Top 18 girls basketball players to watch this year. See who made the Southwest Idaho list
Graduation robbed the Treasure Valley of many of its top girls basketball stars. But don’t cry for the local basketball scene, which remains loaded with talent.
Need proof? Nine all-state players return this season, and six Southwest Idaho prospects have either committed to or received a Division I offer.
The Idaho Statesman surveyed the region’s 5A to 1A coaches to see which players are keeping them up at night. These were the most frequently mentioned names.
Avery Howell, Boise
ESPN ranks the 6-foot senior as the No. 23 player nationally in the 2024 recruiting class, and the five-star prospect signed with USC earlier this month. She earned the 5A All-Idaho and all-class Gatorade player of the year awards as a junior after averaging 21.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.8 steals per game. She returns ready to post more gaudy numbers as the most dangerous player on the floor no matter which position she plays. “Avery Howell poses about any problem I can think of,” Timberline coach Andy Jones said.
Paige Cofer, Eagle
Opponents can’t afford to let the 6-foot senior guard get going. Once she finds her stroke, it might be game over. The Utah Tech signee set a single-season scoring record (460 points) last year and averaged 16.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists to earn first-team All-Idaho honors. “Paige is an extreme athlete who is difficult to stop when she gets going downhill,” Owyhee coach Jordan Ax said. “She scores in a variety of ways, and her length creates matchup issues.”
Sydnie Rodriguez, Owyhee
The Seattle commit had to sit out the district and state tournaments last fall after transferring from Borah. But the senior guard still earned a spot on the All-Idaho second team after averaging 12.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.9 steals. Now the Storm get her for the full season. “She will come in with a chip on her shoulder and a point to prove,” Mountain View coach La’Cale Pringle said. “I think this conference counted her out, and she will want to change people’s minds.”
Cianna Legaspi, Rocky Mountain
Another future Division I player, the Cal Baptist commit provides a pick-your-poison scenario for opponents. Back off the 5-11 senior, and she’ll rain 3-pointers down on you. But press her off the line, and her size and nose for the basket make her lethal in the paint. She averaged 10.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists for a spot on the All-Idaho second team last year. “Her speed, shooting ability, toughness and high IQ changes any game she plays in,” Eagle coach Jeremy Munroe said. “It will be fun to see her fully healthy.”
Emmi Swillie, Timberline
The sky remains the limit for the 6-2 sophomore forward. Swillie showcased next-level athleticism and touch around the basket last season, averaging 9.8 points and 8.5 rebounds. She’s already received offers from Saint Mary’s, Portland and San Diego State. “Emmi may be the most athletic player in the SIC this year,” Ax said. “Teams will have to game plan for her as she has the ability to take over the game every night.”
Jada Ojukwu, Centennial
Mountain View’s loss turned into the Patriots’ gain when the 5-11 junior guard transferred into their boundaries. The next-level athlete already holds offers from Seattle and Fresno State. And her speed, physicality and nonstop motor make the lefty tough to stop once she puts the ball on the floor. “She’s an explosive athlete who will have a big role at Centennial this season,” Capital coach Matthew Creech said. “She will be a matchup nightmare.”
Kaity Haan, Boise
Howell draws most of the attention for the Brave, but this 6-foot junior creates plenty of headaches on her own. A forward with a guard’s ball skills, Haan allows Boise to press the pace in the open court, and she can finish around the basket in myriad ways. She posted 11.4 points, six rebounds and 2.2 steals per game last year for a spot on the all-conference first team. “(She’s a) scrappy player who is tough to keep off the glass,” Kuna coach Katie Holmes said.
Zoey Blackwell, Middleton
The 5-7 guard made an immediate impact as a freshman last season. She led 5A in steals (4.5 per game) and added 14.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists, making the all-conference second team. She can get to the hoop at will, knows how to create open shots and will take on a leadership role this season. “She’s a talented point guard and can knock down shots,” Boise coach Kim Brydges said.
