2023-24 Preseason Predictions and All-State Teams
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Mary Ostrowski Award winner: LaLa Woods, Wheeling Park/ Brooke Adkins Brooke Adkins 6'0" | PG Wayne | 2025 State WV , Wayne CLASS AAAA Favorite to win the state title: Morgantown – As hard as it may be to believe,…
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Continue ReadingMary Ostrowski Award winner: LaLa Woods, Wheeling Park/ Brooke Adkins Brooke Adkins 6'0" | PG Wayne | 2025 State WV , Wayne
CLASS AAAA
Favorite to win the state title: Morgantown – As hard as it may be to believe, the Mohigans found great replacements for the departed Mia Henkins and Lindsey Bechtel in the form of two transfers: Kayli Kellogg Kayli Kellogg 5'9" | SG Morgantown | 2027 WV and Sadaya Pryor. The new additions put the Mohigans in a excellent position to start the season. Namely, they can hit the ground running. They may not look back until the title game. Why? Pairing those two players with the returning Lily Jordan Lily Jordan 6'0" | PF Morgantown | 2024 State WV and Sofia Wassick Sofia Wassick 5'7" | PG Morgantown | 2024 State WV ends up giving the Mohigans a starting five that will be hard to top in terms of experience and talent. Jordan is a D-I kid just waiting for the right offer. Wassick is a deceptively good point guard, who may not have to handle the ball all the time this year. Kellogg is as advanced a freshman as I have seen come into the state during my time, and Pryor now owns the knowledge of leading a team through not just speech but play. When you put it all together, you end up with a group that suffers from very few weaknesses. In other words, watch out for Motown.
Don’t be surprised if these teams win the title: Wheeling Park, GW, St. Albans
Dark Horse State Title Contender: University
STATE TOURNAMENT SEEDINGS
1 Morgantown
2 St. Albans
3 Wheeling Park
4 GW
5 Spring Valley
6 Washington
7 Woodrow Wilson
8 Martinsburg
STATE TOURNAMENT
QUARTERFINALS
Morgantown over Martinsburg
St. Albans over Woodrow Wilson
Park over Washington
GW over SV
SEMIFINALS
Morgantown over GW
St. Albans over Wheeling Park
FINALS
Morgantown over St. Albans
PRE-SEASON TOP 10
1 Morgantown
2 St. Albans
3 Wheeling Park
4 GW
5 Spring Valley
6 Cabell Midland
7 Huntington
8 Washington
9 Parkersburg South
10 PHS
PRESEASON ALL-STATE
FIRST TEAM
Lily Jordan Lily Jordan 6'0" | PF Morgantown | 2024 State WV , Morgantown
Alexis Bordas Alexis Bordas 5'8" | SG Wheeling Park | 2025 State WV , Wheeling Park
LaLa Woods, Wheeling Park
Sophi Aldridge Sophi Aldridge 5'5" | CG Cabell Midland | 2024 State WV , Cabell Midland
Dria Parker Dria Parker 5'10" | SF Spring Valley | 2025 State WV , Spring Valley
Finley Lohan Finley Lohan 5'11" | SF George Washington | 2024 State WV , GW
Zaniah Zellous Zaniah Zellous 6'2" | PF George Washington | 2025 State WV , GW
Trinity Balog Trinity Balog 5'7" | SG Parkersburg | 2024 State WV , PHS
SECOND TEAM
Allie Daniels Allie Daniels 6'1" | PF Spring Valley | 2025 State WV , Spring Valley
Sofia Wassick Sofia Wassick 5'7" | PG Morgantown | 2024 State WV , Morgantown
Amara Jackson Amara Jackson 5'11" | PF Huntington | 2024 State WV , Huntington
Jaycee Elzy Jaycee Elzy 5'11" | C St. Albans | 2025 State WV , St. Albans
Ella Simpson Ella Simpson 5'9" | SF University | 2024 State WV , University
NuNu Pannell NuNu Pannell 5'6" | PG St. Albans | 2026 State WV , St. Albans
Josie Cross Josie Cross 5'10" | PF Woodrow Wilson | 2025 State WV , Woodrow Wilson
Lucie Cline Lucie Cline 6'0" | PF Parkersburg South | 2026 State WV , Parkersburg South
CLASS AAA
Favorites to win the state title: Wayne – The Wayne Pioneers own all the motivation a team could possibly need at the approach of the new season. They have four of their five starters back. One of those starters just had the best AAU summer of anyone in the state in Brooke Adkins Brooke Adkins 6'0" | PG Wayne | 2025 State WV . They and she all had to think about a devastating loss to Sissonville in the quarterfinals all summer. What more could you ask for? Wayne achieved everything the hoped to last year until that loss to the Indians. Now, they enter this season as the team to beat. Not just because they have a veteran roster, but because their starting five got much better with the addition of Jayce Sammons at point guard. Everyone on the floor can handle the ball, which means presses won’t affect the Pioneers. Everyone on the floor can score, which means opposing defenses will have to be very precise in their plans of attack. Everyone on the floor can play defense, which means opposing teams face an up hill battle before the games even begin. Talk about great sparks to start the year.
