Vote: Who was the Top Player at the 2024 MPSSAA Girls Basketball State Championships?
Championships were won and lifetime memories were made as the best public school girls basketball players and teams competed for state championships last weekend at the University of Maryland's Xfinity Center.
There was no shortage of heroic performances, but we have settled on 10 players who may have stood slightly above the rest and invite you, with your vote, to help us select the Top Player at the 2024 MPSSAA Girls Basketball State Championships. Voting ends March 24th at 11:59 p.m.
Congratulations to last week's Maryland Girls Basketball Player of the Week: Caroline Nicholson of North Harford.
Here are the nominees:
Nia Green, Hammond: Yes, Green had an unconventional triple-double with 14 points, 11 assists and 10 turnovers, but arguably, no girls performer affected the game on both ends more than her this past weekend. The 6-foot-1 senior forward is getting well-deserved attention from American, Bowie State, UMASS, Morgan State, and possibly more after her performance.
Mariah Jones-Bey, Pikesville: The 5-6 sophomore guard had a double-double, 12 points and 10 rebounds against Southern-Garrett as Pikesville won its fourth straight Class 1A state title. Jones-Bey, who also had seven steals, five assists and two blocked shots, scored six points in a momentum-changing 15-2 third quarter run.
Asia Mitchell, Hammond: Mitchell had the best shooting effort (eight-of-nine) of any player on Gary Williams Court over the weekend, finishing with 16 points and 12 rebounds in Hammond’s win over Francis Scott Key in the Class 2A final. The 6-1 senior forward/post is attracting interest from McCook College, Nebraska and Western Nevada.
Arianna Makumi, Poly: Makumi finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds as Poly won its second Class 3A title in three seasons with a rout of Oakdale. The 5-11 post added six steals, leading a defense that held Oakdale to the lowest point-output (18) in Maryland girls state finals history.
Destiny Turner, Clarksburg: One-third of a sibling act that powered Clarksburg to its first state crown, Turner, a 5-8 freshman forward/center, posted 13 points and 13 rebounds against Bethesda-Chevy Chase in the Class 4A title match. She added four steals and three assists.
London Turner, Clarksburg: Turner didn’t leave the floor in the Class 4A final, and for good reason. The 5-8 junior forward finished with 11 points, nine rebounds and four steals, helping the Coyotes avenge a loss to Bethesda-Chevy Chase in the Montgomery County final.
Trinity Turner, Clarksburg: The oldest of the Turner sisters, Trinity, a senior, made her final game with Clarksburg memorable. The 5-5 guard had 12 points, five rebounds and a team-high five steals in 32 minutes.
Drew Watkins, Francis Scott Key: Watkins, a 5-9 senior guard, had 13 points and three assists as Francis Scott Key faded in the second half against undefeated Hammond in the 2A state title match. She will play lacrosse for Campbell University next spring.
Danielle Weems, Pikesville: Weems was efficient in the paint in Pikesville’s latest 1A championship effort. The 5-9 senior forward finished with 12 points on five-of-six shooting and a game-high 11 rebounds as the Panthers wiped out a halftime deficit.
Carly Wilt, Southern-Garrett: Wilt was a major reason Southern had on defending champ Pikesville on the ropes early in the second half in the 1A final, finishing with 17 (game-best three 3-pointers) and nine rebounds. The 5-8 junior guard highlights a returning starting five for the Western Maryland school next season.
