Newsday's annual list of the top Long Island public and Catholic high school girls basketball players as the 2025-26 gets underway. Players are listed in alphabetical order, with all stats from on last season unless otherwise noted.

Angelina Almonacy, Brentwood, 5-2, G, Jr.

She is a smooth and versatile scorer with a pure shooting touch that makes her dangerous from anywhere on the floor. She averaged 12 points.

Savanna Appleton, Massapequa, 6-0, G/F, Sr.

Appleton is a versatile player who can play all five positions. She averaged 11 points and nine rebounds and grabbed double-digit rebounds in eight games.

Izzy Aristy, Farmingdale, 5-7, PG, So.

She averaged 12 points and five assists, helping to lead Farmingdale to the Nassau Class AAA quarterfinals.

From left: Farmingdale's Izzy Aristy, Massapequa's Savanna Appleton and Brentwood's Angelina Almonacy.

Mia Betancourt, Mt. Sinai, 5-6, G, Sr.

The Franklin Pierce commit and five-year varsity starter averaged 19.2 points and five rebounds. She had 26 points in Mt. Sinai’s 47-40 win over Islip in the Suffolk Class A finals.

Sofia Begawala, Herricks, 5-5, G, Jr.

She has the ability to take over games offensively and defensively, and can get to the basket and drain threes from the outside. She averaged 14.3 points and drained 36 3-pointers.

Althea Borleo, Clarke, 5-9, F, Sr.

The Ramapo College commit averaged 11 points and six rebounds. She’s an athletic big who is efficient at defending the basket.

Brianna Bothell, Long Beach, 5-4, G, Jr.

She averaged 9.1 points, including a season-high 19 points against East Meadow.

Carolyn Brennan, Smithtown East, 5-9, F, Fr.

She averaged 6.8 points and 5.5 rebounds and is expected to play an even larger role this season.

Grace Brantuk, Garden City, 6-0, F, Jr.

She plays hard-nosed defense, is dominant on the glass, and is a threat at both ends of the court. She averaged nine points, nine rebounds and three steals.

Jaelynn Burgess, West Babylon, 5-10, F, So.

She averaged 17.4 points, five rebounds and four assists, and finished as one of Suffolk's top 10 scorers.

Amayah Burke, Half Hollow Hills West, 5-8, G, So.

She’s a terrific ball handler who has the ability to hit shots from long range and get to the basket. She averaged 7.3 points and 4.2 rebounds.

Emma Burmeister, Lindenhurst, 5-4, PG, Sr.

The Cortland commit averaged 17.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, four steals and four assists. She looks to lead her team to the playoffs this season after missing it by just one game her junior season.

Jayla Callender, Comsewogue, 5-9, G, Sr.

She’s a dynamic guard who can score from the perimeter, the post, or off the dribble, making her extremely hard to defend. She averaged 14.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.5 steals and 4.1 assists.

Clockwise from left: Mia Betancourt of Mount Sinai, Jaelynn Burgess of West Babylon, Jayla Callender of Comsewogue and Brianna Bothell of Long Beach.

Chloe Campbell, Floyd, 6-0, F, Jr.

Campbell can handle the ball, has great footwork, and an outstanding shooting touch. She averaged nine points, nine rebounds, and three blocks, including a 21-point, 11-rebound, and three-block performance against Central Islip.

Meaghan Campbell, MacArthur, 5-10, F, Sr.

The Vassar College commit’s size, ball-handling ability and quickness make her a force on the court. She averaged 15 points and 14 rebounds.

Laila Carr, St. Mary’s, 5-7, G, Sr.

Carr played a vital role in St. Mary’s run to the state championship, and had 10 points in the Nassau-Suffolk CHSAA final win over St. Anthony’s.

Alexa Cergol, Mt. Sinai, 5-9, F, Jr.

She played a crucial role as a sophomore, averaging 13.1 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

Maggie Cassidy, Port Washington, 5-5, G, Sr.

