The Top 15 Sophomores in CIF Southern Section girls basketball

Southern Section girls hoops has no shortage of standout sophomores

When it comes to elite high school talent, there's usually nothing else like the Southern Section, and that includes girls basketball. The vast majority of the CIFSS' top female hoopers are homegrown talents, and that means the section's freshman and sophomore classes are always filled with future – and current – stars.

Here are who we think the top 15 sophomores (C/O 2025) are this season in Southern Section girls hoops. After the top 15 is a list of all other CIFSS sophomores who are on our statewide watchlist at their positions, many of whom were strongly considered for inclusion in the top 15.

Who did we miss? Let us know on Twitter or Instagram, or email lance@scorebooklive.com with 2022-23 statistics, and we will consider them in future coverage.

G Jordin Blackmon – Bishop Montgomery

After averaging 7.8 PPG as a freshman, Blackmon took multiple leaps by the start of her sophomore year, and now she might be the most underrated player in SoCal girls basketball. She's been the top player on an Open Division team, leading the team in scoring, developing as a distributor, and also taking her game to the next level as a defender.

Blackmon causes all sorts of problems anywhere on the perimeter at 5-10 with exceptional athleticism and length, a wide array of ball skills, and a tenacious air on the court. While still fairly raw, she's highly talented and a prototypical all-around shooting guard. Blackmon can shoot from anywhere, including with a hand in her face, and fully function as a point guard if needed. She's also emerged as a fearsome ball thief and overall disruptive defensive presence this season.

G Shaena Brew – Mater Dei

Photo by Nick Koza

As just a freshman last season, Brew managed to crack one of the deepest guard rotations in the country to play consistent meaningful minutes, including down the stretch of many big games. Now as a sophomore, she's making an impact in the starting lineup, and is even one of star-studded MD's best players on many nights. 

A point guard by trade, Brew has figured out how to succeed in four-PG lineups while playing primarily off the ball. While she's more of a slasher than a shooter, she too dangerous from the perimeter to be left alone. And when she's in a rhythm offensively, she can create off the dribble for herself and others against anybody. At times, she looks like a future primary scoring option the way she's able to finish through defenders at the rim. However, even before Brew became a big offensive contributor for the Monarchs, it was her defense and energy that made her hard to take off the floor, and her outstanding defense hasn't wavered.

G Carrington Davis – Rialto

After going a combined 6-22 in 2019-20 and 2020-21, Rialto went 20-4 last year and is 27-2 this season with a chance for a 4-AA title on Saturday. Arguably the biggest reason? Davis exploding on the scene, going for over 20 points and 5 steals per game as a freshman and 24.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 3 steals, and a block per game this season. She's been remarkably consistent about it as well, scoring at least 17 points in every contest this season except for one 74-point blowout win. Davis has a solid three-ball, but she's best at scoring inside the arc, where she shoots over 50-percent and makes a whopping 81-percent of her free throws.

G Lev Feiman – Brentwood School

After coming on strong Feiman down the stretch of her freshman year, particularly in the playoffs, Feiman has been the leader in points, rebounds, and steals for a top-10 team in the section as a sophomore. She's averaged 13.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.4 steals per game shooting a healthy 48-percent from the field (52-percent 2FG). And she's scored at least 10 points in 27 of the Eagles' 32 games, and four of the five in which she didn't were blowout wins.

Feiman has a unique game as an explosive athlete who plays far bigger than her 5-6 height. She's one of the best rebounding guards in the CIFSS, and gets most of her points attacking off the dribble where she's essentially ambidextrous. She has a high-arcing floater off glass with range to it that's nearly impossible to block, especially since she can elevate over defenders and shoot it with either hand. Without the ball, Feiman moves effectively, filling lanes and positioning herself well between defenders.

G Aliyahna "Puff" Morris – Etiwanda

Photo by Heston Quan

The No. 18 sophomore in the country per ESPN, Morris is the reigning CalHiSports Freshman of the Year and SBLive runner-up. As just a freshman, she averaged over 13 points and 5 assists per game to help lead Etiwanda to its first-ever Open Division title.

