Fort Worth-area high school girls basketball: 30 players to watch in 2024-25 season
The Texas girls high school basketball season is ramping up.
Here are 30 players to watch from the greater Fort Worth-area.
Boswell
Camille Williams, Sr., PG - Williams, a Miami commit, is the No. 1 girls high school basketball player to watch in the greater Fort Worth area.
Williams will lead Boswell, a team with high expectations this season. She is the No. 36 recruit in the ESPNW top 100 recruits nationwide rankings and the only player from the Fort Worth area to be included in the top 50 players.
As a junior, she was named the Star-Telegram’s Player of the Year, leading the Pioneers to the regional finals. Williams earned District 3-6A MVP honors en route to All-State and All-Region. She recently added a BeYoutiful Classic MVP trophy to her long list of accomplishments.
Williams averages 17 points per game, seven rebounds, four assists and five steals.
Haleigh Jackson, Sr., G - Jackson, a transfer, had to sit out last season due to a district executive committee ruling. She is now ready to play for the Pioneers and is off to a fast start.
She has a Northwestern offer and made the BeYoutiful Classic All-Tournament Team. Jackson averages 18.3 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and four steals.
Salena Carrasco, Jr., PG - Carrasco is a two time First Team All-District selection. She recently made the BeYoutiful Classic All-Tournament Team. Carrasco has offers fromACU, UTEP, TAMU Corpus and West Point, and she currently averages nine points, three rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Sydney Durrah, Soph., PG - Durrah was a key force in the 2024 playoffs, earning Star-Telegram Newcomer of the Year honors. She was named to the All-Region Team and also earned District 3-6A Newcomer of the Year honors.
She averages 13.4 points, three rebounds and two assists.
Seleste Massey, Soph., G - Massey suffered a torn ACL her freshman year and is back as productive player for Boswell. She has interest from elite college from such as SMU and Oklahoma State and averages 11.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, two assists and three steals.
South Grand Prairie
Taylor Barnes, Sr., G - Barnes, a Cal commit, is one of the highest-rated recruits in Texas. ESPN ranks her as the No. 72 recruit nationwide. Barnes was a focal point in the 33-win state semifinal season for the Warriors.
FW Arlington Heights
A’nyah Ivory, Sr., PG - Ivory earned First Team All-District honors last season. According to coach Tamarah Sanders, she is a top defender on the team. She also averages 4.5 assists and three steals per game.
Ni’Ja Washington, Jr., Post - Washington was the leading offensive player in Heights’ district last season, according to Sanders. It earned her First Team All-District honors. She is currently averaging 23 points and 12 rebounds, and she had a 33-point game vs. Eastern Hills.
FW Benbrook
Grace Elizabeth Klaerner, Soph., F/G - Klaerner, in the same season, juggles both basketball and soccer. She is a starter for both teams and serves as the basketball team’s captain. She averages 15 points per game and is a District 8-4A leader in steals and a team leader in three-point field goals.
Benbrook head coach Esoleta Lofton said she is a “tenacious worker” who leads by example.
Brewer
Aolani Woldai, Sr., PG - Woldai, a UTEP commit, is a four-year varsity starter. She earned Newcomer of the Year honors as a freshman. As a junior and a sophomore, she earned All-District First Team honors.
Brewer coach Teranie Lewis said Woldai, with a 5-foot-6 frame, is expected to lead the Bears and is a hard worker and defensive stopper. Lewis added she can get to the rim, shoot the mid range and the three-ball, and will also do tough jobs with good speed and the ability to play hard.
Julie Kasonga, Sr., F - Kasonga, a Texas Woman’s University commit, is a four-year varsity starter. Lewis said she also expects Kasonga, with a 6-foot frame, to be a team leader. She earned First Team All-District honors as a freshman, sophomore, and junior.
Lewis said she can play well in the post and the wing, and she can also shoot from the mid-range and beyond the arc. Lewis mentioned she is versatile and keeps the team organized.
Colleyville Heritage
Samari Stevenson, Jr., F - Stevenson will serve as one of Colleyville Heritage’s leaders this season. She averages 14 points, 11 rebounds, two steals, two blocks and an assist.