She controls the floor, can drive to the basket, shoot three-pointers, and look for the open player to get the assist.

Sandra Clarke, Westhampton, 5-5, PG, Sr.

Clarke averaged 15 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three steals. Her ability to score and set up her teammates makes her difficult to guard.

Scarlet Cubero, St. Mary’s, 5-7, G, Sr.

Cubero is a do-it-all guard who can shoot the three, finish around the rim, and play high-intense defense.

Riley Currier, Kings Park, 6-0, F, Fr.

She’s athletic, has great hands, and a solid mid-range shot. She averaged nine points and 11 rebounds.

Ava DeMarco, Northport, 5-3, PG, Jr.

She averaged 7.2 points, including a season-high of 19 points in Northport’s Suffolk Class AAA quarterfinal win against North Babylon.

Kay DeRose, St. Dominic, 5-9, G, Sr.

The Franklin Marshall commit averaged 8.8 points, six rebounds, four steals, and three assists.

Kylie Di Menna, Sachem North, 6-2, F, Jr.

She’s a dominant post player and can hit shots from the outside. She averaged 11.2 points and 9.2 rebounds.

Ainsley Dirks, Cold Spring Harbor, 5-7, G, Jr.

The three-sport varsity athlete had 10 points in Cold Spring Harbor’s dominant 57-22 win over Babylon in the Class B Long Island Championship. She averaged eight points, six rebounds and four steals.

Marisa Dominic, Half Hollow Hills East, 5-11, F, Jr.

She is a great three-point shooter who also rebounds and blocks shots. She is looking to play an even bigger role and become a top scorer.

Maeve Downing, New Hyde Park, 5-9, G, Sr.

She has excellent athleticism, she’s unselfish, and a great defender. She averaged 15.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.8 steals and 3.6 deflections.

Ja’Niyah Eady, Freeport, 5-6, So.

She made an impact as a freshman, averaging 7.7 points and 2.3 assists.

Leahlani Ellis, Bay Shore, 5-4, PG, Jr.

She averaged 7.2 points, 3.1 assists, and 3.7 rebounds, including 13 points in three separate games.

Jaclyn Engel, Ward Melville, 5-3, G, Sr.

She is a shifty guard who has elite speed with the ball. She can break down defenders, and is a premier defender with quick hands and great instincts.

Paige Fessler, Valley Stream North, 5-9, F, Jr.

She averaged eight points and 11.8 rebounds. She’s been a consistent impact player since her freshman season, and she will play an even bigger role this season .

Laila Folkes, Connetquot, 5-6, G, So.

The transfer from Portledge averaged 17.4 points per game. She’s a confident ball handler who can make great decisions off the dribble.

Morgan Fiedler, Babylon, 5-3, PG, Fr.

She’s a dynamic multi-tooled point guard who has a tremendous basketball IQ and court vision. She averaged 13.1 points, 4.1 assists and 3.5 steals.

Alexa Fortune, Hauppauge, 5-9, G, Sr.

The Oneonta commit is one of the strongest shooters beyond the arc in the county, finishing with 53 three-pointers. She averaged 17.2 points.

Bella Franck, Connetquot, 5-5, G, Sr.

She has great vision on the floor and possesses the ability to adjust at a moment’s notice. She averaged 11.3 points, four assists, and 4.5 rebounds.

Ava Gomes, Carle Place, 6-0, F, Jr.

She is a tremendous athlete with great size and speed, which makes her extremely difficult to match up with. She averaged 10.2 points and 11.3 rebounds.

Grace Gilmartin, Northport, 5-10, F, Sr.

Gilmartin averaged 10.3 points and nine rebounds, and is expected to produce better stats this season.

Jenna Greek, Ward Melville, 5-7, G, Sr.

She is a great all-around defender, shot blocker and rebounder. She is a sharp-shooter who averaged 9.7 points and 11 rebounds.

