Iowa's best high school girls basketball players: Meet the state's top small forwards

Some of the top small forwards in Iowa girls prep basketball

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be taking a position-by-position look at some of the top players in Iowa high school girls basketball. This list focuses on the small forwards.

There are hundreds of standout girls basketball players in Iowa and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive. If you know of any other small forwards worthy of our attention, please email nate@scorebooklive.com. 

Anna Bartels, 5-11, Sr., Midland 

Bartels ranks in the Top 20 in state scoring with an average of 21.2 points through 15 games. She is a 49.6-percent shooter and 70 percent from the free throw line, while also averaging 6.2 rebounds and 4.9 steals.

Bailey Birmingham, 5-9, Jr., Norwalk

Birmingham is the second-leading scorer in the state, averaging 24.7 points through 12 games and the Warriors are 10-2 and ranked eighth in Class 4A. Birmingham also pulls down 6.1 rebounds a game and has shot 131 free throws, making 101.

Emma Boswell, 5-11, Soph., Orient-Macksburg

Although only a sophomore, Boswell has been the leading rebounder in the state the past two seasons. She averaged 14 per game last season, grabbing a whopping 404 caroms and through 11 games this season, Boswell averages 20 rebounds (220 total). She can also score, putting in 21.1 points per contest.

Mya Bunkers, 5-7, Sr., Remsen St. Mary’s

Bunkers was a third-team Class 1A all-state honoree last season, helping her team make the state tournament for the first time in school history. As a senior, the well-rounded Bunkers averages a team-high 14.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists ans 2.0 steals through 11 games. Bunkers has been an all-stater in softball multiple times and also excels in volleyball and track.

Abbie Capesius, 5-7, Sr., Algona Garrigan

Capesius played in the shadow of superstars Audi Crooks and Molly Joyce on back-to-back Class 1A state championship teams. This season, the returning third-team all-stater has contributed 11.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, shooting 60.5 percent from the floor.

Malia Clayburg, 5-10, Soph., Coon Rapids-Bayard

Clayburg showed a sign of things to come last season, averaging 11.1 points and 8.4 rebounds for a 16-8 squad. She has improved those numbers through 11 games this season, scoring 14.3 points on 52.7-percent shooting, while adding 5.1 rebounds, 4.2 steals and 2.4 assists for the 12th-ranked Class 1A team.

Ashlyn Davis, 6-0, Jr., Westwood

Davis was a third team Class 1A all-state performer last season and midway through her junior season ranks third in Class 2A with a 65.3 shooting percentage (62 of 95). She averages 11.6 points and 7.8 rebounds for an unbeaten (12-0) and third-ranked Rebels squad.

Graclyn Eastman, 6-0, Fresh., Algona Garrigan

The two-time defending Class 1A state champions are set for the foreseeable future. The Golden Bears already have an established performer in senior Abbie Capesius, but freshman Eastman has already made her name known, leading the squad with a 16.6 average through 15 games, shooting 56.1 percent while averaging 9.8 rebounds. Garrigan has lost once and is ranked seventh in 1A.

Libby Fandel, 5-11, Jr., Cedar Rapids Xavier

Fandel was a first-team Class 4A all-state selection as a sophomore, averaging 16.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. Although the Saints (5-8) are struggling thus far this season, Fandel is not. She is averaging 22.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 4.2 steals and just eclipsed 1,000 points for her career.

Maryn Franken, 6-0, Fresh., Sioux Center

Sioux Center came out of nowhere to win the Class 2A state championship last season. Now, the Warriors are trying to work an outstanding freshman into their lineup and are hovering at 6-5 through 11 game. Franken, though, is leading the team with an 11.5 scoring average. She is shooting 44.7 percent and the 6-footer has stepped back to nail 134 3-pointers, not to mention grabbing 7.6 rebounds a game.

Paytn Harter, 6-0, Jr., Atlantic

Harter averaged a double-double as a sophomore, earning Class 3A third team all-state honors for an Atlantic team that finished 18-5. A talented inside player, she is putting together a solid junior campaign, averaging 16.0 points and 11.0 rebounds through 12 games.

Journey Houston, 5-11, Jr., Davenport North

We’re listing Houston as a small forward, but she pretty much plays all over the court for a talented North squad. Already committed to the University of Iowa, Houston averages 19.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 4.5 steals through 15 games. She was an all-state pick as a sophomore for a state qualifier and ranks as one of the top prospects in the country for her class.

Jayden Kuper, 5-11, Jr., Monticello

A second-team Class 3A all-stater as a sophomore, Kuper averaged 18.7 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.8 steals per game last season. Also an all-state volleyball player, Kuper has some impressive numbers through 13 games for the Class 3A No. 9 Panthers, averaging 20.7 points, 11.3 rebounds and 5.1 steals.

