EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsHow do the best girls' high school players stack up against each other?Four NCAA live periods have come and gone, and this summer's circuit champions have been crowned in the EYBL (Sports Academy Swish), Under Armour Next (Northwest Blazers), adidas 3ssb (7 Days) and Select Power 24 (YKS).The players on this top 25 list are all winners, with multiple accomplishments to their name, whether on the high school, club circuit, international stage -- or some combination of the three.Through the lens of performance metrics, the old-fashioned eye test and the intangibles -- with an emphasis on projections, particularly for the younger classes -- here are the best of the best future college and pro women's basketball players.New, updated player rankings:2027 SC Next 100 | 2028 SC Next 60 | 2029 SC Next 251. Kaleena Smith, 2027 | PG | Uncommitted2027 SC Next 100 ranking: 1Smith has been the best player in the country since her sophomore year. She led Ontario Christian to the CIF Open Division Championship in March, with averages most players dream of: 31.5 points, 6.9 assists, 54% shooting from the field, 38% from 3. She also recently won a gold medal with Team USA at the FIBA U18 AmeriCup, averaging 19.8 points and 6.4 assists and being named to the All Star Five. She topped off the summer with the adidas 3ssb championship after leading the circuit in scoring -- including a 40-piece in the final. This is the best player in the country in high school basketball.Recruitment updates: UConn, USC, UCLA, Notre Dame, Baylor, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Louisville, LSU, Cal, Oklahoma, Georgia, Washington and Arizona State are all in the mix. Smith will visit many of these programs over the next couple of months.2. Ivanna Wilson Manyacka, 2027 | W | Uncommitted2027 SC Next 100 ranking: 2Wilson Manyacka had a stellar junior season, leading Bullis to Chipotle Nationals bid after defeating traditional hoops powerhouses Long Island Lutheran and Bishop McNamara. In her third consecutive USA Basketball junior national team call-up in July, she won a gold medal at the U17 FIBA Women's World Cup behind 12.9 points and 1.7 assists, and was named MVP of the tournament. With improvements to her half court game, she could impact the floor even more than she does now.Recruitment updates: Manyacka has visits set with LSU, Notre Dame, Duke and potentially Texas in September; North Carolina, UCLA and Maryland in October; and UConn in November.3. Caroline Bradley, 2027| P | LSU commit2027 SC Next 100 ranking: 3Bradley continues to be the best post in the country with her mix of physical strength and overall skill. On top of that, she's turned into a consistent 3-point shooter and added to her mobility. Bradley was named to Team USA for the U17 FIBA World Cup, winning gold in the Czech Republic in July despite playing limited minutes due to a shoulder injury. Her reliability and drive to continuously improve are major strengths. She was the first five-star player off the board, staying in-state to play for Kim Mulkey.4. Jezelle Banks, 2027 | PG | Uncommitted2027 SC Next 100 ranking: 4Point guards are a premium, and Banks is one of the best in the country. She has the ball on a string, and with improved shooting has enhanced her ability to get by defenders. She's a wizard finishing off the glass and throws accurate passes on the regular. A member of the USA Basketball team that won the FIBA U18 AmeriCup in June, look for her stock to continue rising as she shows she can close big games and truly lead a team in the intangibles department.Recruiting updates: There was a rumor in late spring that Banks had made her college decision, but we are yet to see any official announcement. In the meantime, she has set visits to Texas, South Carolina, LSU and Ohio State.5. Eve Long, 2027 | F | Notre Dame commit2027 SC Next 100 ranking: 5Long improved her game in all areas this past season after winning a gold medal with Team USA in the U16 AmeriCup last summer. Her skill and fluidity made her one of the most hotly recruited prospects in the country. This spring she dominated the adidas 3SSB circuit, which included a 52-point outbreak against No. 1 recruit Kaleena Smith. She then joined the U17 USA Basketball team that won the gold medal last month, averaging 12 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists. There's still another shelf to reach for Long, in terms of her rebounding and consistent assertiveness defensively on the biggest stages. She's one of five five-star recruits already committed to a program for the 2027-28 season.6. Micah Ojo, 2027 | W | Uncommitted2027 SC Next 100 ranking: 6One of the more complete players in the country, Ojo led Princess Anne High School to another Virginia state championship this past season. Then she made her second consecutive appearance with the USA Basketball junior national team, averaging 11 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.1 steals with 42.9% 3-point shooting at the U17 FIBA World Cup. She won a gold medal and was