 5-foot-9 Gray earned Gatorade Ohio Girls Basketball Player of the Year, and for good reason: She averaged 26.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.2 steals per game and brought the Warriors, coached by her father Carlton, to the regional semifinals.

Gray fancies herself an all-around player, but there’s no doubt her strength lies in her jump-shooting. Indeed, in the All-American game, Gray knocked down four 3-pointers.

As she lined up for the opening tip, alongside nine of the other best players in the nation, her father got emotional from his seat five rows behind the West bench.

“I was just happy for her,” Carlton said. “I know how much she works every single day.”

Father and daughter’s basketball relationship took on an even deeper role this season.

Gray played her first three years of high school at Lakota West under her coach Andy Fishman. But when her father, who was an assistant at Lakota West, got the job at Winton Woods, Gray transferred along with him. So did her sister, assistant coach Amber, who had also worked under Fishman at Lakota West.

So when Gray shone on court in Chicago, it was a high point for a basketball family.

“When you do that with the best of the best,” Carlton said, “you know it’s a confidence boost.”

Josh Needelman is the High School Sports Editor at Just Women’s Sports. Follow him on Twitter @JoshNeedelman.

Lace up your cleats. Stretch out your hamstrings. High school spring soccer has begun in 16 states across the United States (some states play in the fall and the winter), from the Mid-Atlantic to the West Coast and in between.

JWS Next is going to provide in-depth coverage all season long, just like we have for basketball. You can expect comprehensive national rankings, Player of the Week awards and in-depth reporting that brings you beyond the pitch and into the minds of some of the best players in the nation.

We also won’t shy away from covering the more unsavory aspects of the sport. In fact, we’ve already started. Earlier this week, we reported on the messy fallout stemming from a racist incident at a winter soccer championship in Northern California.

One thing to remember: The spring sports’ schedule is a little funky, and in states like Georgia and Alabama, spring soccer started in January and February. So while we’ll being paying attention to those teams, we won’t be considering them for our rankings.

The NWSL is a league on the rise, and we want to help introduce fans to some of the future faces of the league. Who’ll be the next Megan Rapinoe? Alex Morgan? Rose Lavelle? JWS Next is here to help you find out.

Three teams to watch

South County – Lortan, Va. (2-0)

Coming off the best season in program history, in which the Stallions scored 60 goals, went undefeated and won the Class 6 state championship, South County appears primed for even more success in 2020. Led by forward Jadyn Curry, a Dartmouth signee, South County has already rolled to a 2-0 record.

Broomfield – Broomfield, Colo. (2-0)

The defending 5A state champions have kicked off their season in style, outscoring their two opponents by a combined score of 11-0. And they’ve done it with a diversity of weapons: Senior Maddie Brady was the hero in the first game, scoring two goals with an assist. Brady was held scoreless in the second game, but the Eagles received scoring from five players – including two goals from freshman Victoria Choren.

St. Dominic – O’Fallon, Mo. (5-0)

The Crusaders’ winning streak is now up to 36 games, dating back to May 14, 2019. Senior forward Grace Bindbeutel, an Oklahoma State signee, leads the way for the two-time defending state champions.

Three players to watch

F Daniela Mejia – Harvest Prep (Yuma, Az.), Freshman

Mejia has been a revelation as a first-year player in Arizona. Three games into her high school career, the forward has scored six goals and recorded an assist for 13 total points. And she’s already proven to be a winner: The Eagle are undefeated.

D Sydney Cheesman – Centaurus (Lafayette, Colo.), Senior

The UNC commit anchors the defense for a Warriors team that’s won its first three games to start the season. The 5–foot-5 Cheesman was also named to the U-20 U.S. Women’s Youth National Team training camp roster.

M Sarah Foley – Belleville West (Belleville, Ill.), Senior

The Maroons are off to a difficult 2-2-1 start, but Foley has been nothing short of brilliant: The 5-foot-7 senior has scored three goals and recorded four assists. Foley will continue her career next season at Illinois.

Josh Needelman is the High School Sports Editor at Just Women’s Sports. Follow him on Twitter @JoshNeedelman.

On March 11, the Buchanan girls’ soccer team basked in the Central California sun.

The Bears had gathered in the circle of their home turf for a pizza lunch, in an attempt by coach Jasara Gillette to brighten the mood after one of the darkest weekends in program history.

Seated among her teammates, wearing a white hoodie and black leggings, was Ciara Wilson, Buchanan’s star senior forward and the TRAC conference Player of the Year. Wilson had not attended school all week. This was the first time she’d seen her teammates in six days, when she had become the center of attention at the Division I Northern California championship game for reasons out of her control.