Ellie Robertson, Columbia
The four-year starter and three-time all-conference selection has seen it all for the Wildcats, starting every game since Day 1 of her freshman year. She does it all for Columbia, scoring, handling the ball and drawing the top defensive assignments. She averaged 12.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.7 steals a year ago. But more importantly, she serves as Columbia’s vocal leader.
McKenna Durrant, Ridgevue
A first-team all-conference selection as a sophomore, the wing/post has a hand in everything for the Warhawks. She averaged 10.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals a year ago. She remains a monster in the paint and an outside threat, one who will force defenses to adjust to her. “She’s really tough down low, a great rebounder,” Skyview coach Joe Betancourt said. “Keeping her off the glass will be tough.”
Addy Laible, Bishop Kelly
The 6-2 senior post controls the paint on both ends of the floor. She alters countless shots with her length, and she knows how to pin defenders for easy layups and take on double teams. She posted 9.1 points and 8.0 rebounds off the bench last season. Expect those numbers to go up with a larger role this winter.
Rylie Calkins, Parma
The junior guard already has two first-team all-conference selections and a second-team All-Idaho appearance under her belt. And it’s not hard to see why. She can score inside and outside the paint, has the vision to find open teammates and possesses what one coach called a killer instinct. “She is not afraid to shoot from any distance, and she can knock them down,” Weiser coach Laraine Harrison said.
Gabi Green, McCall-Donnelly
The 3A SRV’s volleyball player of the year also poses a threat on this court. The 5-8 senior guard returns after a first-team all-conference season that saw her average 11.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.7 steals. She controls the tempo and can play, score and defend all five positions on the floor. “She’s a smooth athlete and plays fast, yet under control,” Homedale coach Benji Sorenson said. “Her quickness and ability to get to the rim makes it tough to guard her, as she can also shoot if you give her too much space to take away the drive.”
Hadley Fraas, Cole Valley Christian
The four-year starter already has a pair of All-Idaho selections under her belt. The senior enters her final year as the Chargers’ unquestioned leader and a weapon who can score from anywhere on the floor, evidenced by her 14.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game last year. “She’s a crafty, patient guard with the ability to use her height as well,” Marsing coach Aidrie Voile said. “She’s great at controlling the offensive tempo.”
Brooklyn Dayley, Melba
The Mustangs lost a lot from their undefeated state championship team. But they bring back Dayley, a four-year starter at point guard and first-team All-Idaho pick. She was often overlooked on a loaded team. But she’ll have a hand in everything this year and take on a bigger role after posting 11.4 points, 4.9 assists and 5.5 steals per game. “She’s an excellent athlete with four years of varsity experience,” Cole Valley Christian coach Matt Beglinger said. “She has really rounded out her game and will be a handful to guard.”
Zavier Lake, New Plymouth
The Middleton transfer has already turned heads in the 2A WIC, making a splashy debut with 27.5 points per game through her first two games. The senior point guard has the handles to fend off any pressure, the shooting touch to put up big numbers and the vision to find open teammates. “We only saw her once this summer, but she is a very capable ball handler and scorer who got our attention immediately,” Beglinger said. “She’ll be one of the top players in the WIC this year.”
McKayla Hart, Tri-Valley
The Alaska Anchorage signee and reigning Long Pin Conference MVP transferred to Tri-Valley in the offseason, providing the Titans with an instant post presence. The 6-2 center averaged 10.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks to help lead Council to a state title last year and earn second-team All-Idaho honors. “She is a force around the basket. Her shot blocking and post play are going to be hard to deal with,” Salmon River coach Levi Tucker said.
Rhianna Iveson, Council
Speed remains the ultimate killer. And the Lumberjacks’ senior point guard has it in spades. Council runs its entire offense through Iveson, who averaged 8.9 points, 3.6 assists and 2.7 steals on her way to a state title and a spot on the All-Idaho second team. She spearheaded 1A Division II’s top offense (56.6 ppg) a year ago. Expect more of the same. “She plays with heart and speed,” Tri-Valley coach Dennis Holmes said. “... She forces turnovers and is going to keep our guards on their toes.”
