2024 Skyland Conference Stock Risers Pt. 3

We have been going over the top stock risers in the state over the past week and we're finishing up one of our conferences in this article. Here are some more 2024 stock risers in the Skyland Conference this season. <strong>Brooke Baisley - 5-10 G/F, Gill St. Bernard’s</strong> Baisley has shown great improvement across the board this season for Gill St. Bernard's. She's proven herself to be a fantastic guard/forward option, being more versatile on the floor. That's amounted to tremendous success on both sides of the ball, starting with her offense. She's an efficient shooter from the field and takes a lot of high-percