Schools With Most All-State Players

The most recent all-state elite player from Brea Olinda of Brea has been Reili Richardson (left) of the 2016 team. At right is Haley Jones, a three-time all-state choice from Archbishop Mitty of San Jose. Photos: Jose Rangel / OCSidelines & Dennis Lee / SportStars.


Just like the boys, we also have 40 years of honoring the most outstanding California high school girls basketball players with all-state selections. In fact, we just added the first one for 1980 with sophomore Cheryl Miller of Riverside Poly on first team. Here’s a look at which schools have had the most named to our elite squads and it’s very close at the top among three schools. One of those three is from Orange County, but it might not be the school you are thinking about first. We have all of the players listed underneath their school.

Note: The following lists are based on first team overall, second team overall, third team overall (10 each) and also for those seasons in which the all-state teams were done in groups of five down to a sixth team. These do not include any divisional all-state choices or those named to all-state underclass. We hadn’t had our teams from the 1979-1980 and 1980-1981 seasons on this site before today, but we pulled those two teams from our archives and put them on our all-state landing page. The first year of all-state teams for girls basketball by Cal-Hi Sports was for the 1979-80 school year (41 years ago).

Note: We hope you enjoy this free post on CalHiSports.com. To check out the extensive archive with all of these all-state teams, to see the recently added all-time state records for girls basketball updated through the 2020 season and to see our upcoming feature about the 30 greatest teams in state history, you’ll need to become a Gold Club member. To sign up for just pennies per day, CLICK HERE.

Brea Olinda head coach Jeff Sink addresses the media after CIF state title game in 2016. Photo: Ronnie Flores.


BREA OLINDA (BREA)
Rochelle Anthony (1997)
Jody Anton (1991, 1992)
Tammy Blackburn (1990)
Lindsey Davidson (1998, 1999)
Carrie Egan (1985, 1986, 1987)
Nicole Erickson (1992, 1993, 1994)
Jonae Ervin (2009)
Kelsey Harris (2010)
Justine Hartman (2011)
Da Houl (1983)
Colleen Hudson (1997)
Jackie Lord (2001)
Aimee McDaniel (1988, 1989, 1990)
Lauren Pedersen (2004)
Alexis Perry (2010, 2011)
Jeanette Pohlen (2005, 2006, 2007)
Reili Richardson (2016)
Kendall Rodriguez (2009)
Susan Tousey (1987)
Chelsea Trotter (1998, 1999, 2000)
Keitra Wallace (2014)
Notes: That’s a count of 21 players representing 34 all-state selections for the Ladycats. Unlike most of the others on this list, Brea Olinda has been a program led by multiple head coaches. The three that have won CIF state titles have been Mark Trakh (1989, 1991-93), John Hattrup (1994) and Jeff Sink (1998-2000, 2009, 2016). Brea’s 10 state titles also are the most of any school in California girls basketball.

Arica Carter and Lajahna Drummer both gained all-state elite honors for 2014 season. Photo: Ronnie Flores.


LONG BEACH POLY (LONG BEACH)
Sheila Boykin (2010, 2011)
Lilly Buggs (2020)
Arica Carter (2013, 2014)
Ayanna Clark (2016, 2017)
April Cook (2008)
Ariya Crook-Williams (2011)
Jasmine Dixon (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)
Lajahna Drummer (2014)
Taja Edwards (2007)
K.K. Johns (1995)
Jasmine Jones (2016, 2017)
Destiny King (2012)
Tania Lamb (2015)
Ashlee Lewis (2020)
Keyla Morgan (2013)
Candice Nichols (2007)
Monique Oliver (2008, 2009)
April Phillips (2005)
Kameca Simmons (2002)
Judith Smith (2003, 2004)
Brittany Wilson (2009, 2010)
Notes: We came up with 21 all-state players for the Jackrabbits as well, which is the same as Brea. The only difference is that Poly has 31 selections compared to 34 for Brea. All of Poly’s picks other than one have come under the program’s direction of current head coach Carl Buggs. It’s a reflection of the many top-ranked teams he’s had and our penchant for wanting to get top players onto the top all-state teams from the top teams. Poly hardly ever has players with glowing stats since balanced scoring and depth have been the constant trademarks of Buggs’ squads.

A 2007 all-state player, Danielle Robinson of San Jose Archbishop Mitty eventually made it to the WNBA. Photo: NBA.com.


ARCHBISHOP MITTY (SAN JOSE)
Nicole Blakes (2018)
Rometra Craig (1999, 2000)
Khalidah Daniels (2003)
Maureen Formico (1982)
Melissa Glazebrook (1998)
Jenna Green (2003)
Aimee Grzeb (2000)
Kelly Hayes (2012, 2013, 2014)
Ashley Hiraki (2020)
Maddy Holland (2016, 2017)
Kristin Iwanaga (2001)
Haley Jones (2017, 2018, 2019)
Amanda Lovely (2012)
Kassandra McCalister (2007)
Karisma Ortiz (2017, 2018)
Danielle Robinson (2005, 2006, 2007)
Kathy Stahl (1991)
Kerri Walsh (1995, 1996)
Ashley Watson (2011)
Olivia Williams (2020)
Notes: Mitty is the leader for NorCal and very close to first for the state with 20 players who’ve been on our top all-state teams representing 30 all-state picks. Head coach Sue Phillips, by no coincidence, also is the winningest head coach in NorCal history. There have been a few Mitty players named all-state before Sue started in 1993, plus there was one during the year she was working as a college assistant. The school’s first all-state player, Maureen Formico (1982), is the aunt of the third all-state player, Kerri Walsh (1995-96), who of course went on to become the most decorated women’s volleyball player in U.S. history.

Lynwood has been a state powerhouse under Ellis Barfield since the early 1990s. Photo: caschoolnews.net.


LYNWOOD
Andrea Adams (2002)
Elana Adams (1993)
Kim Barfield (1991)
Janice Bright (2002)
Angela Christian (1983)
Shefonda Colbert (1992)
Reyana Colson (2007)
Janet Davis (1992)
Tawana Grimes (1994)
Trise Jackson (1986, 1987, 1988)
Tanisha Johnson (1996)
Brandi Kimble (2004)
Timicha Kirby (1993, 1994)
Rayah Marshall (2020)
Lenita Sanford (2006)
Kameca Simmons (2003)
Linda Watson (1989, 1990)
Sa’de Wiley-Gatewood (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)
Notes: That’s 18 players representing 25 all-state selections for the Knights. Both St. Mary’s of Stockton and Mater Dei of Santa Ana have tied or more all-state selections, but two less players. Just like at the top of this list with the first three schools, it’s also virtually close to being a tie for the next three positions. Ellis Barfield has been Lynwood’s head coach since 1992, which was the next season following the graduation of his all-state sister, Kim. There were several all-state players out of the program before that, too, particularly 1988 Ms. Basketball State Player of the Year Trise Jackson.

Aquira DeCosta has the honor of being the only four-time all-state player from St. Mary’s of Stockton. Photo: Mark Tennis.


ST. MARY’S (STOCKTON)
Dominique Banks (2002, 2003)
Mi’Cole Cayton (2015, 2016)
Aquira DeCosta (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
Jacki Gemelos (2004, 2005, 2006)
Ali Gibson (2011)
Chelsea Gray (2008, 2009, 2010)
Charisse Holloway (2014)
Afure Jemerigbe (2008, 2009, 2010)
Ariel Johnson (2018)
Melanie Knott (1986, 1987)
Bri Moore (2013)
Andrea Nederostek (2001)
Amaya Oliver (2020)
Courtney Range (2012)
Renee Roberts (2005)
Kat Tudor (2015, 2016)
Notes: The Rams don’t have as many all-state players as Brea, Long Beach Poly or Mitty, but their total of 28 all-state selections (coming from 16 players) is close to the top. All of the players except two have come during the time in which the program was led by head coach Tom Gonsalves. He resigned after the 2020 season so his last all-state elite player will be recent grad Amaya Oliver. The team’s new head coach will be Alle Moreno, a former player at St. Mary’s who was an assistant at San Jose State.

Point guard Andee Velasco of Mater Dei joined more celebrated teammate Katie Lou Samuelson on the all-state elite team twice. Photo: Willie Eashman.


MATER DEI (SANTA ANA)
Jayda Adams (2017)
Jordan Adams (2010, 2011, 2012)
Cailyn Crocker (2019)
Brooke Demetre (2019, 2020)
Alyssa Durazo-Frescas (2020)
Nirra Fields (2012)
Ronnie Gondringer (1996)
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (2009, 2010, 2011)
Melody Peterson (1995, 1996)
Ally Rosenblum (2016)
Katie Lou Samuelson (2013, 2014, 2015)
Karlie Samuelson (2013)
Emma Torbert (2018)
Alexys Vaioletama (2011)
Andee Velasco (2014, 2015)
Alexas Williamson (2012)
Notes: We counted 16 players from Mater Dei, which is the same as St. Mary’s of Stockton, but three less all-state selections (25). It has to be mentioned that if the totals of all-state players counted for head coach Kevin Kiernan were combined from both Mater Dei and his previous school, Troy of Fullerton (where he was from 1997 to 2007), that he would have 36, and that would be the most of any one coach.