On March 5, Buchanan (Clovis), the first school in its section to earn a spot in the title game since 2009, played host Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) to a 2-2 draw through two overtimes, sending the game to penalty kicks. With the shootout knotted at 1, Wilson, a Fresno State commit, stepped to the line.

The referee blew his whistle, and Wilson approached the ball. And then:

“Oo-Oo-Ah-Ah!”

The intonation was undeniable. It was, per multiple videos of the incident reviewed by Just Women’s Sports, a mock monkey sound coming from the Oak Ridge stands directed at Wilson, who is Black. Wilson converted the kick and then immediately pointed to the Oak Ridge student section.

The referee ambled to the Oak Ridge sideline and met with coach Rino Chimienti. After a couple of minutes of discussion, Gillette ran across the field to plead her case.

“This game cannot continue,” Gillette said to the official, and later recalled to JWS. “You have racist comments coming from the stands.”

Instead, after Chimienti was given a yellow card — which prompted a bemused smile from the coach — the game did continue, and Oak Ridge won the shootout, 4-2. Oak Ridge players and coaches celebrated on the field and took pictures to post to social media.

More than three weeks later, Buchanan players, parents and coaches are still searching for answers: Why was the game not stopped? Why was the offending student not reprimanded on the spot? And why did the adults in charge not seem to care?

Their concerns were hardly assuaged last week when the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) announced its sanctions against Oak Ridge:

  1. Oak Ridge High School is on probation for the remainder of the 2021-2022 school year and through the 2023-24 school year.
  2. During the term of the probationary period, any home site post-season girls varsity soccer match, including Section, Regional, or State levels between Oak Ridge High School and Buchanan High School will be hosted by Buchanan High School.
  3. Completion of an annual sportsmanship workshop/training during the probationary period (to include a component of racial/cultural sensitivity training such as the NFHS Implicit Bias Course) for all Oak Ridge High School administrators, athletic director(s), coaches, and students.
  4. Prior to the start of the spring 2022 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Championships, Oak Ridge High School administrators and athletic director(s) will complete game management training.
  5. The administration of Oak Ridge High School is strongly encouraged to engage with the administration at Buchanan High School to begin the process of developing a positive relationship between the two school communities.
  6. By August 1, 2022, or sooner, Oak Ridge High School shall submit an action plan to the State CIF outlining not only how it will comply with sanctions 3 through 5 above, but also what other strategies, if any, that it chooses to implement to avoid the repetition of the type of conduct that led to the implementation of these sanctions.

“I’m really upset and disappointed by the sanctions,” Wilson told JWS over text. “They haven’t held anyone responsible for what happened. As the victim I feel like they are acting as if Oak Ridge is the victim. They completely ignored the fact that it happened to me and did the bare minimum. I’m still waiting for real action to happen.”

“I’ve said from the beginning, there was a failure to understand the severity of what happened and how it affected the child,” Gillette said. “It’s a cover-up.”

The CIF declined to comment beyond the contents of its statement. Chimienti and Oak Ridge principal Aaron Palm did not respond to multiple requests for comment. When asked to expand upon the meaning of the “probationary period,” the CIF wrote back:

“If during the probationary period, conduct of a racial or discriminatory act occurs and is verified…the sanctions may be increased and may include additional penalties.”

In the meantime, Gillette, Wilson and the Buchanan girls’ soccer community continue to search for answers and reparations.

‘Why are people so dumb?’

This is not the first time Oak Ridge has been in the news for racist comments at a sporting event.

In 2016, the parent of a student at nearby McClatchy (Sacramento) told the Sacramento Bee that Asian players at a girls’ basketball game had been subjected to racist chants from the Oak Ridge student section, including “soy sauce” and “go back to Fiji,” and references to “small eyes.”

El Dorado Hills is a different place than Clovis. Wilson’s father, Brian, couldn’t help but notice the massive homes in the area on the drive to the game, and the racial demographics point to the differences: El Dorado Hills is 77.6 percent white and 1.7 percent Black, according to data gathered by the U.S. Census Bureau. Clovis is 67.1 percent white, 32.7 percent Hispanic or Latino, 10.9 percent Asian and 2.7 percent Black, per the U.S. Census Bureau.

On March 5, Buchanan players smiled for a photo before hopping on a bus for the three-hour drive north, where they hoped to add to what had already been one of the most successful seasons in program history. The Bears had won conference and section championships, with Wilson leading the way.

