2022 Shore Conference Players to Watch Pt. 7

The almost 10-month wait for high school girls basketball in New Jersey is nearly over as the 2020/21 season is right around the corner. There hasn’t been a season like this before and there hasn’t been as much anticipation for the start of a season as there currently is throughout the state. Prep Girls Hoops continues its look at New Jersey high school girls basketball, previewing juniors to watch in the Shore Conference’s B North division. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="134626" first="Madison" last="St. Rose"], PG St. John-Vianney:</strong> St. Rose plays a versatile style of basketball at the point guard position. She looks really good playing off the ball and she thrives in a more up-tempo offense, but when the game slows down, she’s speeding up, driving down the lane. St. Rose can also play the role of spoiler on the other end of the floor, patrolling the perimeter on defense and really clamping down on opponents. It’s a two-headed monster of athletic prowess. <strong>Alexa Fernandez, SF Middletown North:</strong> Fernandez plays a position that’s a hot commodity in the college game. As the center position is being phased out, much slower in women’s hoops than in men’s hoops, she will be thriving as a transition scorer and a presence down low. However, she can also shoot as 10 of her 12 made baskets last season were from three. Expect her to fill up the stat sheet as she gets more opportunities to score and as she crashes the boards early and often. <strong>Jada Allen, SF/PF Matawan Regional:</strong> Allen dominates from the forward position and really plays like a stretch five. She features well down low, using her height and size to crowd the lane. She plays aggressive and really likes that open elbow jumper from the foul line. She punishes in the paint and controls the glass with ease. Matawan is really going to need her to build off of her success last season and she looks like the type of player who is going to break out this season. On a team that finished 8-18 in 19/20, the eyes and spotlight will be on her so stay tuned. <strong>Ashley O’Connor, PG/SG St. John-Vianney:</strong> O’Connor has a lot to offer as a combo guard for St. John-Vianney, starting off with her perimeter defense. She plays a physical style of defense, standing her ground against the opposition and she forces a lot of turnovers as a result. That transitions well to the offensive side of the ball, where she can not only drive to the lane and score, but light up the stat sheet from three. Expect O’Connor to step up for St. John-Vianney this season and become a game-changer. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="155464" first="Amaya" last="Evans"], PG Neptune:</strong> Evans is a crossover specialist, an ankle breaker expert. She’s an excellent ball handler and has fantastic handles. She can stop on a dime and speed up instantly, and she commands the floor so well when she’s in. That kind of playmaking ability helps out on defense as well as she can pick the pocket of any opponent, but she’s not one-dimensional on either side of the ball. She stands tall at the point on defense and she uses her ball-handling skills to create space for shots. Don’t count her out from downtown as she can shoot the three too. Continue to follow Prep Girls Hoops for more player profiles and previews as the 2020/21 high school girls basketball season approaches.