Sophomore stars: Top class of 2022 girls basketball players in the Southern Section

The Southern Section has an abundance of strong girls basketball players in the class of 2022.

With the 2019-2020 high school girls basketball season over, we’re taking a look at the best players in Southern California, class by class. The Southern Section is deep with impact sophomores in girls basketball, and there were numerous double-digit scorers on strong teams who narrowly missed the cut.

The list is in alphabetical order by last name. All statistics and other information referenced are from the 2019-2020 season. The main criteria were statistics, team success, and strength of schedule.

Please email lance@wpsblivest.wpengine.com to submit a photo or nominate a player who isn’t on the list. Check at the end of the list for updates on players we missed in the initial post who belong in the top 50.

TOP SOPHOMORES IN SOUTHERN SECTION

Jhesiyame Artagame – G – San Jacinto Valley Academy

Artagame averaged 18.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 3.6 steals per game to help lead SJVA to the Division V state quarterfinals.

Kellie Au – G – Peninsula

Au averaged 6.9 points, seven rebounds, 1.7 assists, and two steals per game for the CIF Division III SoCal finalist. Peninsula is one of two teams with three sophomores on this list.

Kate Bobadilla – G – Twentynine Palms

Bobadilla averaged 17.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 3.3 steals per game.

Anahy Bustamante – G – Rubidoux

Bustamante averaged 17 PPG in efficient fashion.

Kaylee Byon – G – Rosary Academy

The high-scoring shooting guard was named First Team All-Trinity League.

Ava Carter – C/F – JSerra

One of the highest-upside sophomore prospects in SoCal, Carter averaged 10 points, 12 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game.

Ashari Cassell – G – Norco

Cassell averaged 14.8 points, 1.6 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game for Norco. She was able to produce even when Norco was overmatched against some of the best teams in the Inland Empire.

Khaiya Chumley – C – Cantwell-Sacred Heart

Chumley led CSHM in RPG (8.9) and BPG (1.4) while averaging 5.8 PPG on 51% shooting.

Allison Crawford – C – Millikan

Crawford had arguably the best sophomore season in the section. She led 26-4 Millikan with 14.5 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game on a team-high 52% shooting.

Katherine Csiszar – C/F – Louisville

Despite the Royals' struggles, Csiszar had a dominant year, averaging 16.3 points, 12 rebounds, 2.8 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game. She scored nearly half of the team's points and stayed efficient despite fighting through constant double and triple-teams.

Alyssa Cubo – G – Esperanza

One of the best shooters in SoCal, Cubo knocked 86 threes at 40% and averaged 13.7 PPG.

Layla Curry – F – Corona Centennial

A 5-8 wing, Curry was one of a few Huskies who was able to successfully play up against bigger matchups. She averaged 4.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game guarding multiple positions.

Jailah Donald – G – Serra (Gardena)

Donald averaged 11.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.3 steals per game.

Mariah Elohim – F – Westlake

Elohim led Westlake with 14.6 PPG to go with 7.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game.

Myanna Emery – G/F – Serra (Gardena)

Emery led the Cavaliers with 12.4 PPG to go with 4.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.

Ella Estabrook – G/F – West (Torrance)

Estabrook averaged 8.3 points, six rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game with a 2.11 assist-to-turnover ratio and made First Team All-Pioneer League.

Taylor Feldman – G – Crean Lutheran

The slashing combo guard helped lead the Saints to the CIF Division II Southern Region semifinals and was named First Team All-Empire League.

Raylyn Fergerson – G/F – St. Mary's Academy

Fergerson averaged 6.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.5 steals per game.

Amaya Fuentes – C – Ventura

Fuentes averaged a team-high 15.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game for the Cougars, and also led the team in blocks.

Fuentes is #43

Jamie Galdones – G – Peninsula

Galdones averaged 7.8 points, two assists, and 1.5 steals per game for the CIF Division III Southern Region finalist.

Ciara Gallagher – G – Oxnard

Gallagher was second on the Yellowjackets with 11.8 points and 3.7 steals per game, led the team with 4.1 APG, and also grabbed 3.9 boards per game.

London Gamble – G – Westlake

Gamble averaged 11.7 points, 2.7 assists, 2.7 steals, and a team-high 8.4 rebounds per game.

Sophie Graves – F – Royal

Graves averaged a double-double for the Highlanders with 11.4 points and a team-high 10.6 rebounds per game, plus 2.1 SPG.

Zyra Green – G – Grand Terrace

Green averaged 16.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.7 steals, 1.9 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game, the first four of which led the Titans.

Eliana Hall – G/F – Peninsula

Hall averaged 7.3 PPG and led the Division III state semifinalists with 9.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game.

Selena Hernandez – F/G – El Dorado

Hernandez averaged 14.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.3 steals, and a block per game, and had some of her best performances in El Dorado's biggest/toughest games.

