MaxPreps 2016-17 Preseason Girls Basketball All-American Teams

Video: Megan Walker highlights
See the nation's top recruit in action for Monacan High in Virginia.

Girls basketball season is heating up across the nation. Here are some of the top players in America, ones to keep an eye out for once postseason accolades come about.


First team
Chennedy Carter, Mansfield Timberview (Arlington, Texas) - Committed to Texas A&M
5-7 | Senior | Point guard

Carter started this season off with a bang by hanging 40 points on No. 13 Duncanville in a one-point overtime win, but she's more than a one-game wonder. She's a stalwart for USA Basketball and combines quickness, strength, explosion and a high basketball IQ in a single package.

Aquira DeCosta, St. Mary's (Stockton, Calif.) - Uncommitted
6-2 | Junior | Forward

Like Carter, DeCosta is a USA Basketball veteran and remains the anchor for St. Mary's, which was No. 1 most of last season before getting upset in the playoffs and is still one of the top teams in California. DeCosta is long, left-handed and unstoppable around the basket, and perhaps the most athletic frontcourt player in the country.

Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Winder-Barrow (Winder, Ga.) - Uncommitted
6-4 | Junior | Forward

An explosive leaper and outstanding defender, Nelson-Ododa has pushed her way onto the first team with steady development at the offensive end. She has a soft touch close to the basket and is very comfortable in transition, but it's a measure of her talent that even though she's yet to become an elite scorer, she's still considered one of the best five in the nation.

Megan Walker, Monacan (Richmond, Va.) - UConn
6-1 | Senior | Wing

Walker is the consensus No. 1 in the Class of 2017, and for good reason. She has the complete package - size, skill, athleticism - and is a competitor as well. The only thing that's missing is a consistent stroke from 3-point distance, but remember, Maya Moore didn't have that shot coming out of high school either.

Evina Westbrook, South Salem (Salem) - Tennessee
6-0 | Senior | Guard

Westbrook is much like Walker, including the issue from beyond the arc, but she also has the knack for making big shots when her team needs them most. And at 6-0, she's a tall guard who can handle, distribute and make good decisions as well as putting the ball in the basket on a regular basis.

Second team

Rellah Boothe, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) - Texas
6-1 | Senior | Forward

When inspired, Boothe is unstoppable. She's strong, skilled, athletic and can take over a game in the paint, but she doesn't necessarily show all of those attributes every game. If she adds that kind of consistency, she will be on the first team by season's end.

Charli Collier, Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu, Texas) - Uncommitted
6-4 | Junior | Post

Collier is a talented, powerful post who, like many taller players, has kept improving through her high school career - and she has one more season to go. Collier is a presence in the paint at both ends, though her offense is a little behind her defense.

Anastasia Hayes, Riverdale (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) - Tennessee
5-7 | Senior | Guard

There are a lot of 20-point scorers at the high school level, and some point guards can match Hayes' 6.5 assists a game (though not many). But the list of players who average seven steals a game is a lot shorter, and given Riverdale's national-level schedule, that's an incredible accomplishment. Expect more of the same this season.

Chasity Patterson, North Shore (Houston) - Texas
5-6 | Senior | Guard

Patterson's range opens up the floor for her, as her deep 3-pointers make it almost impossible to contain her. She's a scoring playmaker with quickness, which explains her 24.5 points per game, 5.6 apg, 5.2 spg and 4.6 rpg last year for 36-2 North Shore. In short, she's the real deal.

Christyn Williams, Central Arkansas Christian (North Little Rock, Ark.) - Uncommitted
5-11 | Junior | Guard

It never hurts to be left-handed, but when that defender-befuddling trait is combined with size (5-11), strength, skill and athleticism, it's just the icing on the cake. Williams isn't afraid of contact, but she can also find an open teammate and orchestrate an offense.

Third team

Samantha Brunelle, Monroe (Stanardsville, Va.) - Uncommitted
6-2 | Sophomore | Forward

The only member of the Class of 2019 to make the list, Brunelle has an excellent touch from beyond the arc to go along with her inside scoring and all-around skills. Brunelle is the whole package and with two more years of high school to improve, she could emerge as the next great female player.

Rennia Davis, Ribault (Jacksonville, Fla.) - Tennessee
6-2 | Senior | Wing

Davis averaged 20 and 10 last year, and capped a superb season with big games at the DICK'S Sporting Goods High School National Tournament. Long and athletic, Davis can get to the rim and has a solid mid-range game, and is also a plus defender.

Andra Espinoza-Hunter, Ossining (N.Y.) - UConn
5-10 | Senior | Guard

Espinoza-Hunter transferred from New Jersey's Blair Academy for her senior year, and she will bring her all-around game to Ossining. She won't dazzle onlookers with fancy moves or long-range 3-point shooting, but she understands the game and uses her size, skill and underrated athleticism to get the job done.

Dana Evans, Gary West Side (Ind.) - Louisville
5-6 | Senior | Guard

You don't have to dig much deeper than the 35.8 points the 5-6 Evans scored on average last year to find a reason why she's an All-American -- but she also shot 48 percent from the field and averaged more than five assists and five steals a game. If you like quick and speedy guards, Evans is your girl.

Michaela Onyenwere, Grandview (Aurora, Colo.) - UCLA
5-11 | Senior | Wing

With 24.5 points and 10.6 rebounds a game, Onyenwere sparked Grandview to a 26-1 season and earned herself a scholarship to UCLA. She doesn't shy from contact and creates mismatches at both ends thanks to her combination of size, strength and athleticism. The only lack is consistency from beyond the arc.