Top 25 Connecticut Girls Basketball Players to Watch in 2025-26

This season’s CIAC girls basketball slate is stacked with talent from every corner of Connecticut, from the shoreline to the Capital Region and beyond.

A new wave of scorers, playmakers, and rim protectors is ready to shape the winter sports conversation.

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This rundown highlights 25 standout players to watch as they lead their high school programs in what promises to be one of the most competitive seasons in recent memory.

Stars to Watch in Connecticut Girls Basketball

The upcoming CIAC girls basketball season is rich with experienced seniors and rising underclassmen who are already rewriting record books.

Programs in cities like Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, and Stamford, as well as suburban powers in towns like West Hartford and Glastonbury, are all benefitting from this impressive talent pool.

From dominant post players to sharpshooting guards, these athletes are poised to drive playoff pushes, conference battles, and statewide storylines throughout the winter.

Frontcourt Powerhouses Owning the Paint

Several of the state’s most impactful players will control games from the interior, anchoring both offense and defense for their teams.

At East Catholic in Manchester, Urielle Abrokwa stands out as one of the most complete centers in Connecticut.

The 6-foot senior is a double-double machine, averaging 15.3 points and 12 rebounds per game. She’s piled up more than 1,200 career points and 1,200 career rebounds, bringing a rare mix of size, touch, and experience that any coach in Connecticut would love to build around.

In West Hartford, Abby Casper of Northwest Catholic is another dominant interior presence. The versatile forward averages 21 points and 11 rebounds, and she’s rapidly closing in on her school’s all-time scoring record with 1,472 career points.

Her ability to score in traffic, crash the boards, and carry the offensive load makes her a nightmare matchup, especially for smaller lineups across central Connecticut and beyond.

Down in Greenwich, Zuri Faison is part of a new generation of frontcourt talent. The 5-foot-11 center already earned All-State recognition as a freshman, showing poise and polish well beyond her years.

Her early success signals that teams from Fairfield County, including programs in nearby Stamford and Norwalk, will have their hands full trying to contain her inside.

Backcourt Leaders Driving the Offense

While the bigs control the lane, this season’s guard play across the CIAC is equally impressive. Several backcourt stars can take over games from the perimeter.

In Bristol, Kamaria Bowens of Bristol Central is one of the most dynamic guards in the state. The senior averages 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game, stuffing the stat sheet on a nightly basis.

Her second-team honors last year were well-earned, and she returns as a proven leader who can score, distribute, and rebound from the guard spot.

Over in Derby, junior guard Shea Gray is establishing herself as a go-to option. With 18 points and 10.2 rebounds per contest, she brings an aggressive, two-way style that fuels her team’s tempo.

A guard averaging a double-double is rare, and her production makes Derby a tough out for anyone in the Naugatuck Valley and New Haven County.

At Amity in Woodbridge, Nina Nardecchia headlines the perimeter attack. She averages 19 points and nine rebounds per game and already owns the school record for 3-pointers.

Her range stretches defenses, opening driving lanes for teammates and forcing opponents to pick their poison on every possession.

Young Standouts and Future College Stars

The depth of talent isn’t limited to seniors. Several underclassmen and newly committed college prospects are poised to make major headlines this season.

In Coventry, Hailey Mayo has already made a name for herself with early All-State recognition. As a young standout, she represents the growing strength of smaller-school programs outside the larger metro hubs such as New Britain and New London.

College commitments are already shaping the future beyond the CIAC schedule. Among the notables:

Maddy Burke – committed to Bentley

Samantha Diaspro – committed to St. Michael’s

Julia Laughlan – committed to Endicott College

These commitments show that college coaches from across the Northeast are paying close attention to Connecticut gyms this winter.

Veteran Leadership and Championship Pedigree

Every great team needs a steady veteran presence. A few returning stars bring that elusive championship edge that’s hard to teach.

Back at Northwest Catholic in West Hartford, Maeve Staunton is the definition of a proven winner. She’s stacked up multiple state championships and has scored over 1,000 career points.

She brings leadership, composure, and real big-game experience. With her and Casper together, Northwest Catholic might just have one of the state’s most accomplished duos.

Here is the source article for this story: Here are 25 Connecticut CIAC high school girls basketball players to watch in the 2025-26 season

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