Karley Handleman, Oceanside, 5-6, G, Sr.

After graduating 11 seniors, Handleman will be the centerpiece of the offense. She averaged 6.5 points.

Bridget Hansen, Sachem East, 6-1, C, Jr.

Hansen is the rim protector on defense and cleans up the glass on both sides of the floor. Offensively, she can play with her back to the basket in the post or put the ball on the floor and attack from the perimeter. She averaged 10.7 points and 10.4 rebounds.

Madison Harris, Freeport, 5-8, F, Jr.

Harris is a player who can do it all. She averaged 10.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, and three steals.

Samantha Heyman, Half Hollow Hills East, 5-5, PG, Sr.

She is a great playmaker, an elite defender, and provides timely scoring. She had 12 points in a playoff win over West Babylon.

Paige Hiller, Whitman, 5-7, G, Sr.

Hiller is a great defender who drives hard to the basket and is also a threat from the three-point line. The St. Joseph’s commit averaged 7.5 points.

Gabrielle Himmelstein, St. Dominic, 5-8, G, Sr.

The Oneonta commit averaged 12.3 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three assists, including a season-high 19 points in a win over Huntington.

Jamirah Jones, Deer Park, 5-5, G, Jr.

She combines scoring ability with elite defensive skills, making her a game-changer on both ends of the floor. She averaged 12.2 points.

Jazmynn Julien, Whitman, 5-9, G, Jr.

She’s a strong, athletic and versatile guard who averaged 15.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and four steals.

Mia Koloden, Hewlett, 5-6, G, Jr.

Koloden is competitive on both sides of the ball. She averaged 16.3 points and 5.2 rebounds, and she thrives at the three-point line, finishing with 45 threes.

Sadie Krangle, Jericho, 5-9, G, Sr.

She is a shifty lefty who can shoot from all over the court. She averaged 21.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 4.3 steals.

Nikki Kyriacou, Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK, 5-8, F, So.

She averaged eight points and six rebounds, including 17 points against Syosset in the Nassau Class AAA final.

Erin Lily La Rosa, North Shore, 5-7, G, Sr.

She’s a great athlete who can run the floor and finish at the rim. She averaged 11.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 steals.

Connor Leahy, Bayport-Blue Point, 5-2, G, Sr.

The three-sport varsity athlete uses her athleticism on the court to drive to the basket and get back on defense.

Peyton Logue Boyd, Babylon, 6-0, F, Sr.

She helped lead Babylon to a league championship and its first Suffolk County championship. Her dominance inside the paint led her averaging 12.7 points and 10.4 rebounds.

Alyssa Lorefice, Smithtown West, 5-7, F, Sr.

She was Smithtown West’s leading scorer, averaging 15.2 points.

Janessa Love, Brentwood, 5-6, G, Sr.

She is a high-IQ player who consistently finds the right spots on the floor, finishes strong at the rim, and can stretch the defense with reliable three-point shooting. She averaged 10 points and helped lead Brentwood to a county championship.

Julia Madsen, Sayville, 5-4, G, 8th

She’s a talented player who can handle the ball well and has great court vision. She will look to take a bigger role this season as an eighth grader, and she averaged eight points.

Madison Mais, Copiague, 5-5, PG, Fr.

Mais is a versatile, skilled point guard with a lightning-quick first step and natural playmaking ability, making her hard to guard. She averaged 10 points .

Kayla Mannix, Wantagh, 6-0, F, Sr.

Mannix is aggressive driving to the basket, and has the ability to dribble through defenders to score. She averaged 15.7 points and had 18 points in the Long Island Championship win over Mt. Sinai.

Ava McDonald, Huntington, 5-5, PG, Jr.

She controls all aspects of the game and is the driving force behind the offense and defense. She averaged 10 points, five rebounds and five assists.

Grace McDonald, Locust Valley, 5-7, G, Fr.