BERKELEY
Brittany Boyd (2010, 2011)
Chairese Culberson (2011)
Elisha Davis (2012)
Desire Finney (2014)
Angel Hardy (1980, 1981)
Aisha Hollans (1998, 1999, 2000)
Rachel Howard (2013)
Shavaki Jackson (1997)
Alexandra Kay (1991)
Erica McGlaston (1998)
Alexandria Mitchell (2007)
Jazmine Perkins (2008)
Robin Roberson (2001)
Tanda Rucker (1990, 1991)
Juleah Woods (1990)
Notes: The Yellowjackets have had all-state elite players in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. Most of them were guided by 1990s/2000s head coach Gene Nakamura. There could be a new era of Berkeley girls hoops about to begin under new head coach Shawn Hipol, who previously was at St. Joseph Notre Dame (Alameda). We have the Yellowjackets with 15 players representing 20 all-state selections.

NARBONNE (HARBOR CITY)
Jessica Cheeks (1998, 1999)
Gabriella Clark (2008)
Wilnett Crockett (2001, 2002)
Jamie Funn (2003)
Ebony Hoffman (1998, 1999, 2000)
Ify Ibekwe (2007)
Indi Johnson (2003)
Camille LeNoir (2003, 2004)
Kawai Matthews (1997)
Morghan Medlock (2006)
Loree Moore (2000, 2001)
La’Tecia Smith (2015)
Reiko Thomas (2008)
Lisa Willis (2000, 2001, 2002)
Notes: The glory years of the Narbonne girls in the late 1990s and early 2000s helped push their totals of all-state selections to 14 players and 22 selections. The team in 2000 went 34-0 and we don’t think we’re spoiling anything by saying it will be near the top in our upcoming feature that will rank the 30 greatest teams in state history.

Two-time all-state elite selection Madison Campbell is the daughter of head coach Craig Campbell. Photo: ClovisRoundup.com.


CLOVIS WEST (FRESNO)
Emily Anderson (2014)
Sarah Bates (2017)
Paige Bowie (1996)
Madison Campbell (2018, 2019)
Lindsey Dion (1997)
Kristi Fulton (1991)
Morgan Hatten (2009)
Danae Marquez (2017)
Brianna Orlich (2010)
Staci Oddo (1992)
Bre’yanna Sanders (2017)
Linsay Shaver (2002)
Nikki Tom (2020)
Adrian Williams (1994, 1995)
Notes: That’s 14 players and 16 all-state picks for the Golden Eagles, which is tops for the CIF Central Section. At first glance, you might think it’s all because of the recent success of the program under current head coach Craig Campbell. That’s mostly correct, but Clovis West had its share of top players before Campbell’s arrival. That includes two-time honoree Adrian Williams, who later played at USC and was in the 2003 WNBA All-Star Game.

Sami Whitcomb went from Buena to the University of Washington and then to several MVP seasons in Australia before joining WNBA. Photo: Wikipedia.org.


BUENA (VENTURA)
Keani Albanez (2011)
Lee Brock (1983, 1984)
Eboni Conley (1996)
Mikko Giordano (1993, 1994)
Kelly Greathouse (2001)
Nicole Greathouse (1996, 1997)
Courtney La Vere (2002)
Mary Klemm (1987, 1988)
Mia Palkie (1991)
Teresa Palmisano (1986, 1987)
Joanie Weinerth (1989)
Sami Whitcomb (2005, 2006)
Courtney Young (2001)
Notes: The Bulldogs are right behind Clovis West for players with 13, but they’ve had a few more repeaters and have more all-state picks than the Golden Eagles with 19. Buena hasn’t had an all-state player in our top 30 since 2011 and Keani Albanez also is the only one that’s been that high since legendary head coach Joe Vaughan retired after the 2007 season. Vaughan’s state record of 761 wins wasn’t surpassed until 2019.

Kennedy Johnson was one of the top players in Northern California in 2020. Photo: Hudl.com.


BISHOP O’DOWD (OAKLAND)
Ariell Bostick (2013)
Oderah Chidom (2012, 2013)
Calisha Harmon (1994)
Kennedy Johnson (2019, 2020)
Sara Lillevand (1986)
Mikayla Lyles (2010)
Robie Mayberry (2010)
Myah Pace (2016, 2017)
Aisia Robertson (2015)
Asha Thomas (2014, 2015)
Kendall “KC” Waters (2012, 2013)
Notes: Kennedy Johnson has a chance to become O’Dowd’s first three-time all-state elite selection since she still has her senior season to play and cracked the all-state top 30 lineup as a sophomore and junior. The Dragons had three players that high in 2013 when they won the first-ever CIF Open Division state title. We counted them with 11 players representing 16 all-state selections for this feature.

