ZYAIRE EWING

Natchez | Center

6-1 | Senior

The two-time Dandy Dozen selection helped the Lady Bulldogs capture the 5A championship in back-to-back seasons. Ewing dominated her opponents as a junior, averaging 12.8 points and more than six rebounds per game while developing her perimeter game and handle in the post. A skilled shooter with the ability to put it on the floor, Ewing shot 68 percent from the field in 2014-15 and didn’t shy away from playing inside with her back to the basket.

In her own words

College interest: Offers from Southern Miss, Florida A&M, Loyola-Chicago.

Pre-game meal: Pasta and fruit

Coach I’d like to play for: Pat Summitt

Dream 1-on-1 matchup: LeBron James

Game I’m most looking forward to: The first playoff game.

Favorite basketball memory: When I won MVP after our first state championship in 2014.

MYAH TAYLOR

Olive Branch | Guard

5-7 | Junior

The uber-talented four-star point guard is ranked No. 41 in her class by ESPN. Ball-handling, quickness and a high basketball IQ make Taylor one of the top players nationally, while her pinpoint accuracy and strength in the open court are dynamic. The Mississippi State commit led the Lady Quistors to back-to-back appearances in the Class 6A title game and averaged 18.2 points, eight assists and five steals last season. Taylor is a repeat Dandy Dozen selection.

In her own words

College interest: Committed to Mississippi State.

Pre-game meal: Chicken alfredo pasta

Coach I’d like to play for: Gregg Popovich

Dream 1-on-1 matchup: Chris Paul

Game I’m most looking forward to: Horn Lake

Favorite basketball memory: Winning Mississippi’s Gatorade Player of the Year.

Cronin: Depth in 2016, 2017 equals 7 repeat Dandys

KEYARA JONES

Heidelberg | Guard

5-5 | Junior

Jones is a fast, explosive point guard who excels at setting up her teammates and creating her own shot. Last year she carried a huge load and is expected to see her responsibilities increase significantly on the defensive end. A well-rounded player who can slash her way to the rim, Jones averaged 16 points, eight steals, seven assists, five rebounds and seven deflections in 2014-15. She excels in an up-tempo environment and consistently creates opportunities.

In her own words

College interest: Offers from Southern Miss, Troy, Louisiana-Lafayette, MTSU, UALR, Jacksonville State.

Pre-game meal: Subway

Coach I’d like to play for: Pat Summitt

Dream 1-on-1 matchup: Myself

Game I’m most looking forward to: Newton

Favorite basketball memory: Scoring 31 points in our district tournament against Taylorsville.

KENNEDY GAVIN

Petal | Forward

6-1 | Junior

Gavin serves as a dominant inside presence for the Lady Panthers and does most of her damage on the offensive and defensive glass. The repeat Dandy Dozen’s athleticism allows her to run the floor and play up front in press situations. As a sophomore, Gavin averaged 16 points, 5.4 rebounds and 0.5 steals per game while cutting down on her turnovers and becoming a more versatile defender.

In her own words

College interest: Offers from Southern Miss, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Florida, Dayton, La. Tech, Kansas State.

Pre-game meal: Plain M&M’s and red Powerade or a large sweet tea from McDonald’s and fries.

Coach I’d like to play for: Pat Summitt

Dream 1-on-1 matchup: Brittney Griner

Game I’m most looking forward to: All of them

Favorite basketball memory: All of them. The good ones kept me humble. The bad ones I used as lessons for growth.

Girls Dandy Dozen: Just missed

SHONTE HAILES

Quitman | Guard

5-6 | Senior

Hailes is one of the most explosive guards in Mississippi with a great handle and floor vision. Her ability to read different presses and defenses helps her pick up on her opponents’ tendencies and create opportunities for herself and her teammates on offense. She is the complete package in the backcourt, passes with a purpose and attacks in transition. The senior averaged 14.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.6 steals last season. Her outside shot is one of her best attributes, according to Quitman coach Gina Skelton, as is Hailes’ ability to drive the lane and finish at the basket.

In her own words

College interest: Offers from Southern Miss, Louisiana-Lafayette, South Alabama, UALR, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State.

Pre-game meal: Frosted Flakes

Coach I’d like to play for: Quitman boys coach Chris Coleman

Dream 1-on-1 matchup: Chris Paul

Game I’m most looking forward to: Bay

Favorite basketball memory: When we beat Pontotoc last season in Jackson and my teammates started to do the nae nae.

SAVANNAH JONES

St. Martin | Guard

6-0 | Senior

Jones is back on the Dandy Dozen after a junior campaign where she averaged a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead St. Martin to the MHSAA state tournament for a second-straight year. The 6-foot guard drains long-range shots with ease and truly came into her own offensively last season. Facing bigger players in the post doesn’t make Jones shy away from playing on the boards. Her technique, timing and determination down low has helped her add a unique aspect to her versatile game.

In her own words

College interest: Committed to South Alabama.

Pre-game meal: Vanilla Muscle Milk

Coach I’d like to play for: My dad

Dream 1-on-1 matchup: Myself

Game I’m most looking forward to: The 6A state championship.

Favorite basketball memory: Winning a district championship with my sister Sierra.

Girls Dandy Dozen: Player of the Year watchlist

ALYRIC SCOTT

Richton | Guard/Forward

5-10 | Junior

Scott was the leading scorer in the 2017 class in Mississippi last year, averaging 24 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocks. The athletic wing is a tough matchup for opponents because she finds easy scoring opportunities. The Richton standout can spread the floor in transition, grab offensive boards and cut backdoor for a layup. Scott plays the game at a high level and is considered by some to be the next best thing among Mississippi’s 2017 crop.

