One dozen girls basketball players to watch at California State Championships

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Here are one dozen of the top top girls basketball players who will play this weekend at Power Balance Pavilion, site of the 2012 California State Championships.

Let us know if we left anyone off the list.

Jordan Adams (Mater Dei-Santa Ana) - The 6-foot-1 senior point guard and USC-signee is long and skilled. She is not only a veteran of the highest level of club and high school basketball, she's also played internationally for USA Basketball. A very intelligent player, Adams understands how to blend her abilities with other talented teammates. Mater Dei plays Berkeley 6 p.m. Saturday in the Division I title game.

Oderah Chidom (Bishop O'Dowd-Oakland, Calif.) – In a group filled with potential, Chidom might have the highest ceiling because even at 6-4, she's as much a wing as a post player. She's relatively new to the game, and hasn't developed her outside shot, but her quickness and length make her a force on defense and on the offensive boards. Few players combine her height and athleticism. Chidom and the Dragons play Laguna Hills in the 1 p.m. Division III title game Saturday.

Elisha Davis (Berkeley) - Quick on quick. The 5-5 guard uses her speed, athleticism and high spirits to attack opponents (and watch for her helicopter defense of inbounds passes). She loves to take long, long three-pointers, and when they go in, she makes it impossible to decide how to guard her.

Nirra Fields (Mater Dei) - The 5-9 senior shooting guard possesses the rarest skill in the female game: the ability to create her own shot. Fields can get a shot pretty much any time she wants. She can shoot threes, penetrate and is explosive around the basket. She's only played at Mater Dei for one season, but she won't be forgotten.

Kelli Hayes (Archbishop Mitty-San Jose) - Hayes is one of those players who slowly grows on you. There's nothing really spectacular about her game, except that she's good at everything. The 5-11 sophomore is long and athletic, defends well, can score inside and out, and has played well at the highest levels. And she's just a sophomore. Mitty coach Sue Phillips said her best trait is that she wants to be great - and backs it up. Hayes and Mitty take on JW North 6 p.m. Friday in the Division II title game.

Amanda Lovely (Mitty) - The 6-2 senior forward and Pepperdine-signee is much like her teammate Hayes: she sneaks up on opponents. Her size says she's a post player, but her passing, shooting and all-around game belong to someone several inches shorter.

Maya Hood (La Jolla Country Day) - One of the knocks against La Jolla Country Day is the team's lack of size, but Maya Hood plays much taller than 5-10 - and she's as tough as anyone on the court. You hear talk of certain players who can handle any position, one through five, but that usually disregards the defensive end of the floor. Hood, though, can guard whoever needs to be guarded, and make life hard for them. La Jolla Country Day takes on Salesian in the 3:30 p.m. Division IV championship game Friday.

Celia Marfone Laguna Hills (Laguna Hills, Calif.) - The 6-foot senior forward leads Laguna Hills in almost all categories, including a 17.9 scoring average. Her vast skills have earned her a ride to UC Davis.

Mariya Moore (Salesian-Richmond) - When Moore smooths out her shooting stroke, she'll be pretty much unstoppable. The 5-11 sophomore is an offensive force who scores in the paint not only with post moves but with tenacity around the hoop. And when her jumper is dropping, watch out.

Kelsey Plum (La Jolla Country Day) - The 5-8 junior guard is left-handed and that never hurts. Plum gets her points more because of her skills than the arm she shoots with. She has deep range on her threes, isn't afraid of contact and can run the point as well.

Tiara Tucker (Brookside Christian-Stockton) – Division V players, which Tucker is, generally don't much media love, but Tucker is hard to overlook. The 5-6 guard is majorly quick, a tremendous shooter and is just a sophomore - though on the very young Brookside Christian team, that makes her a veteran leader. She averages more than 25 points per game. Tucker and Brookside Christian play Mission Hills in a 9:30 a.m. Division V title game Saturday.

Kendall Waters (Bishop O'Dowd) - The most polished post player in Northern California, the 6-2 junior is tremendous around the basket at both ends of the floor. She's strong, skilled and jumps well - and is in the middle of the O'Dowd pressbreaker. She's extended the range on her jumper as she prepares for a college career at power forward, but in high school, she's pretty much unstoppable on the block.

Senior writer Mitch Stephens contributed to this report. Clay Kallam is the girls basketball editor at MaxPreps.com.