Kianna Smith also was a 2016 McDonald’s All-American. Photo: Troy Warrior Athletics.


TROY (FULLERTON)
Gabriella Hansen (2013)
Veronica Johns-Richardson (2000, 2001)
Alicia Komaki (2002)
Amanda Livingston (2003)
Meghan McGuire (2004)
Rhaya Neabors (2005, 2006)
Rheya Neabors (2005, 2006)
Amanda Sims (2008)
Kianna Smith (2017)
Barbara Sitanggan (2016)
Sara Yee (2006)
Notes: That’s 11 players and 14 selections for the Warriors. Not all of them came in those 10 years when they were led by head coach Kevin Kiernan, either. Since Kiernan left for Mater Dei, Troy hasn’t won state titles but has been outstanding and has had three all-state players.

LA JOLLA COUNTRY DAY (LA JOLLA)
Breya Cunningham (2020)
Janae Fulcher (2008)
Mai-Loni Henson (2015, 2016)
Malina Hood (2012)
Maya Hood (2012)
Te-hina PaoPao (2019, 2020)
Kelsey Plum (2011, 2012, 2013)
Marissa Rivera (2004)
Alaysia Styles (2016, 2017)
Candice Wiggins (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)
Notes: All of the Torreys’ 10 players and 18 all-state selections have come under the current run of head coach Terri Bamford, who has been at Country Day since 1997. She figures to keep adding to the totals since one of those from 2020 was then-freshman Breya Cunningham.

WINDWARD (LOS ANGELES)
Jordin Canada (2012, 2013, 2014)
Kaiyah Corona (2018, 2019)
Hailey Dunham (2006)
Courtney Jaco (2013)
Charisma Osborne (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
Kris Simon (2013, 2014)
Imani Stafford (2011, 2012)
Juju Watkins (2020)
McKayla Williams (2020)
Jayde Woods (2016)
Notes: For the last team we wrote up for this feature it was an exact tie between Windward and La Jolla Country Day (10 players, 18 selections). Other than Hailey Dunham, all of those from Windward have come under head coach Vanessa Nygaard since she took over in 2012. Nygaard was a first team all-state selection herself in 1993 from Carlsbad High of the San Diego Section.

Notes:
Two other schools that have had all-state players for the last four straight seasons (2017-2020) are Etiwanda and Richmond Salesian. The Eagles have done that with four different players (Joy Campbell, Evanne Turner, Da’ja Hamilton and Mikayla Wilson). Salesian had shot blocking queen Angel Jackson for 2017, 2018 and 2019.
The two schools closest to being in the above group were Sacred Heart Cathedral of San Francisco and Campolindo of Moraga with 11 all-state selections. We also counted Sierra Canyon of Chatsworth with five players and eight all-state picks in just the last seven seasons.

Mark Tennis is the co-founder and publisher of CalHiSports.com. He can be reached at markjtennis@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow Mark on the Cal-Hi Sports Twitter handle: @CalHiSports


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7 Comments

  1. Lennon Trotter
    Posted September 15, 2020 at 9:27 pm | Permalink

    Sorry guys but looks like you forgot Aja Trotter, Long Beach Poly 2002.

    • Mark Tennis
      Posted September 15, 2020 at 11:11 pm | Permalink

      Just checked 1st team, 2nd team, 3rd team and she wasn’t on any of them.
      Not saying maybe she should have been on, but her name isn’t listed.

      • Clifford Zeigler
        Posted September 18, 2020 at 1:31 pm | Permalink

        Do you count 2 nd team all state selections

        • Mark Tennis
          Posted September 20, 2020 at 9:36 am | Permalink

          We were only going by the first group of 30 players for boys/girls basketball.

  2. Ronnie Flores
    Posted September 15, 2020 at 11:16 pm | Permalink

    I looked at that year’s team and only see Kameca Simmons listed on the overall team.

  3. Celestine Johnson
    Posted September 20, 2020 at 8:54 am | Permalink

    Forget one from Lynwood ’86 Shurrell Johnson

    • Mark Tennis
      Posted September 20, 2020 at 9:35 am | Permalink

      It is not a list of players who perhaps should have made it, but of those who were selected to those teams. Checked 1986 again and Shurrell was not named to those 1986 teams.

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