The 2023 Your Prep Sports Area Girls Basketball Team
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
The annual Your Prep Sports area girls basketball team honors some of the top player sin the area for their performance on the court.
This year’s edition of the Your Prep Sports all-area squad features 10 players that earned all-state, all-conference and all-district honors.
The 2023 teams features Division I recruits, state tournament qualifiers and state tournament all-tournament team honorees.
There are four repeat selections on the 2023 squad with West High senior Meena Tate, Liberty High senior Jasmine Barney and Clear Creek Amana junior Ava Locklear appearing on the team for the second consecutive season.
Solon junior Callie Levin is a three-time Your Prep Sports all-area pick and is the captain of the 2023 team after leading Solon to a 23-3 record and a spot in the Class 3A state semifinals.
*Callie Levin
5-9, Jr., Solon
Already widely considered one of the best players in the state Levin continued to build on her impressive career resume while leading Solon to the state tournament for the first time since 2006.
Levin was one of only three players statewide to average at least 18 points, 4 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game this season on her way to earning first-team all-state honors from both the Iowa Girls Coaches Association and Iowa Print Sports Writers Association for the second year in a row.
An Iowa commit, Levin averaged 18.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 3.7 steals per game leading Solon to a 23-3 record and a spot in the Class 3A state semifinals.
Levin scored in double figures in 25 consecutive games to start the season and scored 20 or more points nine times this season.
The three-time WAMAC East Division player of the year, Levin already has amassed 1,391 career points, 290 career assists and 288 career steals.
Ava Locklear
5-11, Jr., Clear Creek Amana
Last season Locklear emerged as one of the top young post players in the state with a breakthrough season in which she led Clear Creek Amana in scoring in rebounding on her way to earning third-team all-state honors.
This season Locklear built on that success establishing herself as one of the best posts in the state while leading the Clippers to the second state tournament berth in program history.
Locklear averaged a double-double as a junior while leading Clear Creek Amana in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and blocked shots helping the Clippers to an 18-5 record and the 4A state quarterfinals.
A uniquely skilled post, Locklear joined West Marshall senior Katy Reyerson as the only players in the state to average 10 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots per game.
Locklear averaged 13.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2 blocks and 1.7 steals per game while earning second-team all-state honors from both the Iowa Girls Coaches Association and Iowa Print Sports Writers Association.
Locklear shot 48 percent from the floor and 65 percent free throw line this season leading the Clippers in free throw attempts and made free throws.
She scored in double figures 18 times, had nine double-doubles and had four games with 20 or more points.
Jasmine Barney
5-8, Sr., Liberty High
One of the most versatile and productive players in Class 5A over the past two seasons Barney directed Liberty High to the most successful season in program history as a senior.
Barney led the Lightning in points, assists and steals while helping Liberty High to a program record 14 wins, the first Mississippi Valley Conference divisional title in program history and its first trip to a regional title game.
One of only five players in Class 5A to average at least 15 points, 6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game Barney averaged 15.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.6 steals per contest while leading the Lightning to a 14-8 mark.
A unanimous MVC Mississippi Division first team pick, Barney earned second-team all-state honors from both the Iowa Girls Coaches Association and Iowa Print Sports Writers Association.
Barney shot 45 percent from the field including 34 percent from 3-point range and 71 percent from the free throw line while ranking fourth in 5A in both free throw attempts (143) and made free throws (101).
A Minnesota State recruit, Barney scored in double figures in 19 of 22 games this season and had four games with at least 20 points including a 32-point, 10-rebound double-double against Cedar Rapids Kennedy.
August Palmer
5-10, Soph., City High
In her first season at City High Palmer quickly established herself as one of the top young players in the state and one of the most prolific scorers in Class 5A.
Palmer ranked 11th in 5A in scoring at 18.5 points per game on her way to being a unanimous first-team all-Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division pick.
In addition to leading City High in scoring Palmer also averaged 4.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and a team-high 1.9 steals per game.
Palmer was efficient during her breakthrough season shooting 43 percent from the field and 70 percent from the free throw line ranking eighth in 5A in free throw attempts (115) and seventh in made free throws (81).
The sophomore guard scored in double figures in 18 of 22 games, had eight games with 20 or more points including three games with 30 points including a career-high 38 against Muscatine in regional quarterfinal.
Meena Tate
6-0, Sr., West High
A four-year starter Tate concluded a stellar prep career with another all-state caliber season.
