GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH
Hana Belibi, jr., G/ F, Regis Jesuit: Yes, another Belibi at Regis. And, yes, she’s a fantastic athlete like her two sisters currently competing on scholarship in D- I. The 6- foot wing received 5A all- state honorable mention as a sophomore with averages of 14.2 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.
Sienna Betts, so., F, Grandview: After winning a 5A state title with her big sis, Lauren, now off at Stanford, it’s Sienna’s turn to take the reins for Grandview. A top- five national recruit for the Class of 2025, according to HoopGurlz, the 6- 3 forward is more than capable.
Bree Bunting, sr., G/ F, Platte Valley: With one half of Platte Valley’s four 3A all- state selections graduated, a Broncos 3A three- peat rests on the two left behind: Bunting ( 15.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.7 spg) and senior forward Andi Schissler ( 13.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.7 spg).
Tianna Chambers, so., G, Cherry Creek: Nearly all of the pieces return from a freshman- led Bruins team that reached the 5A Elite Eight last season. That includes the 6- foot Chambers, Creek’s offensive engine at point guard with averages of 10.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists.
Brihanna Crittendon, fr., G/ F, Riverdale Ridge: Multiple D- I scholarship offers were sent Crittendon’s way before she even suited up for a single varsity game. Springy and skilled at 6- foot- 2, it doesn’t take a whole lot of imagination to see a star in the making.
Kenlee Durrill, sr., G/ F, Flatirons Academy: A two- time state champion, two- time all- state pick and 1,000- point scorer, the 5- 10 Pacific commit has already had a prolific prep career. Getting to add title No. 3 with fellow all- state returnees Emma Cox and Emily Dehaan is just icing on the cake.
Alex Eschmeyer, so., F/ C, Peak to Peak: The daughter of former Northwestern stars Evan and Kristina Eschmeyer, the 6- 4 post is a chip off the old block. Eschmeyer made an instant impact her freshman season in Lafayette, averaging 15.4 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.6 blocks while receiving 3A all- state honorable mention.
Juliana Garcia, sr., G, The Vanguard School: A doubledigit scorer each of her first three seasons ( 15.0 career ppg), the returning 3A all- state pick needs just 26 points to reach 1,000 for her career.
Elizabeth Gentry, jr., C/ PF, Columbine: After collecting 12 double- doubles in 33 varsity games as an underclassmen, college offers are pouring in for the 6- foot- 3 Gentry. UC Santa Barbara, Seattle U, Davidson and Army are interested.
Natalie Guanella, sr., PG, Monarch: A second- team 5A all- state pick a year ago with averages of 18.3 points, 3.0 steals and 2.3 assists, the Fort Lewis commit leads a strong senior core for Monarch.
Macey Huard, sr., G, Valor Christian: Set to join her older sister, Haley, in Montana next fall, the 6- foot- 2 guard has been a steady hand ( 12.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.7 apg) for an Eagles team that’s reached the 5A final in each of her two seasons at Valor.
Addi Kessinger, jr., F, Akron: The leading scorer in the state among all sophomores a year ago at 20.1 ppg, the 6- foot forward enters her junior season averaging a doubledouble ( 17.6 points, 11.6 rebounds, 2.1 blocks) for her career.
Caitlin Kramer, jr., G/ F, Air Academy: After two varsity seasons, the 6- foot- 2 wing already has 739 career points. Even more impressive: She’s done so shooting 51.6% from the field. Toss in strong rebounding ( 7.3 rpg) and defensive ( 2.3 spg, 1.9 bpg) numbers, and there’s a lot to like.
Taryn Kravig, sr., G, University: The Bulldogs’ run to the 3A championship game last winter was powered by Kravig, a 5- foot- 6 first- team all- state pick who was both the team’s top scorer ( 14.7) and playmaker ( 3.3 apg).
Jayda Maves, sr., G, Green Mountain: The 5- 9 Western Colorado commit and returning 4A all- state pick has been an integral part of three straight Final Four trips for the Rams. After averaging 19.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.6 steals as a junior, all that’s left is to get them into a title game.
Nia Mckenzie, sr., G/ F, Eaglecrest: Long and agile at 5- foot- 11, the Washburn commit is a disruptive defender ( 3.5 spg) and skilled offensive threat ( 11.3 ppg, 2.8 apg) who headlines a talented big three of Raptors seniors alongside post Laci Roffle and guard Anjolene Ramiro.
Nevaeh Millard, jr., G/ F, Denver South: The Ravens are eyeing a deep postseason run with Millard, a 5- foot- 6 wing who averaged 18.2 points, 3.6 steals and 2.4 assists last winter, leading a deep team that returns nearly every key contributor from last year’s 17- 8 squad.
Aiyana Mitchell, sr., PF/ C, Fountain- Fort Carson: A Vanderbilt signee, the 6- foot- 4 post makes life difficult for opposing teams around the basket as both a shot- blocker ( 2.7 bpg) and rebounder ( 8.9 rpg) who has also grown into an offensive weapon ( 13.3 ppg).
Jameson Mott, sr., F, Evergreen: There may not be a more dangerous shooter in the state than Mott, who hit 44% of her 3- point attempts ( 109 of 249) over her first three varsity seasons while averaging 13.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals.
Brooke Murrell, sr., F/ C, Thomas Jefferson: A skilled and mobile 6- foot- 2 Hawaii commit, Murrell notched 41 doubledoubles over her previous three seasons while accumulating 1,088 points, 694 rebounds and 140 blocks.
Jaida Redwine, sr., G, George Washington: Between Redwine and fellow senior Mya Cotto, the Patriots boast one of the Denver Prep League’s top backcourts. While Cotto is a devastating scorer ( 16.6 ppg), Redwine has blossomed into an all- court performer ( 13.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 3.5 spg, 3.4 apg).
Mason Rowland, sr., G, Durango: A Colorado Mesa commit, the 4A second- team all- state pick is coming off a massive junior season that saw her average 20.3 points and 3.6 steals per game while scoring in double figures in 23 of 25 games.
Allison Schwertner, jr., G/ F, Mullen: The core largely responsible for the Mustangs’ three straight 4A titles has graduated, but between the 6- foot- 3 Schwertner and 6- 2 sophomore Tatum Jones, there’s still plenty left in the cupboard to compete at the 6A level this winter.
Brynae Stewart, sr., G, Pine Creek: A wiry, multifaceted wing, the 5- foot- 11 CSU Pueblo commit does a little bit of everything ( 13.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 2.2 spg, 2.0 apg) for an Eagles squad that will also lean heavily on rising sophomores Brooklyn Stewart and Leekaya Burke- Perryman.
Ali Wetta, sr., G, Valor Christian: Robbed of her junior season due to a torn ACL, the fierce 5- 10 guard won a 5A title the last time she stepped on the court for Valor. She’ll have the Eagles in the mix once again before heading to Utah State next fall.