Central Illinois Girls Basketball Season Preview

The 2025-2026 basketball season is coming up. Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming season in Central Illinois.

Players to Watch For

Keyaira Haywood Dunlap Sophomore

Keyaira averaged 13.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.8 steals, and shot 40% from three her freshman season.  She averaged 13.9 points per game, but I believe she will put up even bigger numbers in the years to come. Everyone knows about Key by now. One of the top sophomores in the state along with her teammate Amiyah Gulley. As a freshman she received numerous awards, she was named MVP for Dunlap, All-Conference First Team, and Class 3A All-State Third Team. 

Ranked 7th in the class of 2028 Prep Hoops

Offers: Sacramento State, Rust College, Alabama A&M, UIC

Amiyah Gulley Dunlap Sophomore

Amiyah Gulley had a great freshman season. She had a standout game against Richwoods where she scored 26 points, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. Amiyah averaged 10.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal per game her freshman season. With her putting up stats like that entering her sophomore season, she will be a lethal weapon for the Dunlap Eagles.

Ranked 8th in the class of 2028 Prep Hoops

Offers: DePaul, SMU

Emy Wardle PND Junior

Emy Wardle averaged 9.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game her sophomore season. She is one of the best guards in the area, and knows the game very well. 

All-Conference First Team 

Journal Star All-Area Team 

Class 3A All-State First Team 

Offers: DePaul, Eastern Kentucky, Bradley, Northern Illinois, Southern Indiana 

Cora Heinz PND Junior 

Cora is a beast in the paint that can grab boards and attack down low. She uses her height to her advantage.

Offers: Roosevelt University, SIUE

Lexi Baer PND Senior

Lexi Baer had a monster junior year. She averaged 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. She made 120 three pointers on the season. She helped PND get to the state championship game and received player of the game in the semifinals. All of these stats led to her getting numerous awards. 

Committed to Butler University 

Class 2A Player of the Year

First Team All-State

First Team All-Conference

Journal Star All-Area Team

Kennedy Quinn Abingdon-Avon Junior

She took an unofficial visit to Western Illinois back in May. She had an incredible freshman season. She is an offensive threat that will be talked about for a long time. Even though she is at a small school at Abingdon-Avon.

Offer: Maryville University 

Londyn Sommerville Richwoods Junior

Londyn is a beast in the paint and uses her size at 6'3 to cause a lot of problems for opponents. She had outstanding games last season with a bunch of double doubles and over 3 blocks per game. One of the biggest stat lines that stood out last year was against East Peoria as she scored 22 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 blocks. 

Offers: Bradley, Wichita State, Gardner-Webb, DePaul  

Kayla Herron Richwoods Junior 

Kayla is back home after attending Culver Academy Prep for two years in Culver, Indiana. Kayla is a great guard who you can tell constantly works on her game. She is in the gym practicing all the time, and it is paying off. She has multiple college offers. She is now at Richwoods where the Knights have a promising team this season. 

Offers: Bradley, Howard

Keniya Todd Richwoods Sophomore

Keniya was incredible as a freshman. She started every game except for a couple she was injured. She averaged 14 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.9 steals per game shooting 53% from the field.  Keniya now has a change of scenery. She has transferred to Richwoods High School. She is insanely talented and will only get better. She earned a ton of awards such as unanimous All-Conference First Team, Journal Star All-Area Team, Class 3A All-State Second Team. Keniya is the best defender in her class in the entire nation. That is a bold statement, but the tape backs it up. 

Unanimous All Conference 1st team 

Journal Star All Area

All State 2nd team 

Junior All Star National Rankings Class of 2028 #58

Ranked 6th in the class of 2028 Prep Hoops

Offers: Chicago State, SMU, Purdue, UIC

Dalia DeJesus Deer Creek-Mackinaw Senior

Dalia had an amazing junior season. She averaged 17.7 points, 10 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 3.2 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game shooting 55.4% from the field. Dalia is shattering the record books at Dee Mack. She is the all time leading scorer and still has her senior year to score more. Last year her stats led her to All-Conference first team, and first team All-State. She was the Brockstar Sports player of the year last season. 

Committed to Quincy University 

All Conference 1st team 

All State 1st team  

Records broken at Dee Mack

All Time Scoring Record

50 points in a game Most all time 

Most points and rebounds in a single season

Avery Tibbs Washington Senior

Avery was extremely efficient her junior year at Washington. She averaged 16 points per game shooting 53% from the field and 46% from three. Avery was a star on the court helping the Panthers make it to state. Her performance has led her to be a hot target for college coaches. 

