The girls high school basketball season opens this week in Michigan and there will be many talented players taking the court across the Metro Detroit coverage area.
Here is a look into 20 of the top players from the area, with an extra list of more to watch for. Do you have more players to suggest? Help us follow them this season by emailing japurcell@mlive.com with reports and stats.
More: Top 10 Metro Detroit girls basketball teams to watch in 2022-23.
Dakota Alston, G, Detroit Edison
Senior
One of the most sound guards in Michigan, Alston is set to be the senior leader for Edison this winter. Last season, she averaged 7.33 points and 2.13 steals per game.
Maya Anderson, G, Detroit Cass Tech
Junior
Maya proved to be a scoring machine for the Technicians last season and is blossiming into one of the PSL’s best players in just her junior season. Frequently scoring north of 15 points night after night, Anderson will be aiming for a PSL title this year.
Emma Arico, G, Detroit Country Day
Junior
Arico was the leader of the Yellowjackets offense last season as Country Day made it to the Division 2 semifinals. She averaged 8.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.4 steals per game.
Annabel Ayrault, G, Grosse Pointe North
Senior
Ayrault is as talented as they come and has put together many top-notch efforts in her career. As a junior, she averaged 15.3 points per game and shot 40 percent from the field. She also averaged 3.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.8 steals. Expect her to be in the Miss Basketball finalist conversation.
Paris Bass, G, Wayne Memorial
Senior
After leading the Zebras to a final four appearance last year, Bass is back for more. Committed to play at North Dakota next year, Bass is primed to improve upon her averages of 8.7 points and 6.4 rebounds from a year ago.
Kennedy Blair, G, Dearborn Divine Child
Senior
Blair had an excellent season for a team that won 19 games last season. She averaged close to a double-double with 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocks per game. Committed to Bowling Green, she will expect to be in the Miss Basketball finalist conversation this year.
Maddy Benard, G, Grosse Pointe South
Sophomore
Unfortunately, a serious ACL injury ended Maddy’s freshman season after an incredible start to her high school career. She had no issue scoring 20-plus points on multiple occasions last season before getting hurt in January. Expect her to be one of the top sophomores in the state this season.
Na’Kiya Bonner, G, Detroit Edison
Junior
Bonner had a great season as a sophomore starter on the prestigious Detroit Edison squad. She finished last year averaging 8.23 points, 5.54 assists and 2.2 steals. After Miss Basketball winner Ruby Whitehorn graduated, Bonner is going to step up more with the ball in her hands.
Indya Davis, G, West Bloomfield
Junior
Davis showed impressive improvement from her already great freshman season into her state-title sophomore season last year. She averaged 14.6 points per game and made her mark at the Breslin Center with 17 points and 11 rebounds in the championship game. That came after recording 24 points and eight rebounds in the semifinals. She finished the season averaging 6.6 rebounds, 3.1 steals and 1.4 assists.
Summer Davis, G, West Bloomfield
Junior
Davis has progressively grown as a scoring threat over the last to seasons and she helped propel West Bloomfield to its first state title last winter. She averaged 14.5 points 4.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.2 steals. Expect her to continue to rise among the state’s best this season.
Jaidyn Elam, F, Detroit Country Day
Junior
Elam led Country Day in points (13.6), rebounds (6.8) and blocks (0.8) last season as the Yellowjackets made another run to the D2 semifinals. She will be a key piece in the paint for a very deep and experienced Country Day team this year.
Devin Hagemann, G, Detroit Edison
Junior
If her name sounds familiar, her older sister DeeDee Hagemann won the Miss Basketball award in 2021. Devin has been able to bide her time on a roster stacked with talent over the years. Now, she is ready to break out.
Mayla Ham, F, Wayne Memorial
Senior
The Georgetown commit is back after helping lead Memorial to the Division 1 semifinals. After a strong junior season, she will aim to get Memorial even further into the tournament this season.
Sydney Hendrix, F, West Bloomfield
Senior
With all the great talent on West Bloomfield’s roster over the last two seasons, it is odd to call Hendrix an unsung hero. She averageed 10.9 points and 6.8 rebounds last year as a steady contributor in the paint for the reigning state champions. West Bloomfield remains stacked and Hendrix will once again be on the court with the best starting five in Michigan.
Cierra Hughes, G, Romulus
Senior
She might be only 5-feet tall, but she is a giant when it comes to scoring. A true meaning of the term MVP, Hughes was a huge reason why Romulus was 20-3 a year ago. Expect her to continue to light up scoreboards again this season.
Shamya Reid, G, Redford Westfield Prep
Senior
Reid returns as one of the top scorers in the state for a Westfield Prep team that has quickly risen up the ranks. Last year, she averaged 19 points per game while also averaging 4.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.8 steals. She also shot 44 percent from 3-point range. Having already eclipsed 1,000 points in her career, don’t be surprised if you see her among the Miss Basketball finalists with another strong season.
Christian Sanders, G, Detroit Renaissance
Junior
Sanders was a vital piece of the Renaissance team that won the Division 1 title back in 2021 and that won a PSL title last year. Still only a junior, Sanders is one of Detroit’s best and will look to lead Renaissance back to the Breslin Center this year. Offers have been streaming in for this talented scorer.
McKenzie Swanson, F, Bloomfield Hills Marian
Junior
Coming off a state championship in volleyball, Swanson is ready to dazzle on the basketball court. She has double-digit offers and plenty of other schools circling. This 6-3 talent is ready to erupt this season.
Maya White, F, Farmington Hills Mercy
Senior
Maya White has been a rock for Mercy ever since she burst onto the scene as a freshman. With Miss Basketball potential, White will be one of the top players in the Catholic High School League this season.
Ari’Yana Wiggins, F, Detroit Country Day
Sophomore
Wiggins was one of the state’s top freshman last year with 9.7 points per game and 5.9 points per game. As Country Day continues to rise to the level of its former glory, Wiggins is going to be a big part of that success.
MORE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Colleena Bryant, G, Wayne Memorial, So.
Rylan Buschell, G, Belleville, So.
Malyah Bynum, G, Trenton, Sr.
Josie Cangialosi, G, Riverview, Jr.
Kamari Dabbs, G, Woodhaven, Sr.
Anayya Davis, F, Utica Ford, So.
Kendall Hendrix, F, West Bloomfield, Jr.
Nyemah Hodo, C, Ecorse, Sr.
Morganne Houk, G, Plymouth Christian, Sr.
Jayla Jackson, G, Detroit Country Day, Fr.
Samiyah Jefferson, G, Detroit Mumford, Sr.
Zipporah Johnson, G, Ecorse, Sr.
Imani Johnson, F, Detroit Renaissance, So.
Layla Marshall, G, Redford Westfield Prep, Jr.
Isis Johnson Musah, F, Redford Westfield Prep, So.
Elyssa Kincaid, F, Riverview, Sr.
Natalee Kirk, G, Grosse Ile, Sr.
Kiely Robinson, G, Rochester, So.
Quinn Robak, F, Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes, Sr.
Kaitlyn Sanders, G, Birmingham Groves, Sr.
Lauren Smiley, G, Farmington Hills Mercy, Sr.
Brianna Thomas, G, Trenton, Jr.
Kursten Von Hoffman, G, Taylor, Sr.
Destiny Washington, G, West Bloomfield, Jr.
Audrey Wischmeyer, G, Lake Orion, Sr.
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