Don’t be surprised if these teams win the title: North Marion, Philip Barbour, Nitro, Sissonville
Dark Horse State Title Contender: Lewis County
STATE TOURNAMENT SEEDINGS
1 Wayne
2 Lewis County
3 Nitro
4 North Marion
5 Philip Barbour
6 Sissonville
7 Lincoln
8 Hampshire
STATE TOURNAMENT
QUARTERFINALS
Wayne over Hampshire
Philip Barbour over North Marion
Lewis County over Lincoln
Nitro over Sissonville
SEMIFINALS
Wayne over Philip Barbour
Lewis County over Nitro
FINAL
Wayne over Lewis County
PRESEASON TOP 10
1 Wayne
2 Lewis County
3 North Marion
4 Nitro
5 Philip Barbour
6 Sissonville
7 East Fairmont
8 Lincoln
9 Ripley
10 Midland Trail
PRESEASON ALL-STATE
FIRST TEAM
Brooke Adkins Brooke Adkins 6'0" | PG Wayne | 2025 State WV , Wayne
Emma Pinkney Emma Pinkney 6'1" | C Lewis County | 2024 State WV , Lewis County
Kynna Britton Kynna Britton 5'10" | CG Sissonville | 2025 State WV , Sissonville
Sophie Nichols Sophie Nichols 5'11" | SG Ripley | 2024 State WV , Ripley
Braylyn Sparks Braylyn Sparks 5'6" | CG Philip Barbour | 2024 State WV , Philip Barbour
Ashlyn Riley Ashlyn Riley 5'8" | SF Lincoln | 2024 State WV , Lincoln
Kenly Rogers Kenly Rogers 5'7" | CG East Fairmont | 2024 State WV , East Fairmont
Emma Freels Emma Freels 5'6" | CG North Marion | 2024 State WV , North Marion
SECOND TEAM
Addie Adkins Addie Adkins 5'11" | PF Wayne | 2025 State WV , Wayne
Ella Pinkney, Lewis County
Makaela Ullman Makaela Ullman 5'6" | SF Sissonville | 2025 State WV , Sissonville
Addie Issacs Addie Issacs 5'8" | CG Midland Trail | 2025 State WV , Midland Trail
Abbie Eastman, Ripley
Natalie Smith Natalie Smith 5'11" | PF Nitro | 2025 State WV , Nitro
Izzy Blomquist, Hampshire
Kendal Connelly, Point Pleasant
CLASS AA
State Title Favorites: Williamstown – Williamstown surprised much of the state, one year ago. Even without legendary head coach Fred Sauro, the Yellowjackets made an incredible run under interim head coach Danny Bunch. They advanced to the regional final where they were bested by Wheeling Central.
Sauro returns to the coaching seat, but he won’t be the only Yellowjacket back on the bench. Four starters return, including Class AA All-State second team selection Faith Pickens Faith Pickens 6'2" | C Williamstown | 2025 State WV and 2022-23 scorer Riley Landis Riley Landis 5'9" | SG Williamstown | 2024 State WV . Anna Cosner Anna Cosner 5'6" | SG Williamstown | 2026 State WV and Arissa Burt Arissa Burt 6'0" | PF Williamstown | 2026 State WV join them in the starting line-up. The fifth slot will be taken by one of five incoming freshman, Quinn Bunch Quinn Bunch 5'1" | PG Williamstown | 2027 WV .
Defensively, Williamstown will overwhelm many teams now that the minds of Bunch and Sauro are together in one coaching staff. Sauro did not interfere with the group one year ago, he let Bunch cook. With both coaches on the bench, there may not be many groups in the LKC that can slow this bunch down.
Pickens remains a solid defensive option in the paint. She tracks lane penetrators well, moves her feet, and trusts her height when she goes to block a shot. Burt and her should dominate the offensive and defensive glass. Landis, Cosner and Bunch are quick-on-their-feet guards, who will use their quick hands to cause trouble for opposing guards.
If there is an area of this team that will need a little seasoning, it is the bench. There are only three returning players on the second unit along with transfer Akhia Miller and three freshman. They will need some time to learn each other and their preferences. Overall, the Yellowjackets are still one of the more complete teams in the Class. Bunch and Sauro will make sure the pieces fit together by the time the Little Kanawha Conference and Class AA state tournaments come around in February and March.