Among the top playmaking guards in the state the 6-foot Tate led West High in points, assists and steals while helping the Trojans to a 16-7 record and a spot in the regional title game.
Tate averaged 14.7 points, 3.5 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game on her way to earning all-state honors from the Iowa Girls Coaches Association and Iowa Print Sports Writers Association for the second year in a row.
The Dartmouth recruit was a unanimous all-Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division first-team selection and a third-team all-state pick in Class 5A by both the IGCA and IPSWA.
Tate scored in double figures in 20 of 23 games and had 20 or more points five times this season finishing her career with 992 points.
Morgan Miller
5-6, Soph., Regina
Miller followed up a strong freshman season with a breakthrough sophomore campaign in which she emerged as one of the top players in Class 2A while earning all-state honors for the first time.
The sophomore guard led Regina in scoring, rebounding and steals and was second in assists while helping the Regals to a 21-5 record that included an unbeaten River Valley Conference South Division title and a second consecutive state tournament berth.
Miller averaged 17 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4 assists and three steals per game on her way to being named a unanimous first-team RVC South Division pick and a second-team all-state selection by both the Iowa Girls Coaches Association and Iowa Print Sports Writers Association.
A year after shooting 37 percent from the floor, 32 percent from 3-point range and 53 percent from the free throw line as a freshman Miller was among the most efficient scorers in 2A this season shooting 52 percent from the floor, including 43 percent from 3-point range and 60 percent from the free throw line.
Miller ranked fifth in the state with 76 made 3-pointers.
Anna Prouty
6-0, Sr., West High
A reliable presence in the West High lineup each of the past four seasons, Prouty concluded a strong prep career with another impressive season.
The 6-foot post ranked ninth in Class 5A in rebounding and averaged nearly a double-double posting 9.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game while helping West High to a 16-7 record and a spot in the 5A reginal final.
A second team all-Mississippi Valley Conference Valley Division selection Prouty was among the most consistent players in the conference and one of the top rebounders in 5A.
Prouty had three double-doubles and grabbed double digit rebounds time times in 23 games.
Offensively Prouty was as efficient as she was productive shooting 54 percent from the floor and a career-high 70 percent from the free throw line.
Prouty scored in double figures 10 times and had at least eight points in 13 of 23 games.
Hailey Miller
5-7, Jr., Solon
A breakthrough season from Miller was one of the key factors in the most successful season for Solon in nearly two decades.
Miller averaged career-highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals while helping Solon to its first 20-win season since 2006-2007 and its first state tournament appearance since 2006.
A unanimous first-team all-WAMAC East Division pick and third-team all-state selection by both the Iowa Girls Coaches Association and Iowa Print Sports Writers Association Miller averaged 11.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game.
Miller was at her best at the end most critical time of the season, scoring in double figures in nine of the final 10 games including all five postseason games.
The junior guard averaged 15.8 points during the postseason, averaging 19 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in two state tournament games helping the Spartans secure the first state tournament win since 1998.
A member of the 3A state tournament all-tournament team Miller shot better than 50 percent from the floor at the state tournament and had 21 points in a semifinal win over Dubuque Wahlert.
Bliss Beck
6-2, Jr., Clear Creek Amana
A critical piece of one of the most successful seasons in Clear Creek Amana history Beck emerged as a major threat on both ends of the court as the Clippers went 18-5 and reached the state tournament for the second time in program history.
Beck averaged 10.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.7 blocked shots, 1.6 assists and 1 steal per game during a breakthrough junior season in which she was a unanimous first-team all-WAMAC West Division selection.
The 6-foot-2 Beck was among the most efficient offensive players in the state this season, ranking fourth in the state in field goal percentage at 65.3 percent.
Beck had three double-doubles on the season, scored in double figures in 12 of 23 games and 11 games with two or more blocked shots.
Alli Clark
5-7, Jr., Regina
Another area player to enjoy a breakthrough season Clark joined her backcourt mate Miller in emerging as one of the top guards in Class 2A this season.
The development of Clark into an all-around threat played an important role in Regina posting a 21-5 record and a second consecutive 2A state tournament appearance.
Clark averaged a career-high 14.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals per game while being named a unanimous first-team all-RVC South Division selection.
The junior guard shot an efficient 53 percent from the floor including 33 percent from 3-point range and shot 67 percent from the free throw line while leading Regina in free throws made (78) and attempted (116).
Clark scored in double figures 18 times and had six games with 20 or more points including a career-high 30 points in a regional quarterfinal against Durant.
*-Denotes team captain
Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by donating.