She led Locust Valley in scoring as an eighth-grader, averaging 13.2 points, three assists and three rebounds.

Emily McGowan, Seaford, 5-7, G, Jr.

She’s an all-around player with speed, great ball-handling, shooting and defense. She averaged 10.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.8 steals.

Jaylah McKay, Syosset, 5-6, G, Jr.

She is a relentless competitor who remained poised on the court and rose to every challenge as a sophomore. She averaged 8.2 points and 2.5 steals, helping lead Syosset to its first Long Island championship.

Claire McKenzie, Mattituck, 5-10, G, Sr.

She finished as one of the top scorers in Suffolk, averaging 17.3 points, including a season-high of 29 points against Southampton.

Molly McNamara, Farmingdale, 5-9, F, Fr.

She averaged 11 points and 10 rebounds, and will continue to be a vital part of the offense and defense.

Maddie Michalopoulos, Harborfields, 5-8, G, Soph.

She possesses an explosive first step to the basket with the ability to finish consistently at the rim, and is an excellent overall defender.

Maggie Miller, Sacred Heart Academy, 5-7, G, Sr.

She’s able to effectively get to the basket and shoot the three. She averaged 12 points, four assists and four rebounds.

Rylee Moran, Islip, 5-10, G, Sr.

The St. Joseph’s commit can shoot on the run and from behind the arc, and can battle for rebounds. She averaged 10.4 points.

Janiya Morris, Copiague, 5-11, F, So.

She’s a physical and athletic presence around the rim, and she consistently overpowers defenders with her strength, touch, and driven motor. She averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Maya Motherway, St. Anthony’s, 5-8, G, Sr.

The Wellesley College commit averaged over 10 points.

Madeline Mott, Friends Academy, 5-9, F, Fr.

She averaged a team-leading 15.9 points, 14 rebounds and four steals.

Olivia Mulada, Cold Spring Harbor, 5-6, G, Jr.

She played a pivotal role in Cold Spring Harbor’s Class B state championship win over Hornell, finishing as the Seahawks’ lead scorer with 16. She averaged 13 points, four assists and five steals.

Ajeya Nicholas, Baldwin, 6-0, F, Jr.

The 6-0 forward is a super athlete. She is committed to play at Wagner College.

Gabby Nicolini, MacArthur, 5-8, G/F, Sr.

Her ball handling skills, shooting range and strength make her very hard to guard. She has unlimited range from the three-point line. She averaged 13 points and eight rebounds.

Breanne Noguera, New Hyde Park, 5-7, G, Sr.

After missing an entire season due to an ACL injury, Noguera is back. She’s a a lockdown defender who can post up, hit the three, or drive to the rim.

Chinaya Okogeri, Baldwin, 5-7, G, Jr.

Okegeri played a huge role defensively in Baldwin’s success last season. She will have the role of guarding the opposing team’s best players.

Violet Ortenzi, Port Washington, 5-9, F, Jr.

She is the cornerstone of the Port Washington offense, averaging 9.6 points. She drives to the basket with power, and leads the team in rebounds.

Mia Padula, St. Dominic, 5-7, PG, Sr.

The Salisbury University commit averaged 10.8 points, five rebounds, five steals, and seven assists.

Savannah Pantry, Floyd, 5-9, F, Jr.

Pantry was the leading scorer for the Colonials, averaging 11 points, 11 rebounds and three steals. She had 11 double-doubles.

Marisa Patrissi, Garden City, 5-9, F, Sr.

She is a threat inside and out, able to pull up and shoot jumpers or post up effectively in the paint. She averaged 10 points and seven rebounds.

Danielle Perfetto, Manhasset, 5-9, G, Jr.

She is a do-it-all guard, a natural leader, and someone who can score inside and out. She averaged 16 points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals.

Catherine Piccininni, Smithtown West, 5-6, G, Sr.