named to the event's second team in the process. Ojo followed that up by leading YKS to the Power 24 circuit championship in July. Her overall skill and versatility separate her from the pack immensely.Recruitment updates: Ojo has yet to set official visits, but her recruitment involves programs like Maryland, UConn, Notre Dame, South Carolina and Duke.7. Jordyn Palmer, 2027 | W | Uncommitted2027 SC Next 100 ranking: 7Palmer is cool and comfortable all over the floor and can play multiple positions. She's an outstanding rebounder, and her natural feel for finishing around the basket is elite. This summer, she won a gold medal and was named MVP of the U18 FIBA AmeriCup after averaging 18.8 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.2 steals for Team USA. She also won the Mamba Invitational with Team Relentless and Overtime Select with team Cold Hearts. As Palmer gets more comfortable from beyond the arc and finds more usage of her left hand, her game will only grow.Recruitment updates: Palmer has official visits set with South Carolina and Ohio State, and looks likely to visit UCLA, with other program visits possibly pending.8. Tatianna Griffin, 2028 | G | Uncommitted2028 SC Next 60 ranking: 1The No. 1 player in the 2028 class, Griffin combines grace and power like no other player in the country, with an ability to initiate offense but also slide over to be a primary scorer. She was a member of the U17 FIBA Women's Cup gold medal-winning Team USA, and followed that up with leading her Sports Academy Swish team to the EYBL championship -- including a 22-point first half outburst in the semifinals. She recently transferred to Mater Dei (CA) for the next phase of her high school career.Recruitment process: Griffin has not released an official list but is being recruited by every major program in the country.9. Haylen Ayers, 2027 | G | Uncommitted2027 SC Next 100 ranking: 8A multisport star, Ayers continues to solidify herself as the best all around guard in the 2027 class. She has a mature game and she can hunt her shot in any system out there. She won gold with Team USA at the FIBA U18 AmeriCup in June as well, averaging 8.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3 assists. With her ability to use screens to get open and complement the long range threat with a quality mid-range game, she will be a high-level addition to any program.Recruitment process: Ayers' top five includes Texas, Vanderbilt, Duke, Kentucky and UConn.10. Chloe Johnson, 2028 | PG | Uncommitted2028 SC Next 60 ranking: 2Johnson is a sturdy, strong-bodied guard with an all-around game. She can play big at the point guard spot with her facilitation instinct and floor vision, or become the aggressive primary perimeter scoring option -- solid defensively at both spots. This past season she averaged 31.3 points, 11.3 rebounds and 5 assists, while at Nike Nationals she put up 17 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. She has to clean up her three-point shooting on elite floors as well as her free throw percentage overall. Johnson recently announced she would be transferring to Proctor High School (MN).Recruitment process: Her schools of interest include UConn, USC, Baylor, Duke, Iowa, Iowa State, Vanderbilt, North Carolina, Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska, Kentucky, South Carolina, UCLA, Maryland and Notre Dame. She also recently picked up offers from Texas, Cal, Kansas State and Georgia.11. Sydney Savoury, 2027 | G | Uncommitted2027 SC Next 100 ranking: 9Savoury can flat out score. She averaged 23.7 points -- along with 5.9 rebounds and 2 assists -- on the Nike EYBL circuit, including shooting 44% from beyond the arc. She is smooth with the ball and able to create her shot in any conditions, using her physicality and fundamental handle plus her ability to elevate and play with contact. She is another member of the USA Basketball team that won gold in the FIBA U18 AmeriCup.Recruitment process: Savoury's final six schools are Duke, Texas, North Carolina, UConn, UCLA and Notre Dame.12. Qandace Samuels, 2027 | G | Uncommitted2027 SC Next 100 ranking: 10Samuels has had a fantastic calendar year. Her Team Takeover squad won the 2025 Nike Nationals; her high school team, Bishop McNamara, held the No. 1 spot in the country for several weeks. A high energy wing, she's a long, agile defender who has made major strides in her rebounding. She averaged 16.