Byron Nelson
Belle Ratliff, Jr., F - Ratliff, with a 6-foot-3 frame, earned Newcomer of the Year and All-District First Team honors as a freshman. As a sophomore, she suffered a torn ACL, playing in eight games.
Now, Ratliff is back as one of Byron Nelson’s leaders. She has offers from UTSA and George Washington. She is currently averaging 18.9 points per game, 11 rebounds and 2.1 blocks.
Berkley Smith, G, Fr. - Smith is a newcomer to watch this season and is expected to play an important role for Byron Nelson. She already has a school record to her name with eight assists vs. Royse City.
Against Lake Highlands, Smith scored a career-high 22 points and also added seven rebounds. She is currently averaging 13 points per game. Coach Tracie Robbins said Smith is a versatile player with a deadly three-point shooting ability that can stretch beyond the arc and great potential.
Kinsey Morris, Jr., G - Morris has been a productive player for the Bobcats, earning All-District honors the past two seasons. As a sophomore, she averaged 10.9 points, 2.4 rebounds and two assists while hitting 64 three-pointers.
Northwest Eaton
Taylor Reed, Jr., Post - Reed earned District 4-6A First Team All-District honors as a sophomore. Now, she is averaging 14 points and 10 rebounds per game. Head coach Rusty Johnson said she will be on college radars due to size, speed and strength.
Mika Welsh, Jr., G - As a sophomore, Welsh earned District 4-6A First Team honors. She is currently averaging 17 points per game and 3.5 steals.
Johnson said she is an elite scorer with great athleticism and skill.
Mansfield Legacy
Madison Crawford, Jr., G - Crawford is a scoring machine for Legacy, averaging 20 points per game. She is also leading the team with four rebounds a contest.
Hurst L.D. Bell
Madi Capers, Jr., Post - Capers, with a 6-foot-2 frame, averaged nine points and 5.4 rebounds in a 30 win season for the Blue Raiders as a sophomore. Now, she is back with more experience.
Jayda James, Sr., F - James is one of Bell’s standout seniors. As a junior, she averaged 3.5 points and 6.5 rebounds.
Hannah Due, Jr., G - Due gained valuable varsity experience as a sophomore, averaging 7.7 points and 2.4 assists. Expect her to have a big role in the Blue Raider offense as a junior.
Lake Worth
Jacquline Cleveland, Sr., G - As a junior, Cleveland led the Bullfrogs in scoring with 458 total points en route to a First Team All-District selection. She was a great defender as well, tallying 76 steals, 52 deflections, and 16 blocks.
As a senior, she averages 18 points per game and 2.5 steals. She recently reached the 1,000-point milestone for her career and broke the school record for three-pointers in a game with six.
Lake Worth coach John Ladd said she is a threat to score anywhere on the court and embraces the role as the Bullfrogs’ leader. Cleveland has no offers, but Ladd expects her to play at the next level.
Argyle
Kennedy Hafer, Sr., G - Hafer, a Lehigh University commit, is a team captain and a returning starter. She averages 12 points, five assists and four rebounds.
Wrigley Green, Soph., Guard - Green returns to Argyle after receiving starting experience as a freshman. SHe averages 15 points and seven rebounds.
Landry Murphy, Soph., G - Murphy, a two year starter, has multiple Division One offers. She averages eight points, seven rebounds and three steals.
Brooklynn Northeim, Sr., F - Northeim will bring senior experience to Argyle and has started for the Eagles for two seasons. She averages five points and five rebounds.
Everman
Melissa Gutierrez, Sr., Post - As a junior, Gutierrez earned First Team All-District honors with multiple double-doubles. She averages 10 points and eight rebounds. Head coach Tiffany Miller said she is super coachable and hard working.
Chasia Allen, Fr., G - Expect Allen to make an impact as a freshman. Miller said she is explosive to the rim and a good shooter. She averages 10-12 points per game.
Harli Clark, Jr., PG - As a sophomore, Clark earned First Team All-District and Defensive Player of the Year honors. She averages eight points and four steals per game.
Ayana Alvarez-Holmes, Sr., G - Miller said Alvarez-Holmes, who earned First Team All-District honors as a junior, is a strong shooter.
Note to coaches: Miss your chance to nominate? Send an email to High School Sports Editor Charles Baggarly at cbaggarly@star-telegram.com.
This story was originally published December 11, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
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