Newsday's top 20 private and prep school girls basketball players for 2025-26
Olivia Jones had 27 points and 10 rebounds as Lutheran girls dominated Gill St. Bernard’s (Gladstone, NJ) on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
Players are listed in alphabetical order, with all stats from on last season unless otherwise noted.
Kennedy Abrahams, Portledge, 5-4, PG, Sr.
She’s a strong point guard, shooter, and defensive player who transferred from LuHi. She averaged 15.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists.
Cece Arico, Long Island Lutheran, 5-10, G, Jr.
She joins the Crusaders as a junior and is ranked No. 22 in the Class of 2027 by ESPN. Arico, the daughter of Michigan women's basketball head coach Kim Barnes Arico, is an excellent rebounder who can initiate the offense and is highly efficient from behind the arc with unlimited range.
Catherine Serwah Banahene, Stony Brook School, 6-7, F, 8th
A strong rebounder and shot blocker, she is aggressive at the rim and will continue to develop her game in her first season with the Bears.
Alice Beckett, Long Island Lutheran, 6-2, F, Soph.
The transfer from Division averaged 11.8 points as a freshman.
Taylor Brown, Long Island Lutheran, 5-7, Jr.
She averaged 16.3 points and 5.2 rebounds against a national schedule. Brown has the ability to finish at the basket and shoot from beyond the arc.
Clockwise from left: Kennedy Abrahams of Portledge, Alice Beckett of Long Island Lutheran (transferred from Division), Taylor Brown of Long Island Lutheran, Jordan Cooper of Portledge, Malia Coakley of Stony Brook School (transferred from North Babylon).
Malia Coakley, Stony Brook School, 5-4, G, Jr.
The transfer from North Babylon averaged 8.1 points in her sophomore season, including scoring 15 points against Northport.
Jordan Cooper, Portledge, 5-6, G, Jr.
She is a key three-point shooter, knocking down 34 threes last season. She averaged 8.7 points as a sophomore.
Lucia Dersch, Long Island Lutheran, 5-10, G, Fr.
The freshman is a shifty guard who is solid from the three-point line.
Rhylin Fehrenbach, Long Island Lutheran, 5-10, G/F, Sr.
She’s a strong wing and a high-level rebounder who has mastered the pick and roll and back-door to get feeds at the rim. She is committed to Cornell.
Emily Forrester, Long Island Lutheran, 6-4, F, Jr.
She’s a versatile forward who has a strong presence on both ends of the court. She averaged 5.8 points and 6.2 rebounds.
Sanai Green, Long Island Lutheran, 6-1, G/F, Sr.
The 25th-ranked guard in the Class of 2026 by ESPN is coming off an ACL injury. She is committed to Duke University.
Ariela Hamilton, Stony Brook School, 5-8, G, Jr.
The transfer from Half Hollow Hills East brings experience and athleticism to the Stony Brook School roster. She averaged 12.3 points per game.
Clockwise from top left: Lucia Dersch of Long Island Lutheran, Olivia Jones of Long Island Lutheran, Rhylin Fehrenbach of Long Island Lutheran, Ariela Hamilton of Stony Brook School (transferred from Half Hollow Hills East) and Emily Forrester of Long Island Lutheran.
Olivia Jones, Long Island Lutheran, 6-0, G, Sr.
The Vanderbilt commit is ranked No. 14 in the Class of 2026 by ESPN. She averaged 9.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game against a national schedule.
Coco Lohmiller, Long Island Lutheran, 5-8, G, Jr.
She’s a fast and athletic guard who can get to the rim or shoot the three-pointer.
Annalyn Loiacono, Smithtown Christian, 5-3, G, Jr.
She is the team's key player who helps Smithtown Christian compete at a high level. She consistently faces double teams as other teams game plan to slow her down. She averaged 16.7 points.
Emily McDonald, Long Island Lutheran, 6-0, G, Sr.
The Kentucky commit is an elite combo guard who averaged over 13 points per game. She’s a do-it-all guard who is long and skilled on both ends of the floor.
Rebekah Moore, Stony Brook School, 5-6, G, 8th
She averaged 12 points per game as a seventh grader and will continue to be a strong offensive presence for the Bears.
Bridget O’Hara, Long Island Lutheran, 5-11, Fr.
The freshman is relentless on the boards and will knock down the open three-pointer consistently.
Abby Smith, Stony Brook School, 5-4, G, So.
The Poly Prep transfer is an athletic guard who can shoot from range and competes at a high level. She averaged 14 points per game.
From left: Savvy Swords of Long Island Lutheran, Emily McDonald of Long Island Lutheran and Annalyn Loiacono of Smithtown Christian.
Savvy Swords, Long Island Lutheran, 6-2, Sr.
The Kentucky commit and the No. 19-ranked in the Class of 2026 by ESPN is coming off an ACL injury and is expected to return as one of the leading scorers in the country.