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in the first three stops on the Nike EYBL circuit. In fact, her true shooting percentage as well as her usage rate and her overall statistical impact have increased in each of her seasons in the EYBL, according to Cerebro Sports.Recruitment updates: Samuels has official visits set up with Virginia Tech, Vanderbilt, Texas, Rutgers and LSU. NC State, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Alabama are still in the mix.13. Nation Williams, 2027 | F | Uncommitted2027 SC Next 100 ranking: 11Williams is one of the most physical players in the country. She bullies opponents around the rim and dominates on the boards. She has a gold medal with USA Basketball from last year's U16 FIBA AmeriCup competition, and ran it back with the U17 FIBA Women's World Cup, where her late-game heroics against Spain helped Team USA squad bring home the gold. On the adidas 3SSB circuit, she averaged 19.5 points and 10.9 rebounds on 38.8% shooting from the field. She's showing occasional signs of expanding her offensive game but must show more improvement.Recruitment process: Williams' final list consists of Duke, LSU, Iowa, North Carolina, Louisville, Michigan, Washington, UCLA, Baylor and Notre Dame.14. Lauren Hassell, 2027 | W | Vanderbilt commit2027 SC Next 100 ranking: 12Hassell is an extremely productive forward with a high motor who excels on the glass. She is a quality passer and has expanded her ability to knock down 3-pointers. Her defensive tenacity stands out on the floor. She missed the spring and summer after having ankle surgery, but also committed to Vanderbilt in late May.15. Nyajuacni Riak, 2028 | W | Uncommitted2028 SC Next 60 ranking: 3Riak was arguably the country's biggest stockriser, regardless of class, in the spring. She added details to her handle, physicality to her defense, and range to her shooting. She made major leaps in her handle, physicality defensively and shooting range during the high school season, through two NCAA eval periods and the USA Basketball trials in May. She ultimately made the U17 FIBA Women's World Cup team and helped the team win a gold medal. As one of the younger players in the 2028 class, expect more physical development from her -- and for her to eventually challenge for the No. 1 spot.Recruitment updates: Duke, UConn, Florida, Wisconsin, Illinois, LSU, Maryland, Michigan, Kansas, USC, Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Rutgers, Iowa, Arizona, Minnesota and Arizona State are all in the mix, with Riak planning to significantly trim the list down later this summer.16. Ryan Carter, 2027 | G | Uncommitted2027 SC Next 100 ranking: 13Carter is an intense, physical guard who attacks the rim aggressively. She applies great ball pressure defensively and has great instincts on that side of the floor to disrupt opponents. She has had to take on more of a primary lead guard role in high school and on the club circuit this season, which helped her game mature. She won gold with the USA U18 team in Mexico. She wrapped up the EYBL season averaging 14 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in Chicago.Recruitment updates: Carter has official visits set with Indiana, North Carolina, Duke and Notre Dame, and could possibly add more to the calendar.17. Jayla Forbes, 2027 | P | Texas commit2027 SC Next 100 ranking: 14Forbes is the prototypical true center. She carves out space well in the post and runs the floor well. As a rising senior, it is time for her to really assert herself offensively by finishing better -- something she is fully capable of doing. She helped Team USA win gold at the FIBA U18 AmeriCup before committing to the Longhorns in July. She followed that up with an EYBL Final 4 appearance to finish the summer.18. Ashley MacCalla, 2027 | W | Uncommitted2027 SC Next 100 ranking: 15MacCalla has had a tremendous EYBL season with her Exodus squad. At The St. James Performance Academy (VA), she focused on skill development, becoming a springy, confrontational defender who rebounds well for her wing position. Her shooting has improved in all aspects as well. She averaged 13.9 points, 5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game on the Nike EYBL circuit through three stops and finished with 15 points a game at Nike Nationals.Recruitment updates: MacCalla has visits set with Cal, Rutgers, LSU and Oklahoma, and is looking to possibly add more to Virginia, Miami, South Carolina and Texas.19. Avery Arije, 2027 | G | Uncommitted2027 SC Next 100 ranking: 16Arije has been a mainstay on the Canadian junior national team for the past few years. She has a mature game and is an exceptional big guard who can initiate offense and create her own scoring opportunities. With Team Canada at the FIBA U17 World Cup, she averaged 12.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists. She followed that up with a particularly strong performance in the 3ssb semifinals, with 28 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists, 54.5% shooting from the field and 4 of 5 3-pointers.Recruitment updates: Arije has official visits scheduled with Notre Dame, Duke, Cal, Penn State, Maryland and Baylor.20. Miciah Fusilier, 2027 | F | Baylor commit2027 SC Next 100 ranking: 17Fusilier's talent has been undeniable in flashes across a handful of the circuits. She had breakout games last summer on the Power 24 circuit, then moved to the adidas 3SSB circuit to start the spring, before finishing the summer on the EYBL circuit. Somewhere in between, she turned on, particularly in EYBL's Las Vegas and Chicago stops: Her usage went down, but her production went up with a true shooting percentage hovering around the 65% mark. She attacked the rim, shot the ball well from deep, and showed