The celebration of 100 years of state basketball tournaments continues with the announcement of the top players in the history of the girls' state tourney. As with past and upcoming announcements of the best of 100 years of state basketball tournaments, these lists have been compiled with the assistance of a committee of basketball historians and experts from around Minnesota.
In the coming weeks, similar listings of the top teams, best shots, best games and best finishes in state tournament history will be announced. These announcements and other activities related to 100 years of state tourneys will lead into this year's tournaments; the girls will play at Williams Arena and Target Center March 14-17 and the boys will do the same March 21-24.
TOP FIVE GIRLS' BASKETBALL PLAYERS
 | Janet Karvonen Montgomery New York Mills
State appearances: 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980
State championships: 1977, 1978, 1979
Karvonen, who was was born and raised in New York Mills, was a pioneer for girls' basketball in Minnesota. Karvonen scored 3,129 points in her high school career, a state record that stood until 1997. Along with her scoring record, Karvonen led New York Mills to state Class A championships in 1977, 1978, and 1979, during which the team lost only three games, plus a third-place finish in 1980. Karvonen earned a scholarship to Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, where she played for two years. Following the 1982 season she transferred to Louisiana Tech University, sat out the 1982-83 season and finished her last two years of eligibility wearing a Lady Techsters uniform. Karvonen was inducted into the National High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1989, the Minnesota High School Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Minnesota Coaches' Hall of Fame in 2006. |
Tayler Hill Minneapolis South
State appearances: 2007, 2008, 2009
State championships: 2009
Hill led Minneapolis South to three consecutive appearances in the Class AAAA championship game, with the Tigers finishing second in 2007 and 2008 and winning the state title in 2009. Hill is Minnesota's all-time leading scorer (boy or girl) with 3,888 points. She scored an astounding 47 points in the final game of her high school career, which still stands as a championship record. Hill was named 2009 Minnesota Miss Basketball and following her senior year she earned a scholarship from Ohio State University, where she is currently in her third year as a Buckeye.
|  |
 | Kelly and Colleen "Coco" Miller Rochester Mayo
State appearances: 1995, 1996, 1997
State championships: 1995 (AA), 1997(AAAA)
The Miller twins led Rochester Mayo High School to three consecutive state tournament appearances and won the tournament in 1995 (27-1) and again in 1997 with a perfect 27-0 record. The sisters were both named Minnesota Miss Basketball, an award which had never before been shared by two players in the same year. Both of the Miller sisters were heavily recruited by colleges throughout the country and they ultimately ended up at the University of Georgia, where they helped lead the Bulldogs to the NCAA Final Four in 1999. At the end of their collegiate careers in 2001, the Miller sisters entered the WNBA draft. Currently, Coco plays for the Atlanta Dream and Kelly plays for the Washington Mystics. |
Angel Robinson St. Paul Central
State appearances: 2006, 2007
State championships: 2007
Robinson led St. Paul Central to two consecutive state tournament appearances and the Class AAAA tournament championship in her senior year (2007) with an undefeated record. She was named 2007 Minnesota Miss Basketball and also was a first team all-state selection that year. Robinson earned a scholarship from Marquette University, where she played for four years and continued to excel. After her collegiate career she entered the WNBA draft and was selected 22nd overall by the New York Liberty and then immediately traded to the Minnesota Lynx.
|  |
OTHER NOTABLE PLAYERS:
Katie Ohm Elgin-Millville
State appearances: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
State championships: 2005
2005 Minnesota Miss Basketball Winner. Minnesota's all-time leader in free throws made (664) and attempted (939) at that time, but now surpassed. She also held the career scoring record with 3,694 points when she graduated. Went on to play for the University of Minnesota.
Rachel Banham Lakeville North
State appearances: 2010, 2011
State championships: 2010
2011 Minnesota Miss Basketball Winner. Currently plays for the University of Minnesota.
Mary Jo Miller Tracy-Milroy
State appearances: 1987, 1988
State championships: 1988
1988 Minnesota Miss Basketball Winner. Went on to play collegiately at Kansas State.
Leslie Knight Hopkins
State appearances: 2002, 2003, 2004
State championships: 2004
2004 Minnesota Miss Basketball Winner. Played for the University of Minnesota.
Liz Podominick Lakeville
State appearances: 2001, 2002
State championships: 2001, 2002
2003 Minnesota Miss Basketball Winner. Went on to compete in basketball and track and field at the University of Minnesota.
Shannon Bolden Marshall
State appearances: 2001, 2002
State championships: 2001, 2002
2002 Minnesota Miss Basketball Winner. Played at the University of Minnesota.
Tamara Moore Minneapolis North
State appearances: 1997, 1998
State championships: 1998
1998 Minnesota Miss Basketball Winner. After college career at the University of Wisconsin, was selected 15th overall by the Miami Sol in the WNBA draft.
Shannon Loeblein St. Paul Harding
State appearances: 1990, 1991
State championships: none
1991 Minnesota Miss Basketball Winner. Played at the University of Minnesota.
Laura Gardner Bloomington Jefferson
State appearances: 1976, 1977, 1978
State championships: 1978
1978 Minnesota Miss Basketball Winner. Played at the University of Minnesota.
Kelly Skalicky Albany
State appearances: 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981
State championships: 1980
1981 Minnesota Miss Basketball Winner. Played at Louisiana State University.
Kelly Roysland Fosston
State appearances: 2000, 2001, 2003
State championships: 2000, 2001, 2003
Went on to play at the University of Minnesota, was assistant coach at North Dakota State and is currently an assistant coach for the Gopher.
Brittany Chambers Jordan
State appearances: 2007, 2008, 2009
State championships: none
Shares the state tournament single-game scoring record (47) with Tayler Hill; currently plays at Kansas State University.
Kiara Buford St. Paul Central
State appearances: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
State championships: 2007, 2008
Currently plays at the University of Minnesota.
Hana Peljto Osseo
State appearances: 1997, 2000
State championships: 2000
Went on to play at Harvard University.
Mia Johnson Minneapolis North
State appearances: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004
State championships: 2003, 2004
Played collegiately at St. Louis University and Michigan State.
|
Other "Bests"
Girls:
Top Coaches
Top Players
Top Teams
Top Shots
Top Finishes
Top Games
Boys:
Top Coaches
Top Players
Top Teams
Top Shots
Top Finishes
Top Games
|