Here are the Peoria area's top 18 high school girls basketball players
Adam DuvallHigh school girls basketball games can be played starting Monday across Illinois.
In the Peoria area, a smattering of nonconference games will take place until Thanksgiving tournaments start next week.
Here are 18 players to watch in Peoria-area high school girls basketball. All players were named Journal Star all-area last season and are listed in alphabetical order with statistics and honors from the 2021 spring season.
Ella Ausmus, Eureka
This Illinois Basketball Coaches Association special mention all-state and all-Heart of Illinois first team pick averaged 9.2 points and 8.2 rebounds. The 5-foot-9 junior forward was a starter for the Class 2A second-ranked Hornets, who won their fifth successive HOI crown and went 13-0.
Ellie Cahill, Eureka
The 5-foot-10 junior guard went for 18.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 3.6 steals. She earned IBCA first-team all-state honors as well as nods on the all-HOI first team and all-HOI all-defensive first team for 2A second-ranked Eureka, which went 13-0 and claimed a fifth HOI title in a row.
Big-school all-state:Illinois Associated Press Class 3A and 4A all-state girls basketball teams
Georgia Duncan, Washington
This McKendree commit averaged 15.8 points and 6.9 rebounds for the Panthers, who went 11-6 and were Mid-Illini Conference Tournament runner-up. The 6-foot-0 senior guard was IBCA all-state special mention and unanimous all-Mid-Illini first team.
Denali Craig-Edwards, Peoria High
Last season, the 5-foot-11 junior forward averaged 17.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.0 blocks. She was named IBCA first-team all-state and all-Big 12 Conference first team for the Class 3A No. 3-ranked Lions (11-1), who won the Big 12 Conference regular season title.
Aaliyah Guyton, Peoria High
Vanderbilt and Bradley have offered the 5-foot-7 sophomore guard, who averaged 17.0 points, 4.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals. She was named IBCA special mention all-state and all-Big 12 first team for the 3A third-ranked Lions, who went 11-1 and won the Big 12 regular season.
Caydee Kirkham, Illini West
The 5-foot-7 senior guard averaged 20.8 points, 4.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds for the Chargers, who went 15-1. She was IBCA all-state first team as well as a unanimous all-West Central Conference first teamer.
Small-school all-state:Illinois Associated Press Class 1A and 2A all-state girls basketball teams
Katie Krupa, Morton
The Harvard commit averaged 15.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.8 blocks for the Potters. As an IBCA all-state first-team and unanimous all-Mid-Illini first team selection, the 6-foot-1 senior forward helped Morton finish 14-3 and win the Mid-Illini Conference tournament.
Tatym Lamprecht, Morton
The 5-foot-6 junior guard made waves this offseason, transferring to Morton from East Peoria. She averaged 18.0 points and 4.5 rebounds and was named last season unanimous all-Mid-Illini Conference first team for the Raiders.
Ella Lune, Brimfield
The 6-foot senior forward averaged 17.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.6 steals and 2.4 blocks for the Class 1A second-ranked Indians, who finished 16-0 and won the Prairieland and Inter-County Athletic conferences. The Eastern Illinois verbal commit was IBCA first-team all-state as well as being named all-Prairieland and ICAC first team.
Ashlyn May, Fieldcrest
This IBCA all-state special mention and all-Heart of Illinois Conference first teamer averaged 12.8 points, 4.6 assists, 4.1 steals and 4.0 rebounds. The 5-foot-9 junior point guard helped the Knights go 11-2 with losses to only Eureka and Tremont.
Claire McDougall, Washington
The 6-foot junior forward committed to Bradley University this offseason after averaging 10.9 points and 9.8 rebounds. She helped the Panthers finish 11-6 with an all-Mid-Illini Conference second-team pick.
Taylor Nowaskie, Olympia
The IBCA all-state first team and all-Illini Prairie first-team selections averaged 21.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 1.5 assists. The 5-foot-9 senior guard for the Spartans, who finished 10-4 overall and 7-2 in Illini Prairie play.
Kayla Pacha, Metamora
This unanimous all-Mid-Illini Conference first-team selection averaged 13.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.7 assists. The 5-foot-11 senior forward was instrumental for the Redbirds, who finished the season 13-4 and made it to the Mid-Illini Tournament semifinals.
Sophia Remmel, Dunlap
This IBCA all-state first-team and unanimous all-Mid-Illini first-team selection averaged 16.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.2 steals for the 3A eighth-ranked Eagles. The 5-foot-7 junior guard helped Dunlap go 13-3 and win the Mid-Illini Conference title for the first time ever.
Whitney Rumbold, Tremont
The Turks, who finished 12-1, were bolstered by this 5-foot-8 junior forward’s 12.8 points and 10.5 rebounds averages. Rumbold was an all-Heart of Illinois Conference first team for the HOI runner-up.
Lily Sutter, Dunlap
A unanimous all-Mid-Illini first-team pick averaged 10.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.2 blocks, 2.7 steals and 2.5 assists. The 5-foot-11 senior guard helped the Eagles win the Mid-Illini Conference regular season and finish 13-3.
Caitlyn Thole, Princeville
The IBCA first-team all-state and all-Lincoln Trail Conference first-team picks averaged 16.5 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 3.0 steals. This 5-foot-7 senior guard/forward is a St. Ambrose verbal commit and helped the Lady Princes go 10-2 and win the Lincoln Trail Conference title.
Mya Wardle, Notre Dame
Colleges have discovered this 5-foot-8 sophomore guard, who holds a scholarship offers from Eastern Illinois, Indiana State and Bradley. The IBCA all-state special mention and all-Big 12 Conference first-team pick averaged 12.6 points, 7.1 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 steals for PND, which went 13-3 and finished in the Big 12 Conference tournament semifinals.
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.