CIF Southern Section Open Division Players to Watch Pt. 2

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. Briliyah Taylor - Lynwood 2021</strong> Taylor is one of the better guards in Southern California. She’s a combo guard; she’s comfortable with playing a scoring role or a facilitating role. She has a strong slashing game and she can get the rim, draw contact, and get herself to the free-throw line. She’s quick in transition and can make the right play. She’s a good shooter from three-point range and she has a quick release. She’ll cause problems for opposing backcourts in postseason play. <strong>2. [player_tooltip player_id="102658" first="Anaya" last="James"] - West Torrance 2021</strong> The Pacific commit has long been one of the most underrated and slept on wing prospects in SoCal. She’s a flat out scorer who can light it up from anywhere on the court and is more than capable of willing her team to wins in the playoffs. She excels off the dribble; can pull up and shoot or get all the way into the paint. One of the main things that stands out about her though is her defensive intensity. She can lock up on the perimeter and create turnovers leading to transition buckets. <strong>3. [player_tooltip player_id="160317" first="Melissa" last="Zozulenko"] - Harvard-Westlake 2021</strong> One of the senior leaders for the Wolverines, Zozulenko is another combo guard of sorts and one of the better unsigned seniors in the area. She’s a slasher and she can draw the defense and kick the ball out to open shooters. She runs the offense well and makes sure the ball doesn’t stagnate at all. She’s also a very good defensive player on the wings. She moves her feet well and applies strong on-ball pressure. <strong>4. [player_tooltip player_id="104202" first="Majesty" last="Cade"] - Etiwanda 2023</strong> Cade is a player that really used the fall and winter periods before the season started to put her name on the map. She’s a strong guard who can get the rim and finish. She pushes the ball well in transition and makes the right reads. Puts a lot of pressure on the defense with her off the dribble game. She’s a good shooter with consistent range. Good motor and good rebounder for a guard. Young player who can help win.