WBB: Kaleena Smith and five other future women’s basketball stars

The fall brings a lot of attention to women’s basketball college—and for good reason. With the end of the WNBA season, it’s often one of the best places to watch high-quality women’s basketball. But sleeping on high school games is a mistake, and several athletes around the country are increasingly demanding their slice of the attention pie.

Eyeballs often fall on prep and charter schools, where students are allowed to develop their game a little differently than at traditional high schools. The schools are dynamic and attract high-quality coaches and athletes, something that is reflected on the court over and over again. But that doesn’t mean that traditional high school athletes should be counted out—and as some members of this list prove, it would be a mistake to do so. Here are six high school hoopers to pay attention to this fall and winter:

Ky Williams (Valley Prep)

Williams, a high school senior at Valley Prep in Tempe, Arizona, got a lot of attention after she went toe-to-toe with Kaleena Smith at the Border League tournament in Las Vegas in October. Williams’ path in basketball hasn’t been steady—she’s moved frequently and transferred schools often as a result—but this year she’s locked in with Bahaadar Russell, former Cleveland State guard and the owner of the Phoenix-based training company Sniper Skool, who, as she told Swish Appeal, has “helped me tremendously.”

Williams is a dynamic, mindset-focused athlete who sets goals and hits them. Her speed and tenacity make her fun to watch, as the crowd found out in her recent game. What she might lack in size she more than makes up for in aggressiveness, a crucial component to dominating the women’s game in an increasingly talented pool.

Her goals include landing a scholarship at a Division I school and playing in the WNBA or overseas, with Cal and South Carolina at the top of her list.

Kaleena Smith (Ontario Christian High School)

Smith is, frankly, a really fun player to watch. She attended the 2024 USA Basketball Women’s Junior National Team minicamp in Portland as a member of USA Basketball’s U17 team and has been eating up the court in tournaments this fall.

Smith, one of the top-ranked sophomores in the country, has gained a lot of attention. In January the Los Angeles Times reported that the then-freshman had already received college offers from 20 schools. She spent her summer on the Nike EYBL circuit, which introduced her game to people around the United States, something that expanded both her brand (she has nearly 90k followers on Instagram) and her perception of who she is as an athlete.

“Around California people know me but my brand and my image have expanded more nationally over the last year,” she told the newspaper. “I’m comfortable with it now … I love it.”

Jade Bethea (Becton Regional High School)

Freshman Bethea has a complete skill set and is considered an intriguing prospect. After a successful 8th grade year, she joined Becton Regional High School and plans to spend the next four years developing into a strong, determined athlete who will be an asset to any team.

Bethea’s off-the-court activities are just as compelling as her on-the-court skills. Her father, Dell Bethea, is the coach of the Brooklyn Nets Academy, and the pair will travel to France next summer as part of Tremaine Dalton’s We Play Too program. Bethea wants to follow in the steps of Louisville’s Jayda Curry, who spent the summer of 2024 doing the same.

Armanyie Reed (Bishop Montgomery High School)

Reed, a 5-foot-7 combo guard, is a general of the floor who excels when playing under pressure. She can hit the 3-ball effortlessly, get in the paint and is known for her assists as much as her shooting prowess. Reed won a state title as a starting freshman point guard and has several years of exciting basketball ahead of her, with goals of playing in the WNBA or overseas.

Also known as Buddha due to her ability to remain calm on the court, Reed is the younger sister of Phillip Reed, Jr. Together, the pair have branded themselves as the next-generation incarnation of Reggie and Cheryl Miller, with the same goals, tenacity and aspirations that the famous brother-sister duo has had. With offers from Cal and USC under her belt, Reed’s future in the sport is certainly bright.

Alex Eschmeyer (Peak to Peak Charter School)

Eschmeyer was part of USA Basketball’s gold medal-winning team at the FIBA U17 World Cup this July. Team USA won all seven of their games at the tournament, thanks in part to Eschmeyer’s efforts.

The 6-foot-5 senior is heading into her final year at Peak to Peak Charter and has already committed to Stanford. She averaged 19.9 points and 12.7 rebounds in her first three years at the school, and her gold medal experience this summer will only compel her to reach greater heights.

Brooklyn Stewart (Pine Creek High School)

Stewart committed to Oklahoma in early October, a big move for a player who is known for making only big moves. She and her classmate Sienna Betts, who recently committed to UCLA, are known for their court interplay, and the four-star recruit is also known for her rebounding and defending abilities.

Stewart will be a strong asset to Oklahoma. As a 6-foot-2 power forward and track athlete, she’s difficult to guard or keep up with—and good luck to anyone who tries.