Southern Section Mission League Players to Watch

Christy Reynoso

David Yapkowitz

December 31, 2023 @ 05:45 PM

With the New Year comes the beginning of league play. Teams have gotten their warmups with non league games and holiday tournaments, now they gear up for this. I've gotten a chance to watch a few of the teams and players from the CIF Southern Section's Mission League and here's a little breakdown of a few players to watch as league play kicks off. 1. [player_tooltip player_id='104793' first='Christy' last='Reynoso'] - Sierra Canyon 2024 Reynoso is an unselfish point guard who runs the offense smoothly, quarterbacks the team and looks for her teammates. Pass first player who takes scoring opportunities as they come. Pushes pace in transition as the ball-handler and can find open teammates. Can shoot from distance and can get to the basket in the halfcourt. 2. [player_tooltip player_id='166832' first='Natalie' last='Villamor'] - Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 2024 Villamor is in the mold of a big wing playmaker. She has the size of a shooting guard/small forward but she is a good-ball handler and passer. In the halfcourt, she's always looking to make the extra pass and has good vision. She can attack the defense off the dribble and is a good drive and kick/dish player. Good shooter off the catch and off face-ups. 3. [player_tooltip player_id='574419' first='Payton' last='Montgomery'] - Chaminade 2026 Montgomery is in the mold of a true center/post player. One of the things that's stood out to me is her rebounding ability. She uses her size well to establish position and box out not only for herself but for teammates to grab boards. Good help defense in the paint. Sets good screens and rolls well/moves off ball. 4. [player_tooltip player_id='312843' first='Deana' last='Thompson'] - Harvard Westlake 2025 Thompson is a talented scorer on the wing. She's a slasher, she's consistently able to get to the basket and put pressure on the defense. Strong body control to finish at the basket through traffic. Can shoot the pull-up three-point shot. She can be a primary ball-handler and she can move off ball as well. Consistently able to create her own shot. 5. [player_tooltip player_id='574386' first='Leila' last='Boykin'] - Alemany 2026 Boykin is another true center. She can establish and hold her position in the paint, sealing off her defender. She's strong and able to muscle through to finish in the paint. She can read the defense well and knows how to effectively pass out of the post. Good rebounder and good screener.

With the New Year comes the beginning of league play. Teams have gotten their warmups with non league games and holiday tournaments, now they gear up for this. I've gotten a chance to watch a few of the teams and players from the CIF Southern Section's Mission League and here's a little breakdown of a few players to watch as league play kicks off.

1. Christy Reynoso Christy Reynoso 5'5" | PG Sierra Canyon | 2024 State CA - Sierra Canyon 2024

Reynoso is an unselfish point guard who runs the offense smoothly, quarterbacks the team and looks for her teammates. Pass first player who takes scoring opportunities as they come. Pushes pace in transition as the ball-handler and can find open teammates. Can shoot from distance and can get to the basket in the halfcourt.

2. Natalie Villamor Natalie Villamor 5'8" | PG Notre Dame SO | 2024 State CA - Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 2024

Villamor is in the mold of a big wing playmaker. She has the size of a shooting guard/small forward but she is a good-ball handler and passer. In the halfcourt, she's always looking to make the extra pass and has good vision. She can attack the defense off the dribble and is a good drive and kick/dish player. Good shooter off the catch and off face-ups.

3. Payton Montgomery Payton Montgomery 6'0" | PF Sierra Canyon | 2026 State CA - Chaminade 2026

Montgomery is in the mold of a true center/post player. One of the things that's stood out to me is her rebounding ability. She uses her size well to establish position and box out not only for herself but for teammates to grab boards. Good help defense in the paint. Sets good screens and rolls well/moves off ball.

4. Deana Thompson Deana Thompson 5'8" | CG Harvard Westlake | 2025 State CA - Harvard Westlake 2025

Thompson is a talented scorer on the wing. She's a slasher, she's consistently able to get to the basket and put pressure on the defense. Strong body control to finish at the basket through traffic. Can shoot the pull-up three-point shot. She can be a primary ball-handler and she can move off ball as well. Consistently able to create her own shot.

5. Leila Boykin Leila Boykin 5'11" | C Alemany | 2026 State CA - Alemany 2026

Boykin is another true center. She can establish and hold her position in the paint, sealing off her defender. She's strong and able to muscle through to finish in the paint. She can read the defense well and knows how to effectively pass out of the post. Good rebounder and good screener.