Morris is a prototypical slashing point guard, possessing elite handles, ability to finish at the rim, and basketball I.Q. While she's only 5-5, she uses her quickness and strength to get anywhere on the floor and finish through taller defenders, acrobatically scoring with either hand or finding the open teammate. She's taken a leap to 18 PPG as a sophomore, thanks in large part to improving her mid-range pull-up. Morris is also one of the premier on-ball defenders in California, averaging 4 SPG and causing major issues for many of the state's top guards. 

G Alanna Neale – Chaminade

After she was a key role player and 1st Team All-Mission League honoree for the Eagles as a freshman, Neale has successfully stepped into a starring role as a sophomore. A standout athlete with great length, Neale can play anywhere on the perimeter and shine in a variety of roles on both sides of the ball. 

She's unique in that she can score in bunches against any opponent but is willing to take a backseat offensively when one or more of her talented teammates are leading the way and apply her high motor to other phases of the game. While Neale has already emerged as one of the top sophomores in the section, she has outstanding long-term upside and will probably continue improving at a torrid pace.

G Brooklyn Shamblin – Oaks Christian

While Shamblin is one of two players on this list missing their sophomore year with an injury, she proved herself as one of the top PGs in her class before even stepping foot on a high school court, and all throughout her freshman year. In 2021-22, she led the Lions to a 3-A section title and Marmonte League title averaging 17 points, 5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. Shamblin committed to USC in July of 2021 – the summer between her eighth and ninth grade years.

G Amayah Williams – Mater Dei

Photo by Nick Koza

After earning All-Trinity League honors as just a freshman at Santa Margarita, Williams became eligible for the Monarchs in early January and quickly helped them reach peak form. At 5-8 with exceptional quickness and long arms, she's one of the top defensive guards in the section, and projects to be an outstanding defender at the next level as well. Williams is also good at scoring at the rim and has a strong chance to be one of the top overall PGs in the state as she continues refining her ball skills.

G/F Gloria Barrera – St. Paul

A high-scoring wing who's been among the most underrated players in the section the last two seasons. Barrera brings her best against the Swordsmen's top competition, routinely going for 25 or more points against some of the better teams in SoCal. With good size for a two/three, she also grabs a lot of rebounds and can guard bigger frontcourt players in addition to wings.

G/F Addie Deal – Mater Dei

Photo by Nick Koza

SBLive's reigning statewide Freshman of the Year and a top-10 ranked prospect in her class, Deal led Pacifica Christian (Newport Beach) to a dominant 4-A title run last season and is now a star on a top-five team in the state. As a freshman, she averaged team-highs of 21.4 points, 5.4 assists, and 3.9 steals per game to go with 6.8 RPG. 

Deal is fully fluid between both guard spots as a high school player and as a college prospect, and she also uses her six-foot size to help in the frontcourt substantially on defense. A lethal jump shooter and skilled interior finisher who can create off the dribble for herself or others, there's not much she can't do. Despite her star status, Deal is very unselfish, not only as a passer but as a rare star lead guard who's comfortable playing off the ball for weeks at a time if that's what her team needs.

G/F Morgan Mack – Hart

One of the top breakout stars in the section this season, Mack is up to 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists per game as a sophomore after elevating her game during the 2-AA playoffs. With great size for a shooting guard at 5-11 with the strength of a post, Mack can score right over defenders from all three levels, beat up smaller guards inside, and help defend and rebound against frontcourt players. On top of it, Mack is a standout passer, as evidenced by her nearly 6 APG from the wing spot.

F Samari Bankhead – Windward

As a freshman, Bankhead was the second-leading scorer on the Open Division qualifier and Southern Region Division I champion. An explosive athlete with a very versatile skill set at nearly six feet tall, Bankhead is a 3-star prospect per ESPN and a matchup nightmare. She can guard every position at the high school level, she's a strong rebounder, and she's lethal attacking the rim or pulling up from mid-range. 

