Best high school girls basketball forwards in the nation entering the 2023-24 season

Expect these 20 forwards to put up huge stats this winter

As the fall season wages on throughout most of the country, winter's high school girls basketball season is already underway in multiple states.

SBLive Sports is highlighting some of the best players in the nation as we begin the winter season.

We've been taking a position-by-position look at some of the best of the best in high school girls basketball, starting with the top point guards, combo guards and wings, and now it's the forwards' turn.

Here are 20 of the best forwards in the nation entering the 2023-24 high school girls basketball season. 

Justice Carlton, sr., Seven Lakes (Texas)

A five-star Texas commit, Carlton averaged 22.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game as a junior. She is the daughter of former Baylor standout Kacy Carlton. 

Jaliya Davis, jr., Blue Valley North (Kansas)

Davis shot 58 percent from the floor as a sophomore, averaging 18.7 points and 10.3 rebounds. She helped lead Blue Valley North to the Class 6A state championship. 

Joyce Edwards, sr., Camden (South Carolina)

Edwards put up 28.7 points, 13.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 3.6 steals and 2.6 blocks en route to South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year honors as a junior. The five-star prospect has 3,016 points and counting during her Camden career. 

Ka’Shya Hawkins, sr., Long Island Lutheran (New York)

Ka'Shay Hawkins, a Syracuse commit, is a standout on defense for Long Island Lutheran. Photo by Lonnie Webb/SBLive Sports

Hawkins, a Syracuse commit, was a role player last winter who averaged 7.4 points and 5.3 rebounds for national power Long Island Lutheran. Hawkins should shoulder a bigger offensive load this season while continuing to play standout defense.

Taliyah Henderson, jr., Salpointe Catholic (Arizona)

Henderson has the ability to play inside and outside for Salpointe Catholic. The talented playmaker averaged 18.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.6 steals as a sophomore. 

Breona Hurd, sr., Waynesville (Missouri)

Hurd is sitting on 1,648 career points and 801 rebounds entering her senior season for Waynesville. An elite athlete who competes in several sports, Hurd will play college basketball for Virginia.

Grace Knox, jr., Etiwanda (California)

Knox missed her sophomore year due to injury as Nevada’s Centennial captured the state title. The five-star junior is now at Etiwanda, the reigning CIF Open Division state champions. 

Leah Macy, jr., Bethlehem (Kentucky)

Macy averaged 25 points and 13.2 rebounds during her freshman and sophomore campaigns for Louisville Mercy. The five-star junior transferred to Bethlehem during the offseason. 

Kamryn Mafua, sr., Folsom (California)

Mafua averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds while leading Folsom to a 26-3 overall record last winter, the best in program history. She committed to Cal during the spring. 

Kayla Nelms, sr., Miami Country Day (Florida)

Nelms has the skill to put the ball on the floor and the size and strength to get buckets in the paint. The Baylor commit averaged 17.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.8 blocks last winter. 

Me’Arah O’Neal, sr., Episcopal (Texas)

The youngest daughter of NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, Me’Arah O’Neal is a versatile interior player with unlimited upside. She can create off the dribble and possesses a silky jump shot.

Mackenly Randolph, sr., Sierra Canyon (California)

Mackenly Randolph, a five-star prospect, averaged 16.9 points last season for the Trailblazers / Photo by Heston Quan

Starring alongside current USC forward JuJu Watkins, Randolph averaged 16.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals as a junior for a Sierra Canyon team that went 31-1 overall. The five-star prospect shot 61 percent from the field. 

Caya Smith, sr., Putnam City West (Oklahoma)

Smith is a standout two-way player for Putnam City West who can score in the paint and gobble up rebounds. A multi-sport athlete, Smith is also the reigning Class 6A state champion in the long jump. 

Sarah Strong, sr., Grace Christian (North Carolina)

Strong put up 22.6 points, 13.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 3.4 steals and 2.2 blocks a season ago, leading Grace Christian to a second consecutive state title. The five-star prospect is the reigning North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year. 

Kennedy Ume, sr., McDonogh (Maryland)

Ume is a standout on the defensive end who has a knack for swatting shots and picking up steals. The Stanford commit is also a solid offensive player with a developing jump shot.

Juliann Woodard, sr., Jennings County (Indiana)

Woodard did everything for Jennings County as a junior, putting up 22.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.4 steals and 2.4 blocks. She is committed to Michigan State. 

Breanna Williams, sr., Skyview (Montana)

A Maryland commit, Williams dominated as a junior by averaging 22.4 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.6 steals. She received Montana Gatorade Player of the Year honors. 

Laura Williams, Sr., Paul VI (Virginia)

Williams had 22 points and 13 rebounds in the championship game last winter as Paul VI captured its 16th straight Division I state title. She will play college basketball in the Big Ten for USC. 

McKenna Woliczko, so., Archbishop Mitty (California) 

Woliczko was sensational for Archbishop Mitty a season ago, putting up 20.4 points and 10.2 rebounds en route to SBLive national freshman of the year honors. She is also a star softball player who batted .429 in the spring. 

Mia Woolfolk, sr., Manchester (Virginia)

Woolfolk shined at both ends of the floor during her junior season for Manchester, averaging 19 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block. She is committed to Georgia. 

(Mackenly Randolph by Leon Neuschwander)

—

-- Bob Lundeberg | @sblivesports