We are about midway through the 2024-2025 high school basketball season. Numerous high-profile events that included marquee matchups and competitive elite tournament brackets have given us ample opportunity to evaluate teams and players and see the results of hard work and game planning by the country’s best coaches.
There will be a ranking update of the classes of 2025-2027 in the early spring and an expansion of the rankings in 2026-2028 prior to summer basketball. These high school games give us a preview as to some of the changes we will see when those projects are complete.
Let us paint a picture of the elite high school basketball scene in the country currently. Who are some of the players who have grown and will see their recruitment heat up after some outstanding performances and consistency? Who may be making their way up the rankings?
Who are the best teams in the country?
Looking at the landscape of the No. 1 team in the SCNext Top 25, three major candidates emerged during the first half of the season.
Archbishop Mitty of San Jose, California is no stranger to the best-team-in-the-country conversation. Head Coach Sue Phillips is a Hall of Famer with USA Basketball experience who is arguably the best high school coach in the US. She has a roster of several major Division 1 recruits led by 2026 ESPNW No. 6 McKenna Woliczko who is production personified with her constant energy and will to win. Junior classmate Devin Cosgriff has improved her offensive skill since transferring to Mitty, as she was already an elite defender. They have an emerging freshman in forward Maliya Hunter and sophomore guards Tiera McCarthy and Ze’ni Petterson contribute quite a bit as well.
This team took home the prestigious Nike Tournament of Champions title pre-Christmas in Phoenix for the second year in a row. Wolickzko once again was named tournament MVP after posting a 25 point, 10 rebound performance in the championship game. They defeated Ontario Christian in a much-anticipated matchup, 59-34. They controlled the game from the opening tip.
The unfortunate thing for this Mitty squad is Woliczko sustained a knee injury on January 4th in the second quarter of a rematch with Ontario Christian, because off which she will miss the remainder of the season.
Montverde Academy of Montverde, FL has once again fielded a team loaded with major Division 1 talent. They get into the best opponents on their schedule in the next few weeks including a matchup with Long Island Lutheran of whom they played for the Chipotle National Championship on ESPN networks last April.
Montverde has seven ESPNW ranked players, including No. 1 2026 Saniyah Hall. 2025 No. 4 player Agot Makeer is undecided, No. 5 Aaliyah Crump is headed to Texas, No. 45 Holland Harris to Clemson, No. 51 Lourdes Da Silva Costa to Alabama. As if that was not enough, they also have senior guard Amaia Jackson (Clemson signee), 2026 No. 35 in forward Missy Odom, and 2027 No. 13 in post Jayla Forbes.
The challenge with a group like this is keeping them sharp playing against teams with lesser talent. Their back loaded schedule should give a glimpse into how high caliber this team really is.
Ontario Christian of Ontario, CA may be the most intriguing of the top teams in the country because of their youth. In their first 21 games, they played seven opponents that are or at one point were ranked in the top 25 in the country. They also matched up with Lubbock Monterey who has current senior No. 1 Aaliyah Chavez when they took a road trip to Texas’ famed Thanksgiving Hoopfest in November. They won handily, 82-50.
This team’s starting lineup has one senior, two sophomores, and two freshmen. Now, these are not ordinary underclassmen and the lone senior starter, Alanna Neale, is one of the best unsigned senior wings in the entire country. ESPNW No. 1 sophomore Kaleena Smith starts at the point guard position. Classmate Dani Robinson plays a small forward role and is safely a top 100 player in her class. The two freshmen are arguably the two best in their class in the country: post Sydney Douglas and guard Tatianna Griffin.
This group battled and won a rematch, as mentioned above, with Archbishop Mitty on January 4th by the score of 61-44. Kaleena Smith scored 23 points, Tatinna Griffin scored 14 points, and Sydney Douglas scored 11 points and added a dominant 17 rebounds.
The 2025 Fight for No. 1 is Close
The candidates are clear: Uncommitted Aaliyah Chavez, USC signee Jazzy Davidson, and UCLA signee Sienna Betts. Those three have separated themselves tremendously in this 2025 class.
Early in the history of this class’s rankings, Jazzy Davidson held the top spot. Eventually, Aaliyah Chavez took to scorching the nets night in and night out and took over the No. 1 spot. Sienna Betts, as posts tend to do, took a bit longer to get seasoned and start to dominate and has continually made a case for No. 1 ever since.
Simply put: this is the hardest No. 1 call that our team has had to make since we took over the ESPNW rankings in the fall of 2020. These players are all different in their own ways – from their position to their style of play to their personalities. The evaluation and analysis will be detailed and monitored all the way through the McDonald’s All-American game.
