Colonial Conference Preview: Players to Keep an Eye On
Last year was a tough year for the entirety of the Colonial Conference. With only a few teams really standing out it was tough to get a gauge on which prospects can play at the next level. There is a…
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Continue ReadingLast year was a tough year for the entirety of the Colonial Conference. With only a few teams really standing out it was tough to get a gauge on which prospects can play at the next level. There is a ton of talent within the conference and this year each team is looking to improve after a very uneven previous season.
2021 PG/SG Erica McDonnell – West Deptford
A somewhat disappointing season for West Deptford last year still had its bright spots, one of them being the play of Erica McDonnell. After two seasons of consistent contributions McDonnell took a big step forward in her junior year, averaging 11.7 points and hitting 42 three pointers along the way. McDonnell has shown blinding speed in transition and the smarts to pick off lazy passes, her outside shot just goes to show she’s much more than a one trick pony.
2022 PG/SG Kayleigh Armstrong – Haddon Township
It’s not often you find an underclassman leading the offense of a top team in any conference but that is exactly what Haddon Township has with Kayleigh Armstrong. Last year as a sophomore Armstrong averaged 13.8 points per game, showing the ability to lead the team on both sides of the court. Offensively Armstrong’s first look seems to be the three point shot as she did hit 56 of them last year, but she also likes to get physical inside and settle for a really nice floater. Defensively she uses her great decision making ability to take educated gambles to make up for her lack of size. Heading into her junior year Kayleigh Armstrong is looking like the top dog for Haddon Township again and she has the chance to put a lot of people on notice.
2022 PF Imani Gillette – Overbrook
There are very few players that make an opposing offense scheme around their presence, Overbook’s Imani Gillette is one of those players. A true power forward in every sense Gillette is coming off of a dominant sophomore season even if it was an underwhelming one for Overbrook as a whole. Gillette was a menace down low, averaging 19.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game all on the block. She doesn’t shoot from outside but she’s proven she doesn’t need to because of the great positions she puts herself in using her incredible footwork. For Gillette to put up these types of numbers as just a sophomore has me incredibly excited to see what she has in store for this season. A dominant player in which the offense and defense runs through, Imani Gillette is one of the most important players in the entire Colonial Conference.
2022 G/F Aysiah Maldonado – Audubon
Last year was a tough season for the Audubon Green Wave, but their 10-17 record doesn’t tell the whole story. The roster wasn’t exactly built for a championship this past year, but much of the focus was on developing these players for a run in the next few seasons. Aysiah Maldonado is exactly the type of player that coaches want to develop as she has everything needed to be a star. As a sophomore Maldonado led the team in scoring, averaging 13 points per game while leading both the offense and defense with energy. She has grown her jump shot into a serious threat that defenses have to take account for but she can also drive to the lane and finish through contact. A true “tweener”, Maldonado can play at the combo guard or forward position. Now in her junior year Maldonado can continue to grow with the rest of the Green Wave as they look to build something special within the program.
2023 SF/PF Madison Clark – Haddon Heights
The youth movement is here for Haddon Heights, and it is led by star sophomore Madison Clark. A disappointing 13-15 record last year for Haddon Heights can be attributed to just how young the team is, but now with more experience both the classes of 2022 and 2023 are sure to succeed this year. As a freshman Clark led the team in scoring, averaging 11 points per game because of her ability to do just about everything in the paint. She has quick enough feet that allows her to end up in good positions, leading the other team to foul her down low. What I find so impressive is Clark knows exactly when she’s got her defender beat and seeks out contact, not many players are willing to do that. She has the Basketball IQ to continue to succeed in larger roles and potentially at the next level, with her being so young she has time to continue to develop those smarts which should be scary for opposing teams. Madison Clark should lead Haddon Heights in scoring again this year because of how polished she is. Look for Haddon Heights to improve upon their rough year last year behind their star sophomore.