valuable facilitation elements. She committed to the Bears in early spring.21. Sydney Douglas, 2028 | F | Uncommitted2028 SC Next 60 ranking: 4Douglas is a smooth, skilled rising junior with forward game and post size. She has a natural touch on her jumper and is seemingly automatic from the free throw line. She's been part of two gold medal-winning USA Basketball teams -- at the 2025 U19 FIBA Women's World Cup and the 2026 U18 FIBA AmeriCup -- and also won the 2026 CIF Division 1 state championship with Centennial High School. Despite these accomplishments, she has yet to reach her full potential, and needs more active, multiple-effort performances that are typically demanded of high-profile versatile forwards at the next level and beyond.Recruitment updates: Douglas has offers from schools like Vanderbilt, Arizona, Cal, Arizona State, UCLA, Louisville, North Carolina, USC, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Colorado, Ohio State, Georgia Tech, Oregon, Iowa, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Tennessee, Maryland, Virginia Tech, Florida State, Texas A&M and Baylor.22. Morghan Reckley, 2028 | PG | Uncommitted2028 SC Next 60 ranking: 5Reckley is a dynamic point guard with the ball on a string and excellent court vision. She's also a savvy, if sometimes undisciplined, defender. Reckley has been part of two gold medal-winning USA Basketball teams: at last summer's U16 FIBA AmeriCup, and at this summer's U17 FIBA Women's World Cup, where she averaged 8.1 points and 5 assists. On the Nike EYBL circuit, through the first two stops, she averaged 17.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.6 assists with her team, AEBL. She must improve on her turnovers as she continues to level up.Recruitment updates: Reckley is considering programs across the country, including South Carolina, Baylor, UCLA, Texas, North Carolina, Tennessee, USC, LSU, Maryland, Ole Miss, Virginia, Florida, Notre Dame, Mississippi State, NC State, Alabama, Michigan, Oklahoma, Illinois, Rutgers and West Virginia, among others.23. Kristen Winston, 2029 | G | Uncommitted2029 SC Next 25 ranking: 1Winston had a strong club season with AL Southern Starz after winning an Alabama state championship with Hoover High School: In her EYBL 17U debut in April, she averaged 19 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3 assists and nearly 3 steals on 53% shooting from the field, 52.6% from 3 and 79% from the free throw line. At Nike Nationals in Chicago, she averaged 17.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists. The No. 1 prospect in the 2029 class, Winston has a mature game, and no glaring weaknesses -- outside of being turnover-prone. As she learns to read layers of defense to complement her playmaking instinct, she can become an even more complete guard.Recruitment updates: Winston's offers currently include: Kentucky, Texas, Ohio State, Baylor, Indiana, Missouri, Alabama, North Carolina, Rutgers, Indiana, Auburn, SMU, Georgia, Arizona State, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Maryland, Texas Tech, Michigan, Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech, Clemson, Florida State and Michigan State.24. Reece Gilpatrick, 2028 | F | Uncommitted2028 SC Next 60 ranking: 6Gilpatrick is the quintessential stretch forward whose advanced footwork will allow her to be able to play out of a lot of schemes both offensively and defensively. Another member of last year's gold medal winning U16 USA Basketball team, she added to her continual development this summer as the cornerstone of her club program, Colorado Hoopsters, while her sister, Paige, headed to Boise State.Recruitment updates: Gilpatrick is considering offers from Kentucky, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, North Carolina, Alabama, West Virginia, TCU, Arizona State, Wisconsin, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Oregon, Minnesota, Michigan, Georgia, Arizona, Ohio State, Baylor, Iowa, UCLA, Kansas, Cal, Oklahoma, Stanford, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Iowa State and Illinois.25. Jaiyana Bogan-Jacobs, 2029 | G | Uncommitted2029 SC Next 25 ranking: 2Evaluations of Bogan-Jacobs prior to high school were very intriguing: She always showed all-around game and court vision -- projecting favorably in terms of growth. In her freshman season at Campo Verde (AZ) against varsity competition, she showed the ability to be an offensive hub with fantastic anticipatory instincts defensively as well. Then she hit the EYBL sessions and, once again, proved she was one of the better players in the country, averaging 18.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists through four stops with Team Why Not. Her positive assist-to-turnover ratio and rebounding are indications of a bright future. She could be a more efficient shooter, not atypical for a young player on the highest level of competition.Recruitment updates: It is early in the process for Bogan-Jacobs, but she has offers from UCLA, Oregon, Oklahoma and Louisville, and is being actively pursued by LSU, Texas, Vanderbilt and USC.
