50 Fort Worth-area girls HS basketball players to watch the rest of the season
The Texas high school girls basketball season is well underway, and several Fort Worth-area athletes are leaving their mark.
Introducing the Star-Telegram Girls Basketball Players to Watch. See 50 of the top local hoops players, prospects and undiscovered talent.
Editor’s note: The majority of players to watch are nominated by Fort Worth-area coaches. Statistics shown are as of the time of nomination submission. Top players omitted from the list were not nominated.
Mansfield Lake Ridge
Jazman Bailey, junior G
Bailey, who joined the 1,000-point club on Friday, helped the 2025 USA Women’s under-16 Team take first place at the 2025 FIBA U16 Women’s AmeriCup. She has offers from some of the best in the nation, including SMU, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Alabama and North Carolina. Bailey has led Lake Ridge to a 19-7 record and sits at No. 42 on ESPN’s nationwide top 60 for the class of 2027. She is the only Fort Worth-area player to make the list.
Jada Weaver, sophomore G
Weaver, a standout underclassman with an ability to go for 20 or more on any given night, has been a key contributor for Lake Ridge.
Cleburne
Lily Sheppard, senior F
Sheppard, the 2024-25 District 8-5A Newcomer of the Year, also received all-district and Star-Telegram All-Area honors as a junior at Mansfield Summit. She is leading Cleburne to a stellar 20-8 record (9-0 in district) as a senior.
Izabel Guadamuz, junior G
Cleburne coach Tiffany Hill calls Guadamuz a dynamic point guard who is strong and physical and has good court vision. She helps Cleburne spread the floor with a consistent outside shot.
Arajai Burks, junior G
Hill calls Burks a strong defender who finishes well at the rim and has good court vision and a reliable outside shot. She earned first-team all-district honors as a sophomore.
Lauryn Carrizales, junior F
The 5-foor-10 Carrizales is a physical defender who can play inside. She sees the floor well, helping Cleburne run an efficient, versatile offense.
Fort Worth Polytechnic
Cecilia Aguilar, sophomore SG
Aguilar earned 2024-25 district newcomer of the year honors as a freshman. Now, she is averaging 15 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds for the Parrots.
Kassidy Young, junior SF
Young has been a strong performer, averaging 10 points and 4 rebounds. She has been a standout defender with 6 steals per game.
Fort Worth Benbrook
Grace Klaerner, junior G
Klaerner has been a top scorer for the Bobcats, averaging 15 points. She hit eight 3-pointers in a 26-point performance against Eastern Hills. She holds the Benbrook 3-point scoring record and also thrives on the soccer field.
McKinzie Brookshier, junior F/P
Brookshier, who coach Esoleta Lofton calls the top defender in District 8-4A, is involved in basketball, track, softball and cheerleading while holding a 4.5 weighted GPA. She averages 8 points and 8 rebounds.
Fort Worth Country Day
Ryleigh Hall, junior
Hall, who recently passed 1,000 career points, is an all-around athlete at Country Day. She also plays softball and is committed to continuing her career at Stephen F. Austin; she also plays volleyball. Hall averages 22.6 points, 14.9 rebounds and 5.6 blocks. Coach Shelley Rains calls her an outstanding leader and teammate.
Hurst L.D. Bell
Hannah Due, senior PG
Due has led the way for the Blue Raiders, averaging 12.7 points, 3.3 assists, 3.3 steals and 2.2 rebounds per game.
Fort Worth Wyatt
Trinity Mitchell, senior G/F
Mitchell has been efficient, averaging 16 points, 5 rebounds and 7 steals per game. She has led Wyatt, a playoff hopeful, to an 11-10 record.
Delaney Griggs, senior G/F
Griggs is averaging 11 points, 10 rebounds and 5 steals per game.
Grapevine Faith
Scarlett Bair, senior F
The 6-foot-2 Blair, who reached the 1,000-point mark as a junior, averages a double-double. She has earned first-team all-district honors in consecutive years. She thrives off the court as a member of the National Honor Society with a perfect ACT score and has opportunities to play at the next level but plans to focus on engineering.
Sophia Thomas, freshman G
Thomas has posted multiple double-digit games in her debut varsity season. Watch out for her to keep improving.
Byron Nelson
Berkley Smith, sophomore G
As an underclassman, Smith is already receiving interest from colleges and has an offer from Abilene Christian. She averages 12.3 points, 4.1 assists, 2.3 steals and 3.9 rebounds per game and shoots 31.5% from the 3-point line. As a freshman, she was named the District 4-6A Newcomer of the Year.
Belle Ratliff, senior F/P
Ratliff, a UTEP pledge, has a 6-foot-2 frame. As a junior, she led Byron Nelson to the playoffs and earned District 4-6A MVP honors. As a senior, she is averaging 18.5 points and 9.7 rebounds.
Kinsey Morris, senior G
Morris, a four-year starter, is an East Central University pledge. She is averaging 9.4 points and 2.6 assists, and she has helped spread the floor with 40 3-pointers this season. As a junior, Morris was a first-team all-district selection.
Annabelle Stockton, freshman G
Stockton has shown promise with a game-winning 3-pointer against Keller Central and overall efficient play. She shoots 45% from distance and has made an immediate impact in her first year.
Keller Central
Ava Turner, freshman
Turner is a standout player for the Chargers and one of the top freshmen in the area. She averages 13.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3 steals per game.
