CIF Southern Section Open Division Players to Watch

It’s been a very weird high school basketball regular season this year as games were postponed until spring and AAU play happened right alongside school play. But the regular season was able to happen relatively smooth and CIF playoffs are finally here. There were a few players who raised their stock throughout both the high school and AAU season and a few who could be key impact players as the quest for a CIF championship begins. Here’s a quick look at some of those players in the CIF Open Division who could be real difference makers in the postseason. <strong>1. Sydni Summers - Corona Centennial 2023</strong> Summers is a name to look out for, for the next couple of years in Southern California. She made a big impact in the CIF playoffs last season in 2020 as a freshman. She’s a very solid guard who knows when to find that balance between scoring and creating for her teammates. She’s a slasher who attacks the rim and uses her body to get into the paint and finish. She’s very quick in transition and can find open teammates running the break with her. A good shooter from three-point range Very good defender on the perimeter. <strong>2. [player_tooltip player_id="103347" first="Hannah" last="Stines"] - Orangewood Academy 2022</strong> Stines to me was one of the biggest stock risers this spring. Playing on both the EYBL circuit and on her high school team, Stines already has some Division 1 offers, but certainly cemented her name as a player to watch out for in SoCal. She has become very comfortable with the ball in her hands and being able to create offense off the dribble. She can use screens to free herself for jumpers and she has a solid three-point shot. She can get to the rim and can also find open teammates. <strong>3. Michelle Duchemin - Windward 2021</strong> In my eyes, the CSUN commit is one of the more underrated players in SoCal. Duchemin doesn’t need the ball in her hands to be effective. She’s got a strong motor and is very active around the rim. She’s a worker on the glass and fights hard for rebounds on both ends. A good interior defender. She makes plays that won’t always show up in stats. She can finish around the rim and has a little midrange shot. She’ll have a big effect for Windward in the postseason. <strong>4. [player_tooltip player_id="263635" first="Lani" last="White"] - Mater Dei 2022</strong> White is a player that had some strong performances playing travel ball in the winter before the season began, and she’s a key part of this Mater Dei team. She’s a tough wing with good size. She can score efficiently and is able to shoot off the bounce. She can also attack defenders off the dribble and can finish over the defense at the rim. She can also play effectively without the ball in her hands, moving well along the baseline for cuts around the rim or getting out and running in transition for easy buckets.