5 GIRLS TO WATCH
Twenty-four of the best girls basketball players will be competing in Houston next week.
Although there have been 23 McDonald’s AllAmericans from the Houston area since 1977, no local girls players will be represented for the second consecutive game.
The Chronicle takes a look at the top five players to watch, who are all gold medalists with Team USA and a part of the 2023 USA Women’s inaugural Nike Hoop Summit Team.
Judea ‘Juju’ Watkins, G, Sierra Canyon School
Earlier this month, the five-star guard was named the 2022-23 Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year and 2023 Naismith Girls High School Player of the Year. The honor was just the latest for Watkins, who is the No. 1-ranked player in the country, according to ESPN’s HoopGurlz class of 2023 recruiting rankings. Watkins, a USC signee, led Sierra Canyon School of Los Angeles to a 31-1 record in her final season. The 6-0 guard was also named MVP of the 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup while helping Team USA win a gold medal.
Jada Williams, PG, La Jolla Country Day School
Williams won back-toback San Diego Open Division championships alongside teammate and fellow McDonald’s AllAmerican five-star forward Breya Cunningham. Both players are ranked in the top 25 on ESPN’s recruiting rankings and are headed to Tucson.
Jadyn Donovan, G, Sidwell Friends School
Five-star player Donovan helped Sidwell Friends School of Washington D.C. capture its second consecutive state championship. Donovan, who is ESPN’s No. 3ranked player in the country, was named 2022-23 Gatorade District of Columbia Girls Basketball Player of the Year. The 6-0 guard averaged 14.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game her final year.
Madison Booker, F, Germantown High School
Last September, Booker committed to Texas over Duke, Tennessee and others. Next week, the five-star forward will be about three hours removed from her future home in Austin as she’ll be representing the Magnolia State on the national stage for Team West. After falling short in last year’s final four, Mississippi’s No. 1 women’s basketball recruit helped Germantown High of Ridgeland capture its first state title in program history. Madison, who is ranked No. 12 on ESPN’s recruiting rankings, is the highest-ranked recruit in the Longhorns’ upcoming recruiting class.
Aalyah Del Rosario, C, The Webb School
At 6-5, Del Rosario will be the tallest player on the court Tuesday. Del Rosario might be a force to be reckoned with down low, but the five-star center is also agile and has the ability to make shots from behind the arc. Earlier this month, Del Rosario led Webb, which is near Nashville, to a 32-4 record and its third consecutive state championship in a 73-43 victory over Middle Tennessee Christian. Del Rosario, ESPN’s No. 7ranked player in the country, was named MVP after finishing with 21 points and 13 rebounds.