2025 Junior Player of the Year Finalists Pt 1

Inspired by the Miss Basketball award, which seeks to honor the best senior basketball players in the state, we wanted to add our flavor to postseason awards. Danyle and I have collaborated to determine a list of deserving high school prospects for every grade that we wish to nominate as Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Player of the Year Finalists.   This award emphasizes individual accomplishments and performances during the 2024-25 season. Prospects who compete on teams that excel in their division, conference, and against competitive teams were prioritized. To be included as a finalist, a player must have played for a high school team ranked by an authoritative girls basketball resource and demonstrated consistent impactful performances throughout the season. Two Player of the Year Finalists will be selected for each grade. The girls chosen are those who we believe impact their team with such significance that their team would not be in the same competitive category without them. Their performance throughout the scope of this season stands above other finalists and makes them the most deserving recipient of what we hope will be a highly respected award for years to come. This is our attempt to offer a fresh award to several of the best basketball players in the state, on the best teams in the state. Here are six of our 2025 Junior Player of the Year Finalists.   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2025/03/2025-junior-player-of-the-year-finalists-pt-2/">Read Junior Player of the Year Finalists Pt 2</a>    Sadie has been the top dog for Yale as they enter the postseason with a 19-3 record, BWAC title, with wins against Croswell-Lexington, Armada, Sandusky, and Alpena. Sadie has statistically dominated the field and set the standard in every category for the Bulldogs, averaging 23.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.7 steals, 3.4 assists, and one block per game. Sadie won our Player of the Week Award, setting a school record with 38 points against Richmond. She scored a single-season record with 511 this year and added an exclamation point by passing the previous career scoring mark of 1,141 points in the finale against Anchor Bay. Sadie demonstrates leadership, work ethic, and a commitment to impacting the game on both ends of the court.     [player_tooltip player_id='734932' first='Lillie' last='Johnson'] will graduate as the greatest player in Gladstone school history--she's the best prospect above the Mackinac bridge and one of the best wings in the 2026 class. Lillie was Great Northern U.P. Conference Player of the Year as a sophomore, averaging 24.3 points, 14.5 rebounds, and 4.9 steals. She earned Associated Press D2 First Team honors and followed that up with another huge year as a junior. Lillie led the Braves to a Great Northern U.P. Conference title (8-0) and a 20-2 record with wins against Houghton, Calumet, and Ishpeming. Lillie dominated in every statistical category this season, averaging 21.9 points (43.2 FG%), 11.4 rebounds, 3.9 steals, and 2.8 assists per game. Against undefeated Negaunee, she scored 29 points and poured in 25 earlier this season versus Ishpeming. Lillie has 1,464 career points and is two points away from becoming Gladstone's all-time leading scorer. She holds records for most rebounds in a career with 895, points in a season with 566, points in a single game with 44, and 3-point field goals made in a game with seven.     Rayah has been a leader for Parma Western on and off the court while guiding the Panthers to an outstanding 20-2 record. The Panthers finished with a perfect 12-0 record to win the Interstate 8 conference title, adding statement wins against G.R. West Catholic, Dexter, DEPSA, and Haslett. Rayah averaged 20.8 points, seven rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. She shot an efficient 86% from the free throw line and 34.5% from 3PT range. Rayah passed the 1,000-point mark in February and is the fourth player in school history to do so. Rayah proved she could perform against the best, scoring 23 points with eight rebounds and five assists against Belleville. She led the Panthers to an impressive opening night win against West Catholic, scoring 30 points with seven rebounds, and poured in 27 points against Haslett. Rayah dropped 23 points against Williamston and 25 versus Harper Creek. She's a sniper who can slash to the rim and throw passes on a rope to teammates for assists. My first memory (and favorite) of watching Rayah play was when she inbounded the ball off the back of an unsuspecting defender to score a layup in the playoffs last year. Rayah has committed to playing basketball at Grand Valley State following graduation.     Vanessa was named the Associated Press D2 Player of the Year as a sophomore, and she's been even better this season. After averaging 13 points, four assists, four rebounds, and three assists in 2024, Vanessa increased her output to 15.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists (1.8 Asst/TO ratio), and 2.9 steals per game in 2025. She passed 1,000 points in February and is second all-time with 1,017 career points. In her career, Vanessa has 242 assists, made 165 3PT, 326 rebounds, and a school-record 231 steals. Vanessa is a winner with a 68-6 record at Fa. Gabriel Richard, including three consecutive CHSL championships, state record 28 wins last year, and 32 straight league victories. Vanessa helped the Irish earn quality wins against Rockford, Mercy, St. Mary's Prep, N.D. Academy, Clarkston, Goodrich, Lumen Christi, Chelsea, and Detroit Renaissance. Vanessa was tasked with defending one of the state's top scorers and held her to a 33 FG% from the field. She is a lethal offensive weapon for the Irish and impactful on the defensive end. Some of her top performances this year include 23 points, four rebounds, and six steals vs. Chelsea; 21 points and three steals vs. Mercy; 19 points, four rebounds, and three assists vs. Rockford; 16 points and eight rebounds vs. Belleville; and 23 points vs. Toledo Ursula in 16 minutes.     Abby became the third player in school history to reach 1,000 points while leading Forest Hills Northern to a 20-2 record (9-1 conference) and OK-White Division title. She helped the Huskies earn statement wins against Hudsonville, Portland, G. R. Catholic Central, East Grand Rapids, and Wayland. Abby averaged 25 minutes, 19.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and two steals per game. The lefty sharpshooter shot 35.5% from 3PT range and 74.5% at the free throw line. She drained five triples in a win against Grand Rapids Christian, scoring 32 points with six rebounds. Abby has committed to playing basketball at Grand Valley State following graduation.     Molly was clutch for Kingston last season, earning Associated Press Second-Team All-State honors. She averaged 13.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game as the Cardinals made a magical run to the championship game. This season, Molly took her game to an even higher level, averaging 20.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and four assists per game. Kingston finished the season 18-2, winning the Big Thumb Conference-North with a 9-0 record. They beat Cass City, Croswell-Lexington, and Deckerville. She shot 38% from 3PT range and made 1.9 per game. Molly made 4.1 free throws a game (70%) and shot 45.3% from the floor. Her most dominant performance happened against Dryden when she dropped 31 points.     Lizzie has been on varsity since her freshman year at South Christian. She's a fierce competitor and positive teammate who's been instrumental to the Sailors' success this season. Lizzie holds the school record for 3-pointers made in a career with 129 and has been all-conference twice. Lizzie has reached double-digit points in 14 games this season, averaging 11.7 points per game. She is a sniper from beyond the arc, with a 40.6% 3PT%. Lizzie made three triples in six games and four triples in five games. She scored 16 points with seven rebounds and two assists against Holland Christian, 15 points against East Kentwood, 15 points with four rebounds and two assists against Northview, and a combined 35 points in two outings versus Wyoming; all wins. South Christian finished 20-2 (11-1 conference), splitting wins with G.R. West Catholic to win the O.K. Gold title. Lizzie helped the Sailors earn additional victories against Wayland, East Grand Rapids, and G.R. Catholic Central.

Inspired by the Miss Basketball award, which seeks to honor the best senior basketball players in the state, we wanted to add our flavor to postseason awards. Danyle and I have collaborated to determine a list of deserving high school prospects for every grade that we wish to nominate as Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Player of the Year Finalists.