The heart and soul of the Smithtown West team, the Manhattanville commit recorded the program’s first quadruple-double with 28 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists, and 11 steals in a 75-71 overtime win over Comsewogue. She averaged 12.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists.

Alyssa Polonia, Baldwin, 5-7, G, Sr.

The Assumption University commit was a key player in Baldwin’s state championship run. She averaged 10 points, three rebounds, three assists, and three steals.

Juliette Payoute, Floral Park, 5-6, G, So.

She finished her freshman season with over 365 points, including 30 three-pointers. She can play any position and is a leader on and off the court.

Teagan Rao, Islip, 5-7, G, Sr.

She’s a gutsy and gritty player who can play the post but also step out and hit a three-pointer. She averaged 11.1 points.

Madison Richter, Whitman, 5-10, F, Jr.

Richter has a great three-point shot and has great vision as a passer. She averaged 9.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and two assists.

Destiny Robinson, St. Mary’s, 6-1, F, Sr.

She averaged 20 points and 16 rebounds, leading the Gaels to the Nassau-Suffolk CHSAA championship and reaching the state final.

Malia Robinson, Baldwin, 5-4, PG, So.

She will become a starter this year and is expected to play an even bigger role for the Bruins. She averaged five points and 2.5 assists.

Olivia Rush, North Babylon, 5-9, G/F, Jr.

She can play all five positions on the offensive end where she will be the main scoring option for the Bulldogs. On defense, she can guard all five positions. She averaged nine points and six rebounds.

Grace Samodulski, Oyster Bay, 5-1, G, Sr.

Her motor on defense and her ability to guard the opposing team’s best players allowed Oyster Bay to let up just 33.6 points per game. She runs the offense as a point guard and averaged 12.2 points.

Zahara Saintyl, Uniondale, 6-1, G/F, Sr.

Coming off an injury last season, Saintyl can drive to the basket, post up, and shoot three-pointers.

Francesca Santacroce, Greenport/Southold, 5-9, G, Sr.

The Ave Maria commit averaged 10 points, five rebounds and five assists.

Samantha Schneider, Syosset, 5-8, Sr.

The Carnegie Mellon commit finished as Nassau’s lead scorer last season, averaging 24 points, seven rebounds, and seven steals, and finishing the season with 565 points, including 67 three-pointers. She dominates every part of the game and consistently delivers in big moments.

Ridima Sethi, Herricks, 5-6, G, Sr.

She’s a knockdown shooter who can hit from anywhere and is a strong facilitator and passer. She averaged 12.7 points and drained 48 three-pointers.

Kayla Solomon, St. Mary’s, 5-8, G, Sr.

The University of Massachusetts Lowell commit averaged 15 points and five rebounds.

Pia Smaldone, East Islip, 6-0, F, Fr.

She has a great combination of size and skill, can play inside and out and can be a force in the paint and on the perimeter. She averaged 10 points and nine rebounds.

Riley Szokoli, St. Dominic, 5-10, G, So.

The transfer from Glenn is expected to make a big impact. In her freshman season at Glenn, she averaged nearly 20 points .

Kate Sweet, Westhampton, 5-8, G, Jr.

She’s quick and athletic, and is able to break out in transition and knock down shots. She averaged 12 points, four rebounds, and six steals.

Jasmine Taylor, Westhampton, 5-10, C, Sr.

She averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds. She has a great sense of space and moves in the paint, getting open for good looks.

Tiana Thompson, St. Mary’s, 5-9, G, Sr.

The LaSalle University commit averaged 10 points and eight rebounds, including a season-high 21 points in a 82-40 win over Sacred Heart.

Hayley Torres, Centereach, 5-3, G, Sr.

She’s a great passer who sees the floor extremely well and constantly makes the right pass to lead her teammates. She averaged 14.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists.

Allison Younghans, Plainedge, 5-4, PG, Jr.

She’s a leader on both ends of the floor. She is able to set the tone on offense, but also shines on defense, averaging 3.7 steals and five deflections.

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