Committed to McKendree University 

All-Conference First Team

First Team All-State 

Journal Star All-Area Team

Ainsley Redlingshafer Washington Senior 

Ainsley Redlingshafer is an important piece to Washington’s success. Not many teams have bench players with college basketball interest. Ainsley is an exception. 

Offer: Blackburn College 

Becca McDougall Washington Senior

Becca was a big contributor to Washington’s historic season. She averaged 11.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.6 steals, shooting an incredible 61% from the field. 

Committed to University of Illinois-Springfield 

All-Conference First Team 

First Team All-State 

Mazzy O’Brien Washington Senior

Mazzy averaged 11.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.7 steals per game last year for Washington. 

Committed to Chicago State University 

All-Conference Second Team 

Dani Guedet Washington Senior

Dani averaged 12.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game. She was another big factor for Washington’s historic season. Dani recently committed to Valparaiso University. 

Committed to Valparaiso University

Third Team All-State 

All-Conference First Team 

Abby VanMeenen Morton Junior

Abby averaged 9.5 points, and 5.3 rebounds per game in conference play. She will continue to be a key piece for the Morton Potters. 

All-Conference Second Team

Paige Selke Morton Junior

Paige averaged 15.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.2 assists per game her sophomore season. Paige has constantly been improving and is destined to play college basketball. She won the award for most improved player last season. 

Journal Star All-Area

Second Team All-State 

All-Conference First Team 

Bri Harms Roanoke-Benson Senior

Bri Harms plays at a small school, but she is a big time player. She averaged 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists per game last season. She holds multiple offers, and set records last season at Roanoke-Benson. She now holds the single season scoring record, and the all time scoring record at Roanoke-Benson. She still has one year left to go so she can shatter this all time record. 

Committed to Illinois Wesleyan University 

Single Season scoring record at Roanoke-Benson

All time scoring record at Roanoke-Benson 

Rianna Foster IVC Junior

Rianna averaged 13 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 assists, and 2 blocks last season for IVC. She continues to look like one of the Central Illinois biggest rising stars. 

Alayah Nelton IVC Sophomore

Alayah had a great start to her high school career. As a freshman, she averaged 11 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 assists, and 1 block. 

Michaela Pilgrim Limestone Senior

Michaela averaged 16.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2.3 steals per game last year. She has really improved over the years and is looking to have an amazing senior season.  

Committed to ICC

All-Conference Second Team 

Ivy Edwards Eureka Junior

Ivy averaged 10.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 2.4 steals per game last year. She paired well with her sister Mya. 

All-Conference Second Team 

Mya Edwards Eureka Junior

Mya averaged 16.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game last year as a sophomore. She will have a lot of college interests coming up soon as she begins her junior season. 

All-Conference First Team 

Nyanna Payton Manual Senior 

Nyanna was the Rams leading scorer averaging 15.7 points per game. Nyanna will be a player to watch as she is the star on the Manual Rams. Watch out for Manual. 

 Offer: Parkland 

Breyasia Grayson Manual Senior 

Breyasia averaged 14.1 points per game last year. Manual looks to have a really good team this year and Breyasia Grayson will be one of the seniors to make a big impact. 

Kessa Sell Metamora Senior 

Kessa had a great junior year winning all tournament awards. She has amazing

shooting ability and has great athleticism that stands out on defense. 

Committed to Lincoln Land 

Ottawa Holiday Tournament Team 

Cadence Covert Pekin Senior 

Cadence is a very talented multi sport athlete. She recently committed to Monmouth College to play basketball and soccer. Pekin made a Cinderella run last season in class 4A when they made it to the sectional championship game, giving them hope they can compete in the tough Mid Illini conference this season.

Committed to Monmouth College

Rising Stars

There are two freshmen in the Peoria area that you need to keep an eye on this season. 

Kate McDougall Washington Freshman

Kate is the best freshman in the state of Illinois in my opinion. She can ball. She already has division one teams interested in her. It's going to be really fun to watch her play. Washington will be a very scary team this season.

Offer: Bradley 

Kurzy Sell Metamora Freshman 

Kurzy impressed me at the Dunlap JV league this summer. She is a baller who can score and is quick. 

Teams to Watch 

Manual 

2024-2025 Results:

21-12 record 

7-4 in the big 12 record 

The Manual Rams have talent that continue to improve. The Rams have Nyanna Payton who was the rams leading scorer averaging 15.7 points. Breyasia Grayson averaged 14.1 points per game last year. Both of these ladies are now seniors. The Rams have a promising sophomore in Ma’Kya Maxwell who played on varsity and will continue to grow. Manual is a team to watch and could really make a mark this season. 

