2022 Cape-Atlantic Conference Players to Watch Pt. 2
The New Jersey high school girls basketball scene is coming into frame as the calendar flips to November and the 2020/21 season gets ever so closer. While North Jersey tends to grab the headlines, there is much competition left unexplored…
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Continue ReadingThe New Jersey high school girls basketball scene is coming into frame as the calendar flips to November and the 2020/21 season gets ever so closer.
While North Jersey tends to grab the headlines, there is much competition left unexplored in Central Jersey and South Jersey.
Prep Girls Hoops continues a multi-part series looking at the Cape-Atlantic League, this time focusing on juniors to watch in the National Division.
Marin Panico, SG/PG Ocean City: Panico shows a lot of poise, featuring as a combo guard for Ocean City. She is used to having the ball in her hands and she’s confident as a ball handler. However, she’s as effective of a player without the ball, moving well off-ball to get open. She has a smooth shooting stroke, especially from three, and she’s relied upon on the defensive side of the ball. She plays tough, hard-nosed defense, and often creates turnovers leading to numerous fast break opportunities.
Camryn Dirkes, PG Mainland: Dirkes might be considered undersized at the point guard position, but she might be arguably Mainland’s best player this season. Her best attribute is her speed, able to out-run her opponents on a fast break and backtrack on defense. That has put her in a spot as one of Mainland’s go-to scorers, and it’s not just her speed that kills. Dirkes can shoot the lights out of a gym and will cause havoc playing defense. She is the ideal combination of speed and scoring prowess.
Cadence Fitzgerald, F Mainland: Fitzgerald has an advantage to her game not many else possess: her volleyball background. Along with basketball, she’s a mainstay on Mainland’s varsity girls’ volleyball team, which has translated well onto the basketball court. She can jump out of the gym, something that’s correlated into becoming a great shot-blocker on defense. Her ability to dig and move around the court has helped with agility, not only creating steals, but jumping out ahead of the pack on fast breaks. Fitzgerald will be an exciting watch this season.
Izabella Williamson, G/F Oakcrest: Oakcrest, coming off a disappointing 9-17 season in 19/20, is going to need the sharp-shooting of Williamson to be a threat in the division. She showed glimpses of brightness last season, shooting threes in bunches and featuring well as a wing guard. Her off-ball movement on offense will be crucial for the success of how well the Falcons will be able to score. Williamson will be seeing the ball in her hands a lot more come this season.
MaNaijah Scott, SF/SG Oakcrest: There is a lot to like about Scott coming into this season, starting with her defense. She pinches the edges and doesn’t give any room, a type of pesky defense that has often created turnovers this season. She doesn’t let herself get pushed around on the floor, getting rebounds, creating contact in the lane for shots, or even backing down a player on defense. Scott is one of Oakcrest’s leading rebounders returning to the program, so expect her flirting with double-doubles throughout the season.
With college basketball now underway, it’s only a matter of time before the high school season begins, so stay tuned to Prep Girls Hoops for more player previews and profiles.