The 2018 Ohio Varsity Girls Basketball Player of the Year will be announced at the 2018 Ohio Varsity Senior Shootout and Underclassmen Showcase at Ursuline College on Sunday, March 18.
Each of the finalists was nominated by her coach based on that player’s performance during the 2017-2018 season.
A panel of coaches will vote to determine the 2018 Player of the Year. Eastlake North’s Samantha Pirosko was named the 2017 Ohio Varsity Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
Each nominee is listed below in alphabetical order:
 Name: Claire DolanSchool: Perry Position: Guard Grade: 12 2017-2018 Statistics: 13.6 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game, 2.5 assists per game, 1.5 steals per game 2017-2018 Awards: 1st Team All-Chagrin Valley Conference GPA: 3.5 College: Mount Union Coach’s Quote: “Claire is a four-year starter, a 1,000-point scorer for her career and has been our go-to on offense for three years,” said Perry coach Brindi Kandel. “She’s one of the hardest working players we’ve had and is a great teammate. She’s earned every award and accolade she’s accumulated over the last four years through her work ethic and passion for the game and has left her mark on our program. Coaching her has been easy because she’s so coachable and has a desire to be the best she can be in every aspect. She’s a true leader and a stand-out player.” |
 Name: Lexi HammerSchool: Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin Position: Guard Grade: 12 2017-2018 Stats: 12.3 points per game, 7.9 rebounds per game, 4.1 assists per game, 2.5 steals per game 2017-2018 Awards: North Coast League Player of the Year GPA: 4.08 College: Undecided Coach’s Quote: “Lexi has had an outstanding four-year career at NDCL,” said NDCL head coach Joe Spicuzza. “She has improved and excelled in all facets of the game, which led to Lexi being a unanimous selection for MVP of the North Coast League.” |
 Name: Destiny LeoSchool: Eastlake North Position: Guard Grade: 10 2017-2018 Stats: 19.1 points per game, 6.6 rebounds per game, 3.5 assists per game, 2.5 steals per game 2017-2018 Awards: All-Western Reserve Conference, 1st Team All-District GPA: 4.0 College: Undecided Coach’s Quote: “She brings a lot to the table,” said North coach Paul Force. “She’s definitely a kid who can impact the game whether she scores 10 points or 25 points. She has a high basketball IQ and she has picked up on our scheme and system incredibly well for a girl who isn’t even two years into it yet. Destiny was born to play basketball; she loves it and has a great perspective. She shows maturity beyond her years without a doubt as a player. We believe her ceiling is extremely high and it will come down to how good she wants to be and how hard she wants to work.” |
 Name: Corenna MaynardSchool: Kenston Position: Point Guard Grade: 12 2017-2018 Stats: 14.8 points per game, 4.0 rebounds per game, 2.7 assists per game, 2.3 steals per game 2017-2018 Awards: All-Western Reserve Conference, 2nd Team All-District GPA: 4.5 College: Undecided Coach’s Quote: “Corenna Maynard is my leader,” said Kenston coach John Misenko, Jr. “She is one of the hardest workers. She helped Kenston improve from fourth place in the WRC last year to second place this year. Besides being our leader on offense, Corenna, in my opinion, is the best Defensive Player in Northeast Ohio. This is something that I don’t think gets enough attention.” |
 Name: Hailey PeoplesSchool: Geneva Position: Forward Grade: 12 2017-2018 Stats: 14.0 points per game, 8.0 rebounds per game, 1.3 assists per game, 3.0 steals per game 2017-2018 Awards: 1st Team All-Chagrin Valley Conference GPA: 3.82 College: Mount Union Coach’s Quote: “Hailey is a four-year letter winner,” said Geneva coach Nancy Barbo. “She has been a dominant force in the paint, on the boards and on the defensive end. Teams must prepare for how to limit Hailey’s production in the paint and on the glass. She has been instrumental in our success over the last four years. Hailey returned this year from a midseason ACL tear during her junior year. She has demonstrated much resiliency and poise to finish her high school basketball career in such dominating fashion.” |
 Name: Sydney SnyderSchool: Kirtland Position: Guard Grade: 12 2017-2018 Stats: 21.0 points per game, 7.7 rebounds per game, 3.6 assists per game, 4.1 steals per game 2017-2018 Awards: 1st Team All-Chagrin Valley Conference, MVP of the CVC Valley Division, Division III District Player of the Year, 1st Team All-District GPA: 3.8 College: Baldwin Wallace Coach’s Quote: “Sydney meant everything to our program,” said Kirtland coach Bob Bell. “She was an incredible player for us, the most complete player I’ve ever coached in my 47 years of coaching. In saying that, across the board, she did it all. She was also one of our best defensive players. It was all self-made. She did it the old-fashioned way. She worked at it and earned it. She earned everything she has gotten.” |
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