Players to Watch: Ma’Kya Maxwell 

Breyasia Grayson 

Nyanna Payton 

Richwoods

2 Transfers 

2024-2025 results:

16-12

8-2 in the big 12 conference 

The Richwoods Knights went into the portal and got two huge additions. Kayla Herron comes back to Peoria as a great point guard and has big time skills. The Knights also added Keniya Todd from Dunlap. The Knights have arguably the two best post players in the state with Londyn Sommervile and Keniya Todd. Coach Hill has a squad and is ready for the season. 

Players to Watch

Keniya Todd

Londyn Sommerville 

Kayla Herron 

Peoria Heights 

Head Coach:

Derek Scott

Conference:

Inter County & Prairieland

Enrollment:

203

2024-25 Results:

0-31 Overall (Lost to Henry-Senachwine 49-19 in Regional Quaterfinal)

Returning Starters:

3

Players to Watch:

JR Sylvia Thornton

SR Vanessa Menchaca

SR Jenna Harmon

SO Haley Walters

JR Braylinn Ramsey

SO Laila Burks

2025-26 Outlook:

Here is head coach Derek Scott on what he looks forward to this season. 

“Sylvia Thornton should score 1,000 points as a Junior this season and has gotten significant minutes since Freshman year on our regional championship team.  Last year she scored 425 points and grabbed 207 rebounds in 29 games (getting hurt the other two), which gave her a 14.7ppg average and a 7.1rpg average.  Our two senior guards Vanessa Menchaca, and Jenna Harmon are both coming back with a lot of experience on the court, and we are hoping they make that jump to the next level after a year of running the offense.”

“We are not going to quantify how much better we will be, but I am hoping that we compete every game this season, and get a couple of wins under our belt, and continue to change the culture of Peoria Heights Girls Basketball.  We continue to preach the motto of PATS, which stands for Passion, accountability, teamwork, shots.”

Deer Creek-Mackinaw Chiefs

Mackinaw, IL

Head Coach:

Joni Nightingale

Conference:

Heart of Illinois

Enrollment:

291

2024-25 Results:

31-4 Overall (Lost to Peoria Notre Dame 47-43 in Sectional Final)

Returning Starters:

3

Players to Watch:

SR Dalia Dejesus (1st Team 2A IBCA All-State)

SR Jaelyn Nunley

JR Kate Schmidgall

JR Riley Durbin

Havana Ducks

Havana, IL

Head Coach:

Jamie Campana

Conference:

Prairieland

Enrollment:

262

2024-25 Results:

22-11 Overall (Lost to Abingdon-Avon 61-53 in Sectional Semifinal)

Returning Starters:

3

Players to Watch:

Kaydi Miller (12.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.8 spg)

Olivia Kramer

Ava Kramer (7.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.5 spg)

Changes in classifications

We had some big changes in classes. Here are the two biggest moves and my thoughts on it. Peoria Notre Dame has moved back up to class 3A. 

Deer Creek-Mackinaw has moved down to class 1A. 

These two moves are massive. Both teams faced each other in the class 2A sectional championship for the past three seasons. Peoria Notre Dame was in class 3A in 2022. We saw what they did in class 2A. 2024 state champions and 2025 state runner up. Now they move back up and are in a monster sectional. They will have Morton, Washington, and many others to face if they want to make it back to state. 

Deer Creek-Mackinaw moving down to class 1A is a really interesting one. Due to enrollment numbers, they make the move down to class 1A. Dee Mack has gone three straight seasons winning 30+ games and now goes to 1A. For Dee Mack you’ve got a big smile on your face. A super sectional title is certainly on the table, if not even a trip to ISU. Dee Mack lost some players, but still has a really talented squad that will thrive in class 1A. 

Games to Watch

Richwoods Whitney Young

Richwoods Washington 

Richwoods Dunlap 

Washington Glenwood

Washington Breese Central

Washington Nashville 

Washington Loyola Academy 

Washington Waukee Northwest Kevin Brown (TOC) Kevin Brown Memorial Tournament of Champions

Washington Peoria Notre Dame 

Dunlap Galesburg

Dunlap PND 

Dunlap Quincy Dunlap Edwardsville 

Tremont IVC 

Deer Creek Mackinaw Roanoke-Benson 

Morton Glenwood 

Morton Galesburg 

Peoria Notre Dame Bolingbrook 

Peoria Notre Dame Batavia

Thanks for reading my article. This season will be a lot of fun.