The commute home had a different tenor. The players sat quietly on the bus with empty expressions on their faces. After the game, the Oak Hill players had briefly apologized to the Bears before continuing their celebration.

Chimienti waxed poetic about his players to local media, taking on the familiar tone of a coach gushing about his championship-winning team. The incident in the stands did not appear to have dampened his mood.

“Four of these girls, I’ve been with since their freshman year,” Chimienti told the Mountain Democrat. “We came in together, nd I think that was special, one being my daughter Olivia, (and) Emily (Lieber), Iman (Mustafa) and Grace (Goins). There’s no better way to go out.”

Buchanan players glumly accepted their red-ribboned second-place medals and headed home. They stopped at a Chick-fil-A for dinner, at which point Gillette briefly spoke to Wilson.

“She was like, ‘I wish that didn’t happen. I wish that wasn’t the last moment of my career,’” Gillette said.

Wilson was dropped off at a friend’s house, where her father picked her up after midnight. She was mostly quiet on the drive home, Brian said. She did have one question for her father.

“Why,” she asked, “are people so dumb?”

‘The adults are at fault’

After video of the incident — which also appeared to include Wilson’s Hispanic teammate, Daisy Torres, being serenaded by dog-barking sounds before her penalty kick — hit social media and prompted an uproar, Oak Ridge adopted a stiffer public stance.

Chimienti later told the Sacramento Bee he was “disgusted” by the events, as did Palm, the Oak Ridge principal. Following an Oak Ridge investigation, the offending student was identified and disciplined later in the week. But it was too little, too late, Brian said.

There is significant modern precedent for hecklers being thrown out of professional and college games in arenas of thousands of people. A fan at a Jan. 18 men’s basketball game between Wisconsin and Northwestern was ejected after he was seen making the so-called “Asian eye gesture” toward other fans. On Jan. 27, a fan was ejected from the Los Angeles Lakers-Philadelphia 76ers game after repeatedly calling Lakers forward Carmelo Anthony “boy.”

But there was no such intervention at the high school soccer game attended by a fraction of the people, despite the presence of Oak Ridge parents, coaches and administrators.

“Nobody cared to address the crowd at any point in time,” Brian said. “There’s no way you can’t find someone in the crowd. They never attempted to find out because they didn’t care.

“I’m not going to say the kid is at fault. The adults are at fault.”

Gillette has collected her players’ medals and plans to send them back to the CIF, along with their wooden second-place plaque. The team instead will make custom sweatshirts commemorating the season, emblazoned with their various accomplishments and a quote from the entrepreneur and author Timi Nadela:

“Don’t be afraid to shine, the world needs your light.”

It’s a sentiment that applies to the whole team, Gillette said, but Wilson especially. She’s returned to the field for her travel team, the Clovis Crossfire, and is looking forward to college. She’s starting to heal, but something is missing.

The Monday after the incident, Palm called Brian and promised to send a handwritten letter of apology to his daughter. As of this publication, according to Brian, the letter had not been received.

Josh Needelman is the High School Sports Editor at Just Women’s Sports. Follow him on Twitter @JoshNeedelman.

In the first minute of her final high school basketball game, Saniah Tyler showed why she’s one of the top ranked seniors in the country.

Tyler, the Incarnate Word (St. Louis, Mo.) point guard, scored a quick four points in the Class 6 state title game, prompting Kickapoo (Springfield, Mo.) to burn a timeout. The Kentucky signee would score 24 points by the contest’s end, leading the Red Knights to a 67-50 win and their fifth straight state title.

The performance was emblematic of Tyler’s special high school career and earned her JWS Player of the Week honors.

“She always rises to the occasion in big games,” Incarnate Word coach Dan Rolfes said.

The 5-foot-6 Tyler will be on the shorter end of Division I point guards next season, but Rolfes is confident Tyler has the ability to succeed at the next level. An explosive player who can get to the rim and shoot confidently from long range, Tyler is also a high-level passer.

As a freshman, Tyler played behind then-senior Marisa Warren, who averaged 7.9 points and 3.8 assists for Saint Louis in 2021-22. It was Warren, Rolfes said, who showed Tyler what it takes to be a selfless passer.

“Marisa was a crazy good passer, and I think Saniyah realized that she just doesn’t always have to score,” Rolfes said. “Being a good passer and setting up her teammates is another way to lead our team.

“Our team gets so excited by a great pass.”

