2021-22 NJ High School Team Preview: Paul VI

Going into the spring, there was one team to beat in South Jersey: Cherokee. The Chiefs had just come off a 30-1 season and were destined to repeat that level of dominance. Those dreams were crushed when Olympic Conference rival Paul VI came into the mix, beating the Chiefs in both their meetings in the spring, solidifying themselves as not just the best in the region, but a top-5 team in the country. The Eagles would finish the 2021 season 13-2, with those two losses coming to the two best programs in the state, Trenton Catholic and St. John Vianney. Now, Paul VI is in the driver’s seat as the team to beat in South Jersey, and they have just the team to pull off that, starting first and foremost with one of the best rising juniors in the state and in the country, [player_tooltip player_id="134645" first="Hannah" last="Hidalgo"]. The point guard has already garnered big time D1 offers from some of the best schools in the country, and for good reason. She can change the momentum of the game in an instant and is one of the most impactful playmakers in any program in New Jersey. While we know what to expect from Hidalgo, the Eagles will need big contributions from a number of players this fall, and having scored 60.0 PPG as an offense last season, they’re more than capable of producing. The big blow to Paul VI is the departure of senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="134642" first="Veyoni" last="Davis"], who transferred to nearby Eastern Regional for her final high school season. That means seniors Sara McShea and [player_tooltip player_id="319018" first="Nile" last="Miller"], who each nearly posted double-double numbers in the spring, have some big seasons ahead them. McShea is more of the scorer between the two and Miller has more of the big time defensive presence, including nearly three steals a game and over one block a game last season. If both can put up double-double averages, talk about a three-headed monster, undoubtedly one of the best in the state. With seniors Julia Dorn and Janice Ashong having graduated in the spring, the Eagles will look to the likes of sophomore Shariah Baynes and senior Makenna Foder to round out the starting five. Baynes provides a solid defensive presence with scoring and passing and Foder will be incredibly important on the offensive end and as a perimeter defender. The loss of three players means that junior Mikayla Young, who appeared in just four games last season, will play a role coming off the bench and even starting. The lack of depth on the bench should be addressed through the freshman class and any possible transfers coming in, so need not worry about that. Paul VI is a team on a mission, and they’re coming for the best of the best in New Jersey. There are plenty more teams in the state to look at, and we’ll be doing so throughout the rest of the lead-up to the start of the 2021-22 season.