The Wildcats have sorely missed Bankhead as she's sat her entire sophomore year due to an injury, but expect her to again be one of the top 2025s in the state as soon as she's back.

F Leia Edwards – Sierra Canyon

Left: Kennedy Smith (Etiwanda); Right: Leia Edwards (Sierra Canyon) / Photo by Nick Koza

One of the anchors of Sierra Canyon's impressive bench unit – and of Great Britain's U-16 national team. Edwards is a guarantee to get more of the spotlight at SC as her role increases as an upperclassmen, because she's already one of the better forwards in the section and she has no shortage of remaining upside. 

Adept at playing different roles on different days, Edwards is sometimes asked to score and at others to do the dirty work for the Trailblazers. Versatility and basketball I.Q. define her game. She can bully smaller wings off the dribble at 6-0 with good strength, or use her ball-handling and quickness to burn bigs, and she's also a threat from mid-range and three if left alone. Edwards is also a very good passer for a frontcourt player, and can guard 3-5 while helping on the boards at the high school level.

F Bella Spencer – Harvard-Westlake

Spencer started the season as more of a role player than a star for the perennial Mission League powerhouse this season, but improved greatly throughout the season to lead H-W with 13 points and 7.6 rebounds per game on 49-percent shooting (52-percent from inside the arc). During the Wolverines' last 11 games of the season prior to their quarterfinals loss against Orange Lutheran, spanning nine league games and two playoff wins, she averaged 16.5 points and 8.8 rebounds a game on over 54-percent FG.

F Ebbony Wilson – St. Mary's Academy

Wilson bursted onto the scene as a sophomore after a promising freshman campaign, averaging 18.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 3.9 steals, and 2.3 blocks per game. She scored 10 or more points in 26 of 29 games, 12 points or more in 24 games, and 15 points in 17 of 29 games. Wilson frequently played her best against the Belles' top competition, and they played many of the better teams in the Southern Section very competitively.

WATCHLIST:

G Andrea Rico – Capistrano Valley Christian

G Addison Keenan – Chaminade

G Atiyah Watson – Bishop Montgomery

G Mimi Moon – Pacifica (Oxnard)

G Nyemah King – Lakewood

G Payton Sugar – Brentwood School

G Kelly Garrity – Orange Lutheran

G Amya Moody – M.L. King

G Bella Cosme – Mater Dei

G Destinee Knight – Los Osos

G Sofia Salgado – Oxnard

G Deana Thompson – Harvard-Westlake

G Leiayjah Mills – Moreno Valley

G Sierra Maxwell – Heritage (Menifee)

G Mason Long – Valley View

G Jennifer Musso – La Cañada

G Jane Hewitt – Crean Lutheran

G Faith O'Daniel – Oaks Christian

G Olivia Lagao – Windward

G Lauren Munoz – Marlborough

G Sarah Wang – Brea Olinda

G Keimi Santiago – North (Torrance)

G Jada Ly – Mark Keppel

G Kaden Cortes – La Salle

G/F Mya Graham – Riverside Prep

G/F Maria Mejia – Orangewood Academy

G/F Jayda Cobbs – Santiago (Corona)

G/F Luv'lee Sadler – San Jacinto

G/F Julia Wilson – Rancho Christian

G/F Kaylene Vivo – Troy

G/F Julia Wilson – Rancho Christian

F Madeleine De Kodia – Aquinas

F Anna Shreeve – San Juan Hills

F Mya Barnes – Rosary Academy

F Destiney Rentie – Fontana

F Taylor Swanson – Westlake

F Devyn Kiernan – Mater Dei

F Christa Contreras – Camarillo

F Aliya Latif – Chaminade

F Kadence Lloyd – Bishop Montgomery

F Lexi Mercado – Bishop Amat

F/C Sydnee Norwood – Crean Lutheran

F/C Kayla Boozer – South Pasadena

C Layla Harris – Etiwanda

C Taylor Gerard – Windward