Parkway’s Mikaylah Williams named LSWA Miss Basketball

Already in elite company, Parkway guard Mikaylah Williams moved a step higher this week when she was named Miss Basketball by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. 

The 6-foot-1 junior guard joins Alana Beard of Southwood, Tarkeisha Wysinger of Many, Lulu Perry of Benton and Tiara Young of Evangel/Walker as winners of the prestigious award from Shreveport-Bossier area schools since the award’s inception in 1996. Young played three seasons at Evangel before playing her senior season in Baton Rouge.

Williams averaged 22.8 points, 8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.2 steals per game for her 32-2 team, which advanced to the LHSAA Class 5A championship game last month. She was named the LSWA’s 5A MVP on the All-State team after earlier winning Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year recognition, Times All-City Player of the Year honors and was the only junior named a finalist for Naismith National High School Girls Player of the Year by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. That honor went to UCLA signee Kiki Rice of Washington, D.C.

HERE'S WHY: Mikaylah Williams is the top 2023 recruit in the U.S.

Unstoppable in one-on-one situations on the perimeter or in the paint, Williams is considered the top 2023 women’s basketball recruit in the country by HoopGurlz and ProspectsNation.com. 

Williams is the best overall player Louisiana has produced in years, according to Louisiana Girls Report owner Kris Goff, who annually ranks the top players in the state. 

“When you combine her size, skill set and work ethic, you get a special talent,” said Goff in an earlier interview. “I’ve watched her grow since the eighth grade, and she’s always stood out. But the most impressive thing is she’s consistently gotten better year after year. Her and her family’s commitment to all the unseen hours of practice and hard work when no one else is watching is what has given her the opportunity to be one of the best players in the country. The best of Mikaylah Williams is yet to come.”

The one-time UL Lafayette softball commitment also plays softball and competes in track and field for the Lady Panthers. Williams maintains a 4.0 GPA and has scored more than 1,650 points in her high school career. She led the U.S. to a gold medal in the Under-18 3-on-3 World Cup in Hungary last summer.

Williams now has an opportunity to join Kisha James of Pineville (1997-98), Seimone Augustus of Capitol (2001-02), Kalani Brown of Salmen (2014-15) and Cara Ursin of Destrehan (2016-17) as a two-time winner over the 27 years of the award.

Jimmy Watson covers Shreveport-Bossier area sports. Email him at jwatson@shreveporttimes.com and follow him on Twitter @JimmyWatson6.

LSWA Miss Basketball winners

1996: Judy Clark, Singer

1997: Kisha James, Pineville

1998: Kisha James, Pineville

1999: Ashley Antony, Anacoco

2000: Alana Beard, Southwood

2001: Seimone Augustus, Capitol

2002: Seimone Augustus, Capitol

2003: Katie Antony, Anacoco

2004: Quianna Chaney, Southern Lab

2005: Courtnee Hollins, Fairview

2006: Alexis Rack, Franklin

2007: Tarkeisha Wysinger, Many

2008: Deana Allen, Ellender

2009: Kylie Leonards, Fairview

2010: Theresa Plaisance, Vandebilt Catholic

2011: Tina Roy, Kaplan

2012: Lulu Perry, Benton

2013: La’Dencia Johnson, Rayville

2014: Kalani Brown, Salmen

2015: Kalani Brown, Salmen

2016: Cara Ursin, Destrehan

2017: Cara Ursin, Destrehan

2018: Kourtney Weber, Ursuline

2019: Tiara Young, Evangel/Walker

2020: JeKaila Jordan, John Curtis

2021: Jeriah Warren, LaGrange

2022: Mikaylah Williams, Parkway