Here is the case for each:
Aaliyah Chavez
5-foot 11 | Guard | Lubbock Monterey HS (TX) | Undecided
Season Statistics (as of January 6th): 35.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists; 49% FG, 39% 3FG, 88% FT
- Named Texas Gatorade Player of the Year for the 23-24 season
- Two-time Nike EYBL Champion with Cy Fair Elite
- Top 10 nationally in career all-time scoring in high school history (currently 8th and counting)
Chavez is the ultimate confident shot-maker. She has proven time and again that no matter the moment, she wants the ball and wants the shot. From the opening tip, her objective is clear: score the ball. She is high-volume, but is also solid percentage wise – both in high school and on the EYBL circuit (above 45% FG, 40% 3FG and 88% FT for her career in the EYBL). She will finish her career with some monumental scoring records at Lubbock Monterey. Aaliyah is a balanced scorer, tallying points from deep range, the pull up, and from the free throw line. She is a quality passing playmaker and knows how to create easy opportunities for others.
Looking at projection, there are some questions about how she will play at the next level without the ball in her hands. Understandably so, the ball has been in her hands a lot at the prep level and maintaining that kind of usage rate is highly unlikely. It’s a different rhythm to play that way and there will need to be some adjustment in terms of playing with other good players and trying to win consistently. She will be asked to trust the flow of the game more and how to learn to use her gravity to manipulate defenses – even when she does not have the ball. Defensively, Chavez competes, but there are lulls in effort and activity level and she’s been allowed to rest some defensively because of the load she carries with her teams. She’s moderate athletically and that will be challenged at the next level, so the commitment to the details on that end will be vital.
Ultimately, it is clear Aaliyah Chavez is the best scorer in this class. The game is more than scoring and impact in other ways is important going forward. However, having a go-to player when the game is on the line is a highly sought after quality in a player.
Jasmine Davidson
6-foot 1 | Guard | Clackamas HS (OR) | USC Signee
Season Statistics (as of January 6th): 28.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists; 52.5 FG%, 34% 3FG, 83.9% FT
- 3X3 U18 World Cup Gold Medalist
- USA Basketball U18 FIBA Americas Gold Medalist where she averaged 11.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and a team high 2.7 steals per game.
- Three-time Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year
- Has led Clackamas HS to a top 10 national ranking in the country during the 24-25 season. They won the 6A Oregon State Championship in 2023.
Jasmine Davidson is the most complete perimeter player in this class. She is comfortable in the lead guard spot and she is also completely at ease when it is time to be the closer as the scoring threat at the end of the game. She is long and bouncy at 6-foot 1 and glides to the rim and elevates very gracefully when attacking. She has served as the playmaking alpha on essentially every team she has ever played on and that kind of pressure and focus will serve her well at the next level. She is a high assist rate player who has always rebounded very well for a guard as well. Davidson is high IQ when it comes to cutting and moving without the ball – finding post ups and easy slashing opportunities to score. Defensively, she clearly takes great pride in guarding the opponents’ best player – no matter what position. In her more elite matchups, she always guarded the best perimeter player on the other team. Her length and ability to move laterally as well has her knowledge of guarding a variety of actions sets her apart from her peers.
In the projection conversation, Jasmine will need to add strength, which will come with a strength and conditioning program at the next level. Her 3-point shot consistency has fluctuated some and that will need to level off in at least the high 30’s for her to be elite at the next level. The consistency in which she utilizes the pull up jumper will need to improve as well – as sometimes she can find herself a little deep in the paint when she could have risen up for a 15-footer prior. Some of that will translate to her creating for others at the next level (USC will have plenty of weapons), but some of that is just bad habit. She can find some craftiness it creating contact for trips to the free throw line as well.
We have seen Jasmine Davidson deliver on the big stage in major matchups time and again. She is a floor general who makes others better. Can she be the aggressive closer that would put her over the top? Possibly.
Sienna Betts
6-foot 4 | Post | Grandview HS (CO) | UCLA Signee
Season Statistics (as of January 6th): 22.6 points, 19.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 3.6 blocks; 56% FG, 20% 3FG, 66% FT
- USA Basketball U18 FIBA Americas Gold Medalist. Betts was named to the “All Star 5” for the event after leading the event in efficiency and averaging 13.2 points, 8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game.
- Two-time Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year
- Has led Grandview to a top 25 national ranking in the 24-25 season. They won the Colorado State Championship in 2024.
