No matter the obstacles or situations they faced, the 2026 Deseret News Girls Basketball Players of the Year played a pivotal role in their teams’ success.
Whether taking over a game offensively or making clutch plays on defense, these athletes consistently delivered standout performances throughout the season and established themselves among the best players in the state. Here’s a look at this year’s Deseret News Girls Players of the Year.
6A Player of Year
Maylee Anderson, Syracuse, 5-8, PG, Sr.
Syracuse may have fallen to eventual champion Bingham in the semifinals of the state tournament this year, but it was still able to put together a strong season, thanks in large part to senior leader Maylee Anderson.
Anderson did it all for the Titans, filling up the stat sheet game in and game out. Anderson averaged 16.2 points to go along with 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3.5 steals per game.
“Maylee was the heartbeat of our team this year. She has started for us since she was a freshman and we have leaned on her experience,” said Syracuse coach Braden Hamblin.
The impact that Anderson has had on the Syracuse program cannot be overstated. Becoming a consistent starter and go-to player throughout her high school career, she has left her mark both in the way she handled herself as a teammate and leader for her team, and by what she accomplished offensively.
“She is an all-around player with great ball-handling, passing and shot-making skills. Maylee surpassed 1,000 career points this year and became the second-leading scorer in Syracuse girls basketball history. She is a ’Cuse great,” added Hamblin.
5A Player of Year
Kylee Falatea, West, 5-9, PG, Sr.
Oregon Duck commit Kylee Falatea played a vital role in West High’s success this season, helping to lead her team to a deep postseason tournament run all the way to the 5A championship game before falling just short to top-seeded Pleasant Grove.
Falatea came to the team at a time when the group was still trying to figure out who they were and what they were trying to become. She proved to be a key cog to the success that the team has had over the last few years.
“Kylee Falatea changed the heart of our program. She came in at a time when we were still trying to find our way, and instead of waiting for things to change, she became the reason they did,” said West coach Olossa Solovi. “Every day, she led by example — with her work ethic, her toughness, and her belief in what this program could become, even when it wasn’t easy.”
Falatea was a standout on both ends of the court, not only averaging an astounding 26.1 points per game, 6.3 rebounds and 8.1 assists, but she also locked it down defensively with 6.3 steals per game. The impact that Falatea will leave on her team goes far beyond her ability to fill up the stats sheet.
“She didn’t just play the game … she helped build something bigger than herself. She helped turn a struggling program into one that carries pride, accountability and belief. Because of Kylee, our program didn’t just get better — it found its identity. Her impact goes far beyond wins and stats. She set a standard, and that standard will live on in every player who puts on a West jersey," added Solovi.
4A Player of Year
Talyssa Nelson, Green Canyon, 6-1, SG, Sr.
Senior shooting guard Talyssa Nelson was a standout for Green Canyon this year.
Nelson’s scoring touch continued to improve throughout the course of the season and because of that, opposing teams quickly began focusing on her while game-planning.
The ability for Nelson to adapt to the way various teams began to guard her is what stood out to Green Canyon coach Kara Foster.
“One of Talyssa’s many strengths is she would always find a way to score. She got increasingly better through the season shooting contested shots. She had to, she had almost every team face guarding her because she was such a great scorer. Talyssa has an incredibly high basketball IQ,” said Foster.
Foster added that Nelson had a knack of knowing when to shoot and when to instead get her teammates involved.
“Offensively, she was so good at reading defenses and making reads off of ball screens, it was no wonder she could find a way to score. Beyond that Talyssa understood when to shoot and when to give her teammates a look. It was an incredible honor to be able to coach such an intelligent, coachable and well-rounded player.”
3A Player of Year
Ava Smith, Layton Christian, 6-2, SF, Sr.
One of the leaders during the season for Layton Christian was senior small forward Ava Smith.
Averaging 18.6 points and 10.8 rebounds per game, Smith was a catalyst that helped drive Layton Christian to the 3A state championship.
She consistently set the tone with her energy, toughness and ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor.
Layton Christian coach Mark Burton notes that her unique mindset makes her invaluable to the team, making a point to highlight her composure and focus throughout every possession.
“What made Ava such an important player to LCA, was that she is a rare find in her ability to stay in the moment. She doesn’t look back nor does she look ahead. She understands the game, the importance of possessions,” says Burton.
Her impact extended beyond the stat sheet, as she set the standard for the entire team with her leadership, toughness and willingness to be coached while consistently leading by example and holding teammates accountable.
“As a captain and our leader she was willing to be coached hard. She led by example and took no plays off,” added Burton.
2A Player of Year
Rylee Little, Kanab, 6-4, C, Sr.
Rylee Little proved to be a valuable all-around player for the Kanab Cowboys.
The Utah Utes commit did it all for Kanab. Averaging 21 points per game, 13 rebounds, and two assists, Little also made things incredibly tough for opposing offenses by averaging two steals and three blocks.
Kanab coach Klint Glover believes that Little’s impact goes well beyond the stats sheet. It is her mental and physical toughness, combined with her selfless, team-first leadership, that makes her so impactful, along with being a terrific teammate.
“Rylee’s stats and accomplishments truly speak for themselves. What Rylee sometimes doesn’t get enough credit for is her toughness — mental and physical. She is by nature a kind, thoughtful and nurturing teammate, which is part of why she’s been such a great leader in our program,” said Glover.
Her ability to face challenges head-on inspired her teammates to follow her lead. Glover states that while she’ll be deeply missed, everyone is excited to see what she accomplishes next.
“She is also fiercely competitive, capable and willing to fight through whatever opposing coaches, players or life in general wants to throw at her. This is the other half of why her teammates don’t hesitate to follow her lead. We will obviously miss her as a friend and player, but are very excited to support her and see what her future holds.”
1A Player of Year
Joy Gines, Tabiona, 5-7, G, Jr.
Tabiona defeated Rich by a slim four-point margin to take the 1A state championship, thanks in large part to the leadership of junior guard Joy Gines.
Averaging 11 points per game, Gines had 53 3-pointers and found herself on a constant upward trajectory throughout the season.
“Joy has had a great season. Her leadership on the floor was a strength that she helped her team achieve their goal as a team. Joy was easy to coach, she understands the game and also understood what it meant to utilize her team,” said Tabiona coach Jake Fabrizio. “Joy is an amazing shooter and she spent many nights after practice shooting and working on her skills. Joy helped her team to have an amazing season with a record of 24-2.”
Gines put together clutch performance after clutch performance and displayed immense leadership. Her team-first mentality, and ability to make big plays were a big part of Tabiona’s championship run.
“Joy hit big shots in the state tournament, including a shot in the semifinal game — a 60-foot buzzer beater. I was very confident going down the stretch in the championship game that I knew Joy would make big plays to help her team win the championship. Joy was a team player and always was a leader on the floor. Congratulations to Joy and her team for a great season,” said Fabrizio.