Emily Larsen, 5-11, Soph., Cedar Rapids Prairie

On a well-balanced 9-1 squad, Larsen is the leading scorer with an 11.7 average. She is shooting 35.6 percent from beyond the arc and 86 percent from the free throw line. Larsen has been a steady performer since entering high school last season.

Mallory Leerer, 5-9, Sr., West Hancock

Leerer was a first team Class 1A all-stater last season, when she led her team in points (17.7), rebounds (5.6), assists (4.1) and steals (5.5). She committed to Briar Cliff University prior to her senior season and is currently averaging 19.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 4.4 steals for a young Eagles team through 12 games.

Ava Locklear, 5-11, Sr., Clear Creek-Amana

A versatile performer who does just about everything for the Clippers, ranked second in Class 4A, Locklear committed to Saginaw Valley State before the start of her senior season. She has helped CC-A win its first 11 games of the season, averaging 12.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting 51 percent. Locklear made the 4A all-state second team as a junior, leading the Clippers to a state tournament berth.

Claire Lueken, 6-0, Jr., Dubuque Wahlert

Lueken is in her third season as a starter for a traditionally strong program. She was an all-Mississippi Valley Conference performer as a sophomore and is putting together an outstanding junior season for Iowa’s sixth-ranked Class 3A team. Through 13 games, Lueken averaged 18.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.2 steals.

Trista Ohlmeier, 6-1, Sr., MVAOCOU

Ohlmeier can play either forward or center and is averaging a double-double with 23.2 points (fifth statewide) and 10.6 rebounds through 12 games. She had a triple-double earlier this season and very nearly made it a quadruple-double.

Brecklyn Schilling, 5-11, Jr., North Mahaska

The talented 11th grader is the leading scorer for Iowa’s ninth-ranked Class 2A squad. Schilling, an all-Southeast Iowa Cedar League player as a sophomore, averages 15.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 4.0 steals through 12 games.

Ella Sharar, 5-10, Sr., Iowa Falls-Alden

Sharar just set a school single-game scoring record with 39 points in a 70-38 win over Fort Dodge St. Edmond. For the season, she is averaging 18.4 points and 9.6 rebounds through 13 contests.

Melina Snoozy, 5-11, Fresh., Sioux City Bishop Heelan

Snoozy already had two seasons of varsity basketball under her belt when she transferred from Dakota Valley (South Dakota) to Heelan. She has already become a force for the Crusaders. The fabulous freshman, considered by many outlets the top player in her class, leads Heelan with a 19.1 scoring average, making 54.9 percent of her shots while adding 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.8 steals per contest.

Emilie Sorensen, 5-9, Jr., Waukee

The Class 5A fourth-ranked Warriors are a balanced team, but Sorensen leads the way with 13.6 points through 13 games this season. The Northern Illinois commit also averages 4.2 rebounds and 2.0 steals.

Maryne Szalo, 5-10, Soph., Waukee

Playing on a veteran squad, sophomore Szalo has carved her own nitch for the 10-3 Warriors, ranked fourth in Class 5A. She averages an even 10 points per game while shooting an even 50 percent from the field and also pulls down 3.8 rebounds. The other three leading scorers for Waukee have each made college commitments.

Alliyah Thompson, 6-1, Sr., Ballard

Thompson is the latest star on one of Iowa’s most successful programs. She rose from a deep reserve her sophomore season to a first team Class 4A all-stater as a junior, averaging 16.4 points and 7.0 rebounds for a state semifinal squad. Still undecided on her college plans, Thompson is putting together a strong senior campaign, averaging 19.0 points and 5.7 rebounds through 12 games.

Claire Truesdell, 5-8, Jr., Roland-Story

Truesdell is known as an adept 3-point shooter, but has tried to evolve her game more this season. Through 12 games, she averages 10.7 points with a team-high 27 treys for the unbeaten and fifth-ranked (Class 3A) Norsemen. Truesdell is just about to her season points average as a sophomore.

Logan Vogt, 6-1, Fresh., Waukee Northwest

Vogt has already cracked the starting lineup for Iowa’s 10th-ranked Class 4A team. Her numbers don’t jump out at you, but Vogt is definitely a star of the future because of her size and athletic ability. She’s averaging a solid 5.4 points and 5.3 rebounds for the Wolves.

Cora Widel, 6-1, Soph., Maquoketa

Part of a strong sophomore class for the Class 4A 11th-ranked Cardinals, Widel leads her team in scoring, averaging 16.6 points per game. Maquoketa (11-2) was unbeaten in River Valley Conference play. Widel also averages 5.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.