Girls basketball preview: 5 to watch

Gracie Castaneda

Arlington | Guard

Castaneda, a senior and a three-year starter, was a first-team All-Wesco 3A North selection last season and was named to the All-3A State Tournament second team. Castaneda shot 55 percent from the field and 52 percent from 3-point range as a junior and is the leading-returning scorer for the Eagles, who have made it to the state tournament the past three seasons.

Castaneda and fellow three-year starter Jayla Russ are being counted on to lead the Eagles this season as they try to continue that run of success.

“Gracie and Jayla have been a huge part of the success we’ve had over the past three seasons,” Arlington coach Joe Marsh said. “… As anybody who knows her will tell you, Gracie is a unique individual. She has this great, goofy personality, but when she steps on the court, she is one of the most intense competitors I’ve ever had the pleasure of coaching. I also love her versatility. She usually defends the opposing team’s best offensive player and is arguably our best all-around offensive player.”

Jordyn Edwards

Lynnwood | Wing

Edwards, a senior, was one of the top defenders in Wesco 3A a year ago, averaging 3.6 steals per game to go along with 10.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists.

She was a first-team all-conference selection and, along with teammate Mikayla Pivec, was named to The Herald’s All-Area team. The Royals made it to the regional round of the state tournament when Edwards was a freshman and followed that up with a third-place finish at the 4A tournament in 2014 and a 3A state championship last season.

She has signed to play at Colorado State next season.

Mikayla Pivec

Lynnwood | Wing

Pivec, a senior, isn’t just the best player in Washington state, she is one of the best in the country. The 2014-15 Gatorade Washington Girls Player of the Year, who recently signed with Oregon State, is ranked as the No. 24 recruit in the nation by ESPNW.

All she did last season was average 20.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 3.5 steals per game to help lead the Royals to their first state championship. She had one of her best games of the season in the Class 3A state championship, scoring 31 points and grabbing 17 rebounds in the Royals’ 54-42 victory over Cleveland.

Madeline Smith

Snohomish | Forward

Smith, a senior, averaged 15.2 points and 10.1 rebounds per game as a junior, helping lead the Panthers to the Class 4A District 1 championship with a win over top-seeded Lake Stevens.

Smith, who has signed to play at Montana State, shot 57 percent from the field and averaged two blocks per game last season. She has led Snohomish in scoring and rebounding the past three seasons.

In Smith and fellow senior Madison Pollock, who has signed to play next season at the University of San Diego, the Panthers have two of the top players in the area.

“Madeline had several games last year where we were only able to take her out for two to three minutes or less,” Snohomish coach Ken Roberts said. “… Madeline makes everybody on our team better. Other teams have to focus on her, which leaves other players open. Madeline is not your typical post/forward. She was our best free-throw shooter as far as percentage last season and she often helps bring the ball up against pressure.”

Daylee Hanson

King’s | Guard

Hanson, a senior, is a two-year captain for King’s and helped lead the Knights to the Class 1A state championship last season. A University of Idaho recruit, Hanson has been a starter since her freshman year and averaged 11.8 points, 2.5 assists and 3.5 steals per game last season.

The 5-foot-11 guard, who was a first-team All-Cascade Conference selection last season, will be taking over the point-guard duties from her sister Savanna, who graduated last season and now plays at Santa Clara University.

“(Daylee) is one of the most competitive athletes that I’ve ever coached in any sport,” King’s head coach Dan Taylor. said “I knew she would be a special player when she hit a contested left-handed layin as a freshmen in the state quarterfinals at the buzzer to beat the defending state champs and put us in the semifinals. Her teammates love her because she is one of their biggest cheerleaders and provides great leadership spiritually on and off the court.”