Still, it is Tyler’s scoring ability that generates the most attention. On Jan. 17, during a West coast road trip, Tyler scored 25 points as the Red Knights beat St. Mary’s (Stockton, Calif.) in a 65-61 thriller. The game was full of college coaches, including one assistant from Kentucky.

As he was watching back film, Rolfes said he noticed the Kentucky coach cheering as Tyler ripped through the opposing defense.

“She was hands down the best kid in the gym,” Rolfes said. “It was fun to see her rise to the occasion. … (The Kentucky coach) was like, ‘That’s my girl!’”

Josh Needelman is the High School Sports Editor at Just Women’s Sports. Follow him on Twitter @JoshNeedelman.

The 2022 McDonald’s All-American basketball games, set for March 29 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, are right around the corner.

McDonald’s on Thursday revealed the jerseys for this year’s games, where the best high school basketball players across the country will take center stage. The East and West jerseys were designed in partnership with adidas and designer Eric Emanuel.

“I’m so honored to re-imagine the iconic McDonald’s All American games jersey for the 45th anniversary,” Emanuel said in a statement. “For this year’s design, I wanted to pay tribute to the rich legacy of the Games while nodding to the future of basketball. With adidas and McDonald’s, we’ve crafted a signature look that pays homage to the Games’ heritage, including vintage elements inspired by McDonald’s All American gear through the decades, with modern touches for today’s player. We designed with the players in mind, and I can’t wait to see all the work displayed on the court next week in Chicago.”

img
The jerseys for the West All-Stars (Courtesy of the McDonald’s All-American Games)
img
The jerseys for the East All-Stars (Courtesy of the McDonald’s All-American Games)

The rosters for the games were also released Thursday, with stars Kiki Rice — the 2021-22 JWS Player of the Year — and Lauren Betts set to lead the East and West, respectively.

East roster

Janiah Barker, F, Monteverde Academy (FL) — Georgia
Paris Clark, G, Long Island Lutheran High School (NY) — Arizona
Talaysia Cooper, PG, East Clarendon High School (SC) — South Carolina
Chance Gray, PG, Winton Woods High School (OH) — Oregon
Ta’Niya Latson, G, American Heritage High School (FL) — Florida State
Indya Nivar, G, Apex Friendship High School (NC) — Stanford
Kyla Oldacre, P, William Mason High School (OH) — Miami
Ayanna Patterson, W, Homestead High School (IN) — UConn
Justine Pissott, W, Red Bank Catholic High School (NJ) — Tennessee
Kiki Rice, PG, Sidwell Friends School (DC) — UCLA
Grace VanSlooten, F, IMG Academy (FL) — Oregon
Ashlyn Watkins, P, Cardinal Newman School (SC) — South Carolina

West roster

Raegan Beers, P, Valor Christian High School (CO) — Oregon State
Lauren Betts, P, Grandview High School (CO) — Stanford
Isuneh Brady, P, Cathedral Catholic High School (CA) –UConn
KK Bransford, G, Mount Notre Dame High School (OH) — Notre Dame
Timea Gardiner, F, Fremont High School (UT) — Oregon State
Aaliyah Gayles, PG, Spring Valley High School (NV) — USC
Ashlon Jackson, G, Hardin-Jefferson High School (TX) — Duke
Gabriela Jaquez, F, Adolfo Camarillo High School (CA) — UCLA
Flau-jae Johnson, G, Sprayberry High School (GA) — LSU
Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, W, Classen SAS High School (OK) — Baylor
Maya Nnaji, F, Hopkins High School (MN) — Arizona
Ruby Whitehorn, G, Detroit Edison Early College of Excellence (MI) — Clemson

Olivia Harness is not burdened by history. Harness, an 11-year-old basketball phenom from Arizona, wants to become the first woman to play in the NBA.

She’s certainly off to a promising start. Harness, with her mind-boggling handles and smooth jumper, has made a habit of going viral and has more than 36,000 followers on Instagram. Last April, in a guest spot on NBA on TNT, Harness told Shaquille O’Neal she could “drop” him with one move.

Harness started playing basketball after watching her older sister, Tatiana, train with their father Mike. Harness decided she wanted to be better than her sister, and that competitive spirit helped launch her career. Now, Harness, who said one of her basketball heroes is Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi, spends two hours per day working on her dribbling and another five to six hours in general training. She plays for her father on the Arizona Select travel team and often scrimmages with 14-year-old Tatiana, who is something of a phenom herself.

“They have the same basketball dream, and so there’s times I have to pull them apart,” Mike said.