Sienna Betts is the prototypical new age 5-player. Gone are the days of the post who solely roams the paint at both ends – for a couple reasons: we have less true bigs in the game than we did years ago, and second or maybe consequently, the game is being played in a more spaced out and interchangeable fashion. These bigs are now expected to be able to be competent away from the paint in many ways. They have to maneuver ball screens defensively in several different coverages and they have to be able to occasionally switch onto a perimeter player and defend them without fouling. Sienna can do all of these things. She uses a tall, broad, and strong frame to all of its advantages. She changes shots anywhere within 15 feet of the rim and she carves out massive space for rebounding. Offensively, she is effective in the traditional back to the basket post up as well as in the face up game, and she can put the ball on the floor. Her mid-range game is more than respectable and she has started to trust the 3-ball a bit more regularly as well. Possibly most impressively, is she is a fundamentally fantastic passer. She is comfortable acting as the de facto point-center versus the press and is a quality decision maker. When she sees double teams, she makes the right reads and puts teammates in position to be successful. She is a legitimate triple-double threat.
In the projection conversation, the competition and physicality for a big makes a huge jump when they enter college – especially at a place like UCLA where your 6-foot 7 All-American sister (Lauren Betts) awaits every day in practice. These players do not get a lot of real reps versus comparable bigs in their prep careers, understandably. Habits like finishing high or versus contact become paramount. Its real in the paint at the elite levels! Sienna will have to increase her motor even more and finish better in traffic and higher off the glass. She will learn how to fight box outs and attack the offensive glass. As her three-point shot becomes a real weapon, look for that to be a huge asset for them at UCLA.
The shear physical dominance that Sienna Betts brings to the floor is undeniable. She has done it at all levels and at major events up to this point. Just like shooting and true floor generals, the elite big is a valuable asset at the elite levels.
Stock Risers
These players have shown in their respective classes to have taken a jump in their development of which could affect the rankings that are updated in the spring. Some are currently unranked, and some have made their rise from within the rankings.
2026
Kaeli Wynn
6-foot 2 | Wing/Forward | Mater Dei HS (CA)
Wynn has always played hard and shown she is comfortable all over the basketball court. She is now playing with a competitive edge that brings a confidence to the floor for her team. She is using her physicality around the rim for rebounds and post ups and finishing better than ever. She has a high release on her jumper that she gets off rather quickly – and she will let shots fly. She has an advanced handle for a wing/forward and in regards to IQ and the understanding of the details of a game plan, she is a coach’s kid – so she is well ahead of many with those intangibles.
As her shooting becomes more efficient percentage-wise and she learns to really get down and play lower defensively, look for her versatility to flourish. She is a major stock riser.
Olivia Jones
6-foot | Guard | Long Island Lutheran (NY)
Fun fact about Olivia Jones: she does not turn 16 until this month. So, basically, she could be in the class of 2027. She is one of the most productive players in this class at one of the most elite programs in the country. Let that sink in when picturing her on the floor. Jones has been a steady riser and has had a strong fundamental base of skills for a few years. She is now gaining strength and it has given her a boost in the areas of athleticism, speed, and quickness. She’s added some shake off the dribble, is quicker off the bounce, and is taking sharper angles to get by defenders. Over the course of last spring and summer, she found consistency from the three. She is now complementing that improvement by being more effective attacking close outs and finishing with an expanded package.
Jones has a steadiness and leadership intangible that bring confidence to teams. She plays multiple positions on the perimeter and as she refines how to attack out of ball screens and the finer art of reading layers of defense, look for her game to continue its steady rise.
Emily McDonald
6-foot | Wing | Long Island Lutheran (NY)
Another outstanding player from Long Island Lutheran, McDonald burst on the scene with many college programs in fall workouts at her high school. Known to have some of the better practices in the country, Long Island Lutheran hosted all of the major programs at some point or another in their pre-season resulting in a major uptick in recruitment for Emily.
McDonald is a long shooter with range. She hunts shots well and makes a point to get out and run the lanes hard in transition as well as relocate in the half court to put herself in position for open catch and shoot opportunities. She has consistent shot preparation with her footwork and quick release that separates her amongst the elite in the country. Emily has a nice slashing ability as well utilizing her length at the rim well. Defensively, she has shown she can guard from the point guard to the occasional stretch forward on the floor.
Look for her to continue to add to her handle and finishing ability at the rim as her recruitment continues to heat up into the summer.
More 2026 Names to Remember:
Ashlinn James (Film)
5-foot 8 | Assumption HS (KY) | Indiana commit
A quick guard who plays the game with a lot of enthusiasm, look for James to have a breakout spring and summer.
Gigi Battle
5-foot 11 | Guard | DME Academy (FL)
She has improved in all areas of the game and is showing valuable versatility as a scorer and playmaker for DME.
