Naia Pulliam of state champion St. Elizabeth and Salesianum’s Rasheen Caulk have been selected to the all-state girls and boys first teams, leading the Catholic high school representation. The voting was done by head coaches and media who regularly cover the sport and was submitted before the quarterfinal round of the respective state tournaments.
Pulliam, a senior, was one of the leaders of the Vikings, who finished the season 15-0. She played varsity for the team since her freshman season.
The player of the year for the girls is India Johnston of Caravel. The junior guard led the Buccaneers to the semifinals of the tournament, where they lost to St. Elizabeth. She has a year of eligibility remaining before heading to Towson University.
The other first team selections are Ja’Nylah Whittlesey, senior, Conrad; Grace Fetterman, senior, Delmarva Christian; and Janeira Scott, senior, Woodbridge.
Seniors Emily Rzucidlo of Ursuline and Olivia Lynch of St. Elizabeth were named to the second team. They were joined by Mekhia Applewhite, junior, Cape Henlopen; Amiya Carroll, junior, Sanford; and Cha’Kya Johnson, senior, Woodbridge.
Rory Ciszkowski, a junior at St. Elizabeth, earned third-team honors. The other members include Breionna Dodson, senior, Tatnall; Zy Kilgoe, sophomore, Sanford; Morgan Mahoney, junior, Cape Henlopen; and Jada McCullough, senior, Caesar Rodney.
Two Archmere players made honorable mention. They are Ellie Angiullo, a senior, and junior Lauren Kim. The rest of the 15-player honorable mention includes:
Armani Bell-Jackson, senior, Brandywine
Ja’Mai Benson, junior, Mount Pleasant
Maya Braxton-Young, freshman, Hodgson
Emma Brown, junior, Wilmington Charter
Delaney Christopher, senior, Appoquinimink
Stacey Deputy, junior, Caesar Rodney
Kayla Farley, senior, Friends
Jazmin Kellam, senior, Polytech
Abby Meredith, junior, Sanford
Dallas Pierce, sophomore, Sanford
Erin Ranegan, senior, Conrad
Julie Saleur, junior, Cape Henlopen
Brennah Scott, senior, Mount Pleasant
Caulk, a senior, led the Sals to a 12-4 record and a trip to the state semifinals, where they lost to Smyrna. Caulk spent four years on the varsity.
The boys’ player of the year is Sanford senior Nnanna Njoku. He led the Warriors to the state championship and will play collegiately at Villanova. Njoku is a graduate of St. Edmond’s Academy.
The balance of the first team consists of Donoven Mack, senior, Tower Hill; Lorenzo Carrier, senior, Appoquinimnink; and Olumuyiwa Salako, senior, Smyrna.
The second team includes Omari Banks, senior, Tatnall; Elijah Credle, senior, Smyrna; Kaheim Kimbrough-Roach, senior, Lake Forest; Brent Ricketts, sophomore, Seaford; and Gabe Valmond, junior, Delcastle.
Ethan Hinds, a senior at Salesianum, earned third-team honors. Joining him are Tyrese Fortune, junior, Seaford; Jaheim Gadsden, senior, Delcastle; De’Mere Hollingsworth, junior, Howard; and Brycen Williams, senior, Caesar Rodney.
The 15-player honorable mention list includes Archmere sophomore Chris Albero; St. Elizabeth senior Jaden Dickerson, Salesianum junior Justin Molen; and Saint Mark’s junior Jabri White. The rest of the list is as follows:
Dante Brinkley, senior, Wilmington Christian
JaVaughn Burton, senior, Cape Henlopen
Brandon Dwyer, senior, Sanford
Jaheim Harrell, sophomore, Dover
Maurkel Harrigan, senior, Dickinson
Ché Jackson, senior, Conrad
Kamau Lately, senior, Newark
Jeremiah Lumpkin-Beale, senior, Delmar
Kameron Roberts, senior, Middletown
Gage Spinks, senior, Indian River
Dan Starkey, junior, Wilmington Christian
