It’s basketball season on the MS Coast. Here are the top 10 girls to watch on the hardwood
A new basketball season has arrived on the Mississippi Coast.
Last year saw a trio of high-classification girls basketball teams represent South Mississippi with deep playoff runs from St. Martin, Biloxi and Hancock.
While some of the region’s best players graduated, the Coast proved to be loaded with strong underclassmen talent. The 2023-24 Sun Herald Player of the Year is one of three Sun Herald Starting Five members to return for another run at The Big House in Jackson.
To get you ready for another exciting season, here is a look at some of the top girls basketball players to watch this season:
- Zaniya Johnson, Biloxi: Johnson is the reigning Sun Herald Player of the Year and has already become a highly sought-after recruit in just her sophomore season. She averaged a double-double as a freshman and had 22 points with 11 rebounds in a recent early-season win over Madison Central.
- Aaliyah Davison, Biloxi: Davison returns to the Indian backcourt with 88 career varsity games and counting. The senior averaged 13 points and 5.5 assists through Biloxi’s first wins of the year.
Jayla Carriere, Biloxi: Carriere stepped up as a freshman last season at Harrison Central, averaging 11 points, two steals and two assists per game. She joins the Indians this season and gives Biloxi one of the better backcourt combos in the state.
- Sydnei Barber, West Harrison: Barber — a SH Starting Five member — was one of the top scorers on the Coast as a sophomore and is off to a hot start as a junior. She dropped 31 points in the season-opener and averaged 25 points per game over her first three contests.
- Jalynn Applewhite, West Harrison: The Hurricane center heads into her senior year as one of the top bigs on the Coast after averaging 8.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per game a year ago.
- Kaleah Lowery, St. Martin: Lowery helped guide the Yellow Jackets to their best season since 2016 a year ago, stuffing the stat sheet in the process with 15.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, 5.3 steals and 4.9 assists per game while earning a spot on the SH Starting Five.
- Saniyah Murray, Harrison Central: The sophomore center received multiple D-I offers following a breakout freshman season that saw her average eight points and seven rebounds a game.
- Anslee James, Hancock: James missed a chunk of her junior season, but is an athletic and versatile point guard who averaged 11 points and five rebounds a game when she was on the floor.
- Massyah Thomas, Pascagoula: Thomas surged onto the scene as a freshman, averaging 12 points, four rebounds and two steals a game last season.
- Jordyn Ford, Moss Point: The senior has over 70 varsity games under her belt and has improved each season for the Tigers. Ford poured in 18 points in a recent win over Pelahatchie.