Don’t be surprised if these teams win the title: Wyoming East, Wheeling Central
Dark Horse State Title Contender: Chapmanville
STATE TOURNAMENT SEEDINGS
1 Williamstown
2 Wheeling Central
3 Wyoming East
4 Chapmanville
5 Trinity
6 Ravenswood
7 Charleston Catholic
8 Frankfort
STATE TOURNAMENT
QUARTERFINALS
Williamstown over Frankfort
Chapmanville over Trinity
Wyoming East over Ravenswood
Wheeling Central over Charleston Catholic
SEMIFINALS
Williamstown over Chapmanville
Wheeling Central over Wyoming East
FINALS
Wheeling Central over Williamstown
PRESEASON TOP 10
1 Williamstown
2 Wheeling Central
3 Wyoming East
4 Chapmanville
5 Mingo Central
6 St. Marys
7 Ravenswood
8 Summers County
9 Trinity
10 Charleston Catholic
PRESEASON ALL-STATE
FIRST TEAM
Riley Landis Riley Landis 5'9" | SG Williamstown | 2024 State WV , Williamstown
Addie Smith Addie Smith 5'5" | PG Mingo Central | 2025 State WV , Mingo Central
Alaira Evans Alaira Evans 5'9" | SF Chapmanville | 2024 State WV , Chapmanville
Cadee Blackburn, Wyoming East
Kaitlyn Blake Kaitlyn Blake 5'9" | SF Wheeling Central | 2025 State WV , Wheeling Central
Grace Harvey Grace Harvey 6'0" | C Summers County | 2024 State WV , Summers County
Mary Rushworth Mary Rushworth 6'1" | PF Charleston Catholic | 2026 State WV , Charleston Catholic
Addie Davis, St. Marys
SECOND TEAM
Faith Pickens Faith Pickens 6'2" | C Williamstown | 2025 State WV , Williamstown
Avery Lilly Avery Lilly 5'7" | SG Summers County | 2025 State WV , Summers County
Jenna Barnett, Trinity
Hadleigh McGoskey Hadleigh McGoskey 5'4" | SG Ravenswood | 2024 State WV , Ravenswood
Maddie Clark, Wyoming East
Mary-Tokodi Ruth, Parkersburg Catholic
Brooke Edge, Wheeling Central
Sterling Kump, Moorefield
CLASS A
Favorites to win the state title: Cameron – Duh. I don’t really think I need to say anymore. The two-time defending champion Dragons return nearly their entire starting line-up, including NCAA Division I Youngstown State commit, Ashlynn Van Tassell. They may also have received a wake-up call against Webster County in the semifinals last year. If they don’t bring their A-game, someone is going to take them down. It isn’t like they will have much of a choice, this season. The Dragons face a daunting schedule – one that will test them every time they are on the floor. Class A should be frightened at just what the Dragons may look like when we get to Charleston.
Don’t be surprised if these teams win the title: Tucker County, Gilmer County
Dark Horse State Title Contender: Hundred
STATE TOURNAMENT SEEDINGS
1 Cameron
2 Gilmer County
3 Tucker County
4 Greenbrier West
5 Hundred
6 Huntington St. Joe
7 Pendleton County
8 James Monroe
STATE TOURNAMENT
QUARTERFINALS
Cameron over James Monroe
Hundred over Greenbrier West, OT
Tucker County over St. Joe
Gilmer County over Pendleton County
SEMIFINALS
Cameron over Hundred, OT
Gilmer County over Tucker County, OT
FINALS
Gilmer County over Cameron
PRESEASON TOP 10
1 Cameron
2 Gilmer County
3 Tucker County
4 Hundred
5 Huntington St. Joe
6 Greenbrier West
7 Doddridge County
8 Pendleton County
9 James Monroe
10 Man
PRESEASON ALL-STATE
FIRST TEAM
Ashlynn Van Tassell, Cameron
Allie Ellyson Allie Ellyson 5'4" | PG Gilmer County | 2025 State WV , Gilmer County
Aleigh Cheeseman Aleigh Cheeseman 5'8" | SF Doddridge County | 2027 WV , Doddridge County
Preslee Treadway Preslee Treadway 5'8" | SF Greenbrier West | 2025 State WV , Greenbrier West
Macy Helmick Macy Helmick 5'7" | SG Tucker County | 2024 State WV , Tucker County
Ava Dobbins Ava Dobbins 6'4" | C Gilmer County | 2026 State WV , Gilmer County
Roxie Higgins, Hundred
Lacee Smith Lacee Smith 5'6" | SG Huntington St. Joe | 2025 State WV , Huntington St. Joe
SECOND TEAM
Addison Dudley, Richwood
Niko Kaufmann Niko Kaufmann 5'6" | CG Huntington St. Joe | 2024 State WV , Huntington St. Joe
Ericka Zirk Ericka Zirk 5'10" | PF Tucker County | 2024 State WV , Tucker County
Tenly Paugh Tenly Paugh 5'5" | SG Doddridge County | 2024 WV , Doddridge County
Jenna Baisden, Man
Kenzie Browning, Tug Valley
Summer Morris, Hundred
Mary Meadows, James Monroe