Leah Hudson – G – Glendora

Hudson was second on the Tartans with 14.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.

Gabriella Jaquez – F/G – Camarillo

Jaquez had the best stat line of any sophomore in the section for 25-4 Camarillo. She led the Scorpions with over 20 points, 13 rebounds, and three steals per game while also averaging 1.6 APG and leading the team in blocks.

Londynn Jones – G – Santiago

After averaging 26 PPG as a freshman, the 5-star prospect had another dominant year.

Kayla Keshmeshian – G – Viewpoint

Keshmeshian led Viewpoint with 17 points and four assists per game.

Alyssa Kubo – G – Esperanza

Kubo was already one of the better combo guards in OC as a sophomore, averaging 13.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 2.6 steals per game for the 25-4 Aztecs. She also shot a scorching 86-213 (40%) from three on the season.

Bella Law – G – Corona Centennial

Law played a glue-girl role for one of SoCal's top teams, averaging five points, three rebounds, an assist, and a steal per game in limited minutes.

Jamie Mackay – F – Mater Dei

An athletic six-footer who can rebound and guard multiple positions, Mackay was able to crack the Open Division champion's rotation as a sophomore.

Mea Madison – G – Lancaster

Madison averaged roughly 10 points, four rebounds, an assist, and two steals per game for the CIF Division IV SoCal champion.

Maddy Martinez – G – Ontario Christian

Martinez was second on the 32-4 Knights with 14.2 points to go with 1.7 assists and 2.6 steals per game. She also knocked down an eye-popping 143 threes at a solid 33% clip.

Sydney McKee – G – Artesia

McKee averaged 10.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 4.2 steals per game for the 26-8 Pioneers.

Samantha McKenzie – G/F – Oxnard

McKenzie averaged 10 PPG and led Oxnard with 5.8 rebounds and 4.2 steals per game.

Daisia Mitchell – W – Etiwanda

Daisia Mitchell, No. 24

Mitchell packed a wing scoring punch in rotation minutes for one of the top teams in SoCal.

Soleil Montrose – W – Mater Dei

Soleil Montrose, No. 35

Montrose was Mater Dei's sixth woman for most of the season and often was among their leading scorers in under 20 minutes of action. She led them with 20 points off the bench in their championship victory over Windward.

Sydney Ross – G – Woodrow Wilson

Ross averaged 3.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 3.9 steals per game for the 3-A champ.

Aidan Sherfey – F – Whittier Christian

Sherfey averaged eight points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and a team-high 1.5 blocks per game for 25-5 Whittier Christian.

Hannah Stines – G – Troy

Stones led Troy with 13.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.8 steals per game to go with 3.4 assists and a block per game. She also knocked down a team-high 71 threes on 36% shooting.

Tatum Tamashiro – G – Rolling Hills Prep

Tamashiro averaged 12.8 points, six rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.7 steals per game for 24-4 RHP.

Dara Tokeshi – G – North (Torrance)

One of multiple underclasswomen snipers on the Saxons, Tokeshi averaged nine PPG on 44% shooting from three.

Kaylee Van Betuw – F – Murrieta Mesa

Van Betuw averaged 8.4 points, 2.7 steals, and a team-high 9.8 rebounds per game for the Southwestern League champion.

Talia Washington – G/F – Cajon

Washington averaged 14 points and nearly three steals per game shooting 57% from two and 37% from three.

Lani White – G – Mater Dei

Lani White, No. 10

White was a dangerous shooter in limited minutes for the Open Division champ when her number was called.

Chloe Williams – F – St. Mary's Academy

Williams was only around for 10 games last season, but averaged 23.8 points and over 11 rebounds, three blocks, and three steals per game. If she's able to play a full junior year, expect her to be one of the top players in the section.

Nala Williams – G – Long Beach Poly

Nala Williams, No. 10

Williams averaged 7.4 points, four rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, and contributed to one of the best defenses in the country.

Breeann Willich – W – Paloma Valley

Willich averaged eight points, three rebounds, and an assist per game for the 34-3 CIF Division III SoCal champion.

Samantha Yanagi – G/F – North (Torrance)

Yanagi had one of the top sophomore seasons in SoCal for 24-4 North. She averaged 14 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals per game shooting a massive 45% from three and carrying a lofty plus-minus of 13.

UPDATES:

Jana Roman – F/C – Beaumont

Roman helped lead Beaumont to a Mountain Pass League title averaging 15.6 points, nine rebounds, two assists, three steals, and three blocks per game.

Myla Scott – G – Hueneme

One of the top underclasswomen in Ventura County, Scott belonged in the initial post. She averaged 11.9 points, five rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game en-route to an 18-9 season.

Ashlyn Zhang – G – Flintridge Prep

Zhang has averaged six points, three boards, and two assists a game for Flintridge through her sophomore year. She was also named the Prep League Defensive Player of the Year last season.