“We are very competitive,” said Harness, who goes by the nickname Liv. “Whenever we go down the stairs and we play one-on-one, sometimes I get really frustrated. … I’m more competitive and hard on myself than I thought I was.”

Watch the latest episode of “No Days Off” from Whistle to learn more about the aspiring basketball star.

Josh Needelman is the High School Sports Editor at Just Women’s Sports. Follow him on Twitter @JoshNeedelman.

Since launching JWS Next earlier this year, we’ve had the privilege of immersing ourselves in the national high school basketball scene — the teams, players, traditions and rivalries.

As the 2021-22 campaign draws to close, we wanted to highlight some of the most impressive players we got to know. Below are our picks for the inaugural All-American teams (including their stat lines and college commitments), headlined by Player of the Year Kiki Rice.

First Team

G Kiki Rice, Sidwell Friends (D.C.), Sr.

15.8 PPG, 7 RPG, 5.1 APG, 2.6 SPG
UCLA

The best player on the nation’s best team, Rice has few holes in her game, which she’s modeled after the legendary Sue Bird. She helped turn Sidwell Friends into a national power, and for that, she’ll always be a local icon.

G Chance Gray, Winton Woods (Ohio), Sr.

26.7 PPG, 5 RPG, 3.5 APG, 3.2 SPG
Oregon

An elite combo guard, Gray helped Winton Woods capture its first conference title since 2011.

G Mikaylah Williams, Parkway (La.), Jr.

22.8 PPG, 8 RPG, 3.7 APG, 2.2 SPG
TBD

The top-ranked recruit for the Class of 2023, per ESPN, Williams will have her pick of prospective college suitors after a dominant junior campaign.

F Ayanna Patterson, Homestead (Ind.), Sr.

25.8 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 2.5 APG, 2 BPG
UConn

The winner of Indiana’s prestigious Miss Basketball award, Patterson led Homestead to a one-loss regular season. The all-around player is also known for her impressive dunks.

P Lauren Betts, Grandview (Colo.), Sr.

17.2 PPG, 11 RPG, 3.6 BPG, 3.5 APG
Stanford

The 6-foot-7 Betts is unmatched as a low-post talent. A two-time Gatorade Colorado State Player of the Year, Betts will join the reigning NCAA champions in the fall.

img
Grandview's Lauren Betts (Courtesy of FIBA)

Second Team

G Ashlynn Shade, Noblesville (Ind.), Jr.

20.9 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 4.1 APG, 3.7 SPG
UConn

Shade capped a superlative junior campaign by scoring 31 points in the state title game, tying an all-time record.

G Aaliyah Gayles, Spring Valley (Nev.), Sr.

13.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 3.5 SPG, 3.3 APG
USC

A dynamic athlete with a scorer’s mentality, Gayles will be virtually impossible for Spring Valley to replace.

F Timea Gardiner, Fremont (Utah), Sr.

13.5 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.8 SPG
Oregon State

The-England born Gardiner led Fremont to the brink of a state championship with her dominant all-around approach.

F Janiah Barker, Montverde (Fla.), Sr.

17.6 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.5 SPG
Georgia

A multiple-time Team USA selection, Barker helped Montverde clinch a GEICO Nationals berth.

P Isuneh Brady, Cathedral Catholic (Cal.), Sr.

20.7 PPG, 12.8 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.8 BPG
UConn

The big known as “Ice” was in a class of her own in the San Diego area, especially in the low post.

Josh Needelman is the High School Sports Editor at Just Women’s Sports. Follow him on Twitter @JoshNeedelman.

The next queen of women’s basketball has yet to be crowned.

Whoever inherits the throne will lay claim to unprecedented riches — and responsibility. Between name, image and likeness (NIL) deals infusing cash into the college game and a $75 million investment from backers into the WNBA, the sport is closer to reaching mainstream popularity than ever before.

“Women’s basketball, in a good way, is going to probably go through some growing pains,” legendary Seattle Storm point guard Sue Bird said. “We’re going to start getting attention that we’re not used to getting. You’re going to probably have more cameras in your face.”

The queen will need to be someone who plays at a high level, but who also stays cool under pressure. Someone who understands the history and the potential of the game. Someone who will not be made by the crown, but who will make the crown themselves.

Someone like Kiki Rice.

Rice, the incoming UCLA point guard, is our inaugural JWS high school basketball Player of the Year, and not just because of her superlative on court-abilities — she’s averaging more than 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists per game entering the State Champions Invitational national tournament next month. The Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.) senior, many believe, has the tools and the makeup to help shepherd the sport to the next level.