Amanda McNary, junior SF/PF
McNary, with a 5-foot-10 frame, averaged 11 points, 5 rebounds, 3.5 steals and five deflections per game.
Saginaw
Shaniah Franklin, junior G
Franklin, a three-year varsity letterman, is averaging 18 points, 4 steal and 4 rebounds per game. She is a leader for the program and is on pace to hit 1,000 points, Rough Riders coach Vance Hughes said.
Brooklyn Monroe, freshman PG/SG
The 5-foot-11 Monroe has made an immediate impact with 14 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 assists per game.
Weatherford
Anaylah Smith, sophomore PG
Smith has been a force for the Roos, averaging 13.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.4 steals per game. She is shooting 52% from the floor.
Maddie Baruch, sophomore G/F
Baruch has been very productive with 11.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 3 steals per game.
Arlington Bowie
Azharia Johnson, junior SF/PF
Johnson, the 2023-24 district newcomer of the year, was out with an injury last season. Now, she is back to lead the Vols and is averaging 14.4 points and 8.4 rebounds in district.
Auviannah Hawkins, senior SG
Hawkins, a first-team all-district selection last season, is averaging 11.2 points and 2.7 steals. She broke the Bowie single game 3-point scoring record with seven.
Jordian Witherspoon, senior SG/SF
Witherspoon has been a key contributor with 11.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per contest.
Boswell
Salena Carrasco, senior G
Carrasco, an Abilene Christian pledge, has been the driving force for the Pioneers as they search for consecutive state titles. Amid a few injuries to key players, she has kept the team afloat with 19 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals per game.
Sydney Durrah, senior G
Durrah, the Star-Telegram Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore and a scrappy defender, is averaging 15 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals following a return from injury earlier in the year.
Addyson Handy, junior G
Handy is garnering Division I interest with a solid stats as a junior, averaging 13 points, 4 rebound, 3.5 assists and 3 steals.
Seleste Massey, junior G/F
Massey, the 2025 Class 6A Division II state championship MVP, averaged 14 points, 6 rebound, 3 assists and 5 steals as a sophomore. She is set to return from injury on Monday.
Southlake Carroll
Whitney Jense, junior G
Jense is an all-around top player for the Dragons, who are ranked No. 6 in the state in Class 6A. She leads the team with 18.2 points per game and has also posted team highs in rebounding and assists.
Angelina Bouley, sophomore G
Bouley is the Dragons’ No. 2 scorer with a 12.6 points per game. She is a threat from beyond the arc with 69 3-pointers this season.
Payton Lee, senior G
As a senior, Lee brings experience, effort and production. She plays a key role with 5.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.
Azle
Angel Sifuentes, sophomore G
Sifuentes is leading the Hornets with 70 3 pointers on the season.
Grapevine
Myleigh Gomez, senior G
Gomez, also a track runner, leads the Mustangs with 9.2 points per contest and also averages 2.1 assists and 2.6 steals.
Victoria Carnevali, sophomore G/F
Carnevali, a talented underclassman, is a key contributor for the ‘Stangs with 7.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
Adia Stull, junior G
Within a well-rounded offense, Stull averaged 7.2 points and grabs 3.2 rebounds per contest.
North Crowley
Jamari Milton, senior G
Jamari Milton, with a 5-foot-8 frame, has been a key player in an incredibly strong season for No. 2 North Crowley. In 2024, Milton averaged 11.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2 steals.
Mecca Crawford, senior PF
Crawford, a 6-foot-3 forward and post, averaged 10.8 points and 6.35 rebounds per game for the Panthers in 2024. She made the TABC all-region team, helping lead North Crowley to the regional finals.
Decatur
Bralyn Peck, senior PF
After a state championship run in 2025, Peck is back and thriving with 18.2 points per game on an efficient 59% shooting. She also leads the team in rebounding with 6.4 per game. Peck is committed to Oklahoma State and is the only Fort Worth-area recruit with a three-star ranking.
Style Brazile, sophomore G
Brazile, one of the most productive underclassmen in the area, is back with the Eagles after a wildly productive debut season that helped capture a state title. She is averaging 15.9 points and a team-high 4.9 assists and 2.7 steals.
Lake Worth
Aliyah Salas, junior G
Salas is one of the top scorers in the area with 16.9 points per game and is also a scrappy defender with 3.5 steals. Earlier this season, she set school records with 40 points and 13 steals in a game.
Colleyville Heritage
Samari Stevenson, senior SF/G
Stevenson is the go-to scorer for the Panthers at a team-high 14 points per game. She is also an elite rebounder with 11.2 per contest and a scrappy defender with 3 steals and 1.9 blocks per game.
Fort Worth North Side
Briana Rodriguez, senior
After just four wins last season, the Steers are improving, and Rodriguez is leading the way as one of the squad’s top scorers (6.2 points per game).
Mansfield Legacy
Madi Crawford, senior G
Crawford earned Star-Telegram All-Area First Team honors in 2025 with a 20-point average. She is committed to Charleston.
Keller Timber Creek
Jillian Topping, senior G/F
After a junior season that saw her earn TABC all-region honors, Topping is averaging 12 points to lead the way for the Falcons.
Aledo
Elizabeth Griffin, senior G
Griffin was a force as a junior, averaging 13 points to lead Aledo to its first girls basketball regional semifinal since 2015. Now, the Bearcats are in position to make another run with a No. 15 ranking in Class 5A.
This story was originally published January 29, 2026 at 4:30 AM.
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