Top 5 rising NCHSAA 4A juniors from the Triangle

Barring any further setbacks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, a new high school girls basketball season in the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina is set to being in only a few short months. With several talented prospects graduating over the summer, rising seniors will be propelled into primary leadership roles with their respective teams, while rising juniors will seek to learn from the upperclassmen while simultaneously refining their on-court talents. Numerous sophomores in Raleigh and the surrounding cities showcased their potential on multiple occasions during the 2019-20 basketball season, all of which are expected to continue their positive trajectories as they grow as players during their final two years in high school. Here are five rising juniors from the N.C. High School Athletic Association’s 4A division to keep an eye on during the 2020-21 season. <strong>1. [player_tooltip player_id="116890" first="Indya" last="Nivar"]- Apex Friendship</strong> Apex Friendship embarked on a stellar campaign that saw them accumulate a 24-3 record before they were knocked out in the Sweet 16 of the NCHSAA 4A Playoffs by falling five to Millbrook in the Elite 8. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="116890" first="Indya" last="Nivar"]</strong> was a key piece in Apex Friendship’s consistency, as she averaged 26.1 points per game, 8.4 rebounds per game and 5.1 steals per game. Nivar’s dynamic playmaking ability on both offense and defense will keep Apex Friendship in the conversation as a state championship contender over the next two years. <strong>2. [player_tooltip player_id="116904" first="Jerni" last="Kiaku"]- Garner Magnet</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="116904" first="Jerni" last="Kiaku"] </strong>was the primary scoring weapon for Garner Magent last year by averaging 21.6 points per game, but she also helped generate plays for her teammates by leading the program in assists and steals with 3.7 and 3.4 respectively. Kiaku’s small stature in 5’4” prevents her from being a dominant presence underneath the rim, but she has several talented teammates to distribute the ball to, which include junior <strong>Nyah Wilkins, </strong>senior <strong>Nyema Hicks</strong> and sophomore <strong>Madison Mims, </strong>among others. <strong>3. Madison Nereu- Green Level</strong> The 2019-20 season was a disappointing one for Green Level after they finished with a 15-11 record, but <strong>Madison Nereu </strong>was one of a few bright spots that helped keep the team competitive throughout the year. Nereu averaged 15.5 points during a season that saw her record a 31-point performance in a 74-48 victory over Lee County on Dec. 26. Nereu also averaged 7.3 rebounds a game, which put her second on the team behind rising sophomore <strong>Audrey Ericksen, </strong>who tallied 8.7 a night. <strong>4. Samantha Ackles- Holly Springs</strong> Holly Springs had four players register double-digit averages in points during the 2019-20 season, with <strong>Samantha Ackles </strong>being among them. Ackles also averaged a team-high 9.2 rebounds while also shining on defense with 3.6 blocks. The other three top scorers for Holly Springs in seniors <strong>Jayde Gamble </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="116886" first="Taleah" last="Stephens"], </strong>along with sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="116911" first="Staci" last="Williams"]</strong>, will all return this year alongside Ackles, which will make Holly Springs a high-powered offense as they pursue an NCHSAA 4A Championship. <strong>5. Maria Savvun- Green Level</strong> Green Level’s other bright spot during a lackluster 2019-20 season was <strong>Maria Savvun,</strong> who followed closely behind <strong>Madison Nereu </strong>in points with an average of 11.3 a game. She also led Green Level in assists with 3.0 a game and steals with 2.1 a game. Savvun and Nereu will form an efficient scoring duo for Green Level during the upcoming season, but they and the rest of their teammates will need to develop more cohesion and consistency in order to improve upon last year’s overall performance.