In her own words

College interest: Offers from South Alabama, Tennessee State, North Florida, East Carolina, MTSU.

Pre-game meal: Fruit or a granola bar

Coach I’d like to play for: Geno Auriemma

Dream 1-on-1 matchup: LeBron James

Game I’m most looking forward to: Perry Central

Favorite basketball memory: Hitting a buzzer-beater that helped us win a tournament.

BRITTANY ROSE

Lanier | Guard

5-11 | Senior

The repeat Dandy Dozen led her team in nearly every statistical category the last two seasons. Rose has a swagger with her mid-range jumper and her team benefited from her being given the freedom to take more shots. The guard averaged 17.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.1 steals as a junior. She handles and creates in transition and pressures defenses with a scorer’s mentality that comes through in clutch situations.

In her own words

College interest: Offers from Southern Miss, Kansas, Arizona, Alabama, Georgia Tech, La. Tech.

Pre-game meal: Shrimp from Ellis Seafood

Coach I’d like to play for: South Carolina’s Dawn Staley

Dream 1-on-1 matchup: St. Martin guard Savannah Jones

Game I’m most looking forward to: All of them.

Favorite basketball memory: Making it to the Big House.

Girls basketball: 40 others seniors to watch

AMESHYA WILLIAMS

West Harrison | Center

6-2 | Senior

West Harrison coach Otis Gates plays Williams in the post out of necessity, and while she’ll likely transition to more wing play at the next level, the skills she’s learning in high school make her one of the more consistent threats in Mississippi. The 6-foot-2 senior’s shooting range has gotten better as she learns to play away from the basket. Williams posted an average of 24.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.1 blocks and 2.4 steals as a junior and led the Lady Hurricanes to the Big House. The two-time Dandy Dozen is quick with her first step and excels in transition with her speed and ability to run the floor.

In her own words

College interest: Offers from Mississippi State, Southern Miss, LSU, Jacksonville State, Tulane, Cal State-Bakersfield.

Pre-game meal: Fruit

Dream 1-on-1 matchup: Myself

Game I’m most looking forward to: Harrison Central and Gulfport

Favorite basketball memory: When I scored 37 points the first time we played George County last year.

TWILA HILL

Callaway | Forward

6-2 | Senior

Hill’s mindset as a scorer makes her a deadly threat in the post. Second-chance points are where she does most of her damage and made a name for herself as one of the top forwards in the state. The Mississippi College commit led the Lady Chargers to the 5A semifinals behind a season average of 17.1 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. For coach Stacey Bailey, Hill’s presence brings a relief down low, and teams aren’t able to double Callaway’s other forwards.

In her own words

College interest: Committed to Mississippi College.

Pre-game meal: Bacon cheeseburger

Dream 1-on-1 matchup: Steph Curry

Game I’m most looking forward to: Northwest Rankin

Favorite basketball memory: Playing in the North-South All-Star game last year.

KELSEY JONES

Starkville | Center

6-2 | Junior

Jones exploded onto the scene during her sophomore season, averaging 18 points and 10 rebounds to help the Lady Yellowjackets reach the Big House for the first time since 1992. The junior has a vast set of low post moves that make her hard to defend, and she isn’t afraid to attack the basket against multiple defenders. The junior plays with a tenacious edge to finish through contact, competes on the glass, is a strong shot blocker with mobility and may have the most upside of any post player in the state with her explosive interior game.

In her own words

College interest: Central Arkansas, Louisiana-Monroe.

Pre-game meal: Skittles

Coach I’d like to play for: Vic Schaefer

Dream 1-on-1 matchup: Brittney Griner

Game I’m most looking forward to: Callaway

Favorite basketball memory: When we made it to Jackson last year.

Girls basketball: 20 other underclassmen to watch

NYAH TATE

Terry | Guard

6-0 | Junior

A little added confidence to her shot has been a game-changer for Nyah Tate. The two-time Dandy Dozen is long, athletic and has a nice stroke from 3-point range. Ranked No. 32 nationally by ESPN, the four-star guard led Terry to the Big House for the first time in program history by averaging around 10 points per game as a sophomore. Shooting is her biggest strength while her handle, ability to post up other guards and finish with either hand off the break has significantly improved.

In her own words

College interest: Offers from Mississippi State, Southern Miss, La. Tech, Arkansas, Georgia, Georgia Tech.

Pre-game meal: Fruit or a baked potato

Coach I’d like to play for: Current coach Angelia Johnson or former Terry coach Tiffany Moore

Dream 1-on-1 matchup: Maya Moore

Game I’m most looking forward to: Jim Hill

Favorite basketball memory: The night we won our first district championship in school history against Forest Hill at Forest Hill.

SELECTION PROCESS

The Clarion-Ledger’s high school sports and recruiting editor Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) selected the team based on players’ past production, evaluations from Mississippi high school basketball and college coaches, scouts and C-L staff observations.

COMING FRIDAY

Listen to Cronin and sports editor Hugh Kellenberger (@HKellenbergerCL) breakdown the girls and boys lists, the selection process, which players are primed for a breakout year and more on the 2015-16 season outlook on the #MSPreps podcast. Find it at clarionledger.com.

#MSPREPS ON TWITTER

Looking for the top Mississippi high school sports coverage? Follow @MSPreps on Twitter and keep up with all of The Clarion-Ledger’s coverage on high school sports by using the #MSPreps hashtag.