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Top-ranked recruit Aaliyah Chavez leads Texas high school girls basketball team to state title

Lawrence Andrew Fernandezby:Lawrence Fernandez•about 18 hours•

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Aaliyah Chavez - Texas high school girls basketball
Monterey's Aaliyah Chavez holds the Class 5A Division II state championship girls basketball trophy on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Monterey defeated Liberty Hill 64-35. (© Angela Piazza/USA Today Network via Caller-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Aaliyah Chavez can finally call herself a state champion to cap off her illustrious Texas high school girls basketball career. The nation’s top-ranked recruit led the Monterey Plainsmen to the University Interscholastic League Class 5A Division 2 state title against Liberty Hill. This March 1 victory ended Monterey’s 44-year state championship drought and had the Plainsmen ranked fifth in the Texas On3 Composite Team Rankings.

Chavez had 19 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and four steals in their dominating 64-35 triumph over the Panthers. She closed her high school basketball career with 4,796 points, ranking her 14th on the all-time scoring list. Throughout four seasons, she averaged 32.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 3.2 steals per game.

While the 19 points were a far cry from her 34.9 per-game average, Aaliyah Chavez received much help from her teammates, especially on defense. Ambrosia Cole finished with a double-double (16 points, 12 rebounds, while Ari Johnson contributed 12 in this Texas high school girls basketball game at the Alamodome.

After an 11-9 Liberty Hill lead, the Plainsmen’s offense went to another gear, outscoring the Panthers 24-2 until halftime. Liberty Hill converted only five of their 33 first-half field goal attempts, including two of 14 three-point tries. When the game ended, Monterey limited Liberty Hill to 20 percent shooting and forced 13 turnovers.

With the state championship and a McDonald’s All-American selection in the bag, college basketball is next for Aaliyah Chavez. While the On3 Industry Ranking has her at number one with a 94.81 grade, she hasn’t committed to any school. However, she will announce her decision on March 25.

Chavez received offers from 11 of the most prestigious women’s basketball programs in the nation. As a Texas high school girls basketball athlete, Texas and Texas Tech would want to keep her in-state. Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer attended one of her playoff games and Chavez visited Austin last Sunday.

Also in the running for Aaliyah Chavez are Alabama, Arizona, LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, UCLA, and USC. Chavez is also a finalist for the Naismith Girls High School Player of the Year award.