Central to her appeal is her deferential demeanor. Rice’s family moved from the Bay Area when she was young, and even today she’s more California chill than D.C. domineering.

“From day to day, what’s on my mind is not necessarily, oh, a ton of people are watching me, and I have high expectations,” Rice said. “It’s just about having fun and helping those around me have the same opportunities that I did.”

***

img
(Christian Jenkins/Just Women's Sports)

It’s a little after 10 a.m. on March 12, and more than a foot of snow is decorating the Sidwell Friends campus. Rice is at the school for the JWS photoshoot, and though she’s the star of the show, she also assumes the role of photographer’s assistant, moving the light stand from station to station. Then she hurries back into position, waits for the flash, and smiles.

In between pictures, she hoists shots on the court where she’s become a local icon.

The basketball gym, which Rice will leave behind this year when she enrolls at UCLA, functions as something of a paean to her basketball power.

Pinned to the balcony overlooking the court is a white banner recognizing her gold medal with Team USA at the 2019 FIBA Americas U16 Championship. Another white banner, hanging against the baseline where Rice has swooshed so many jumpers, commemorates the Quakers’ 2022 D.C. State Athletic Association Championship. And in the locker room, printed on the whiteboard in red lettering, is an axiom that’s helped Rice guide Sidwell to heights few thought were possible: #SUCCESSNEVERRESTS.

img
(Christian Jenkins/Just Women's Sports)

Before Rice, Sidwell was known more for the presence of Secret Service agents than Division I basketball scouts. Graduates include Barack Obama’s children, Sasha and Malia, Chelsea Clinton, Al Gore III and several of President Joe Biden’s grandchildren.

Rice’s family runs in similar circles; her aunt Susan was Obama’s national security adviser. So when it came to decide on her high school path, Rice felt most comfortable remaining at Sidwell, where she’d become a basketball sensation as a middle schooler, instead of running off to the more competitive Washington Catholic Athletic Conference.

She lifted the Quakers program up with her.

“She laid the foundation for the quality of the kids and people we want in our program,” said Sidwell Friends coach Tamika Dudley, who took over the program ahead of Rice’s sophomore season. “We coach her hard, and she’s OK with that. And I think that sets the example for others.”

It was that work ethic that drew Alex McLean to Rice. McLean, the director of player development for the Washington Wizards, has also worked with UConn stars Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd. Rice, he said, has the ability to reach those same heights.

Over the past year, McLean has worked with Rice to improve her jumper from a bio-mechanical standpoint. Using the Noah shooting system, a machine that tracks shots from anywhere on the court and provides verbal feedback for shot arc and depth, McLean helped Rice become a dead-eye shooter.

“She’s always been known for her ball-handling. She’s super fast, super strong. The knock on her was her shooting,” McLean said. “Now she’s knocking stuff down left and right.”

Sidwell opponents, both local and national, witnessed that transformation firsthand. With Rice leading the way, the Quakers enter the State Champions Invitational, beginning April 8 in Tampa, with a 28-0 record.

What was once referred to by locals as the “Obama school” is now the “Kiki Rice school.” But Rice is looking to expand her reach even farther.

“I think if she can convey to the world who she truly is, which I think she will,” Dudley said, “she’s going to be a complete rock star.”

***

Every few nights, when she’s laying in bed with the lights off, Rice flicks her phone to “Do Not Disturb” mode and takes a few moments to reflect.

“It’s just me … thinking back on what’s happened to me, just how fortunate I am to be in the situation I am,” Rice said.

And then she’ll fall asleep, but not for too long. Rice often rises at 5 a.m. for workouts, whether with McLean, Wes Dunning, her strength and conditioning coach who’s helped her become a more physical player (Rice can deadlift almost 300 pounds), or her father John, who played basketball at Yale.

Back in the gym on March 12, right after the JWS shoot, it’s John’s turn for some face-time with the royalty-in-waiting. Rice ties up her hair and trades her Quakers jersey for some workout clothes.

The previous week, Rice had been named Naismith National Player of the Year. The following week, Bird would personally honor her as the Gatorade National Player of the Year. The awards, though, come secondary to the work. Now, it’s time to get up some shots.

The cameras have been stowed away, but Rice’s day is just beginning. Her hair bounces atop her head as she shuffles across the court. Her curls are dyed blond, but from a distance they almost look gold, a custom crown for the next queen of women’s basketball.

Josh Needelman is the High School Sports Editor at Just Women’s Sports. Follow him on Twitter @JoshNeedelman.