Atlee Vanesko
5-foot 11 | Guard | Westtown (PA)
Vanesko can flat out shoot the ball – and she plays to her strengths which makes her a valuable role playing target in the class.
2027
Jemini Mitchell
6-foot 1 | Wing | Cy Springs (TX)
Mitchell is one of those hybrid wing/forwards who is comfortable all over the floor. She has some old school elements to her game in that she keeps things fundamentally sound – posting up smaller defenders and utilizing simple rip and go and counters to get by defenders with minimal dribbles. She is an excellent shooter beyond the arc, so she plays well out of the shot fake and uses the gravity she creates to attack close-outs well. Jemini has a savviness about her game that keeps her poised on the court in big moments and as she carries a large production load for her team.
As she continues to develop, playing lower defensively for Mitchell will be key. Versatility in offensive skill is valuable, but that defensive versatility – handling the perimeter quickness while also defending bigger forwards – is very important for the elite players.
Amelia Sow
6-foot 1 | Forward | Seminaire Saint-Francois (Ontario, Canada)
Sow had been creating buzz amongst college coaches in the fall from some events in Canada and then she had a particular breakout weekend at She Got Game Classic – DC. She displayed an extremely skilled game as a strong wing/forward all weekend long. Immediately noticeable as a quality shooter, Sow showed she can facilitate at an advanced level as a quality passer. She maps the floor well, sees plays before they happen, and has a high basketball IQ evidenced by how she plays with and without the ball in her hands.
Jordan Speller
5-foot 6 | Point Guard | Grace Christian Sanford (NC)
Speller is a high energy point guard. She has long had a reputation for being an intense on-ball defender, but is adding game management elements to her game and it makes the game easier for teammates. Jordan is explosive off the bounce and combined with her quickness and handle, it is tough to keep in front of her defensively. She has learned how to compliment her drives to the rim with penetration and creation of opportunities for teammates – showing improved decision making and reading of the floor.
Speller has improved her shooting and can still make acrobatic plays at the rim. She is a dynamic small guard who is still relentless on the ball defensively. As she continues to improve her effectiveness in the half court to go along with her transition attack, look for her value in recruiting to continue to rise.
More 2027 Names to Remember:
Micah Ojo
6-foot 1 | Guard | Princess Anne HS (VA)
Ojo will make a run at one of the top spots in this class sooner rather than later. Her length, athleticism, and skills are well above the majority of this class. Somehow, she is not talked about a lot, but that will change soon.
Avery Arije
6-foot | Point Guard | Crestwood Prep (CAN)
Arije is turning into a big solid lead guard and generating more and more buzz with college coaches.
Neveah Roberson
6-foot 2 | Forward | Bishop McNamara (MD)
Roberson has elite level athleticism and mobility. She will end up a very valuable forward who will be able to defend anyone in this class.
2028
It is still a little early to give a complete evaluation on this class as they are in their first varsity experience for most. They do not all get the opportunity to play national schedules like some of their peers. After mentioning the above Ontario Christian freshmen in Sydney Douglas (6-foot 5 Forward) and Tatianna Griffin (6-foot Guard), there has been some buzz created by a few others.
Ella Peper
6-foot 4 | Wing/Forward | Dexter Southfield (MA)
Peper is a promising prospect because of her combination of size and skill. She has a strong frame and can shoot the ball with range with extreme confidence. She is agile at the forward spot and, with time, could end up a big wing as long as she can defend opposing wings as well. Peper will need to embrace the physicality the game will demand of her sooner rather than later. She tends to float to the perimeter too much and she will be tasked with rebounding and defending more of a variety of players soon enough.
Chloe Johnson
5-foot 11 | Guard | Duluth Marshall (MN)
Chloe Johnson has all the answers in terms of fundamental skills. She has had some very high scoring affairs as a freshman in high school this season. Johnson shoots the ball with range, has a strong frame, and handles the ball with poise. She has shown she is a smart decision maker and passer. She will be tasked with guarding more athletic players this summer and is now well known on the circuits, so she will see a lot of attention from opposing teams.
More 2028 Names to Remember:
Zaire Hatter
5-foot 8 | Guard | Desert Vista HS (AZ)
Hatter is getting attention outside of her region for her aggressive play off the bounce – one to monitor for sure.
Jhaliana Guy
5-foot 9 | Guard | Bettendorf HS (IA)
Guy has the tools to be an elite point guard and is on many radars. This will be a big spring and summer for her.
Nyajuacni Riak
6-foot 2 | Forward | La Follette HS (WI)
Riak is a smooth and skilled forward who is better every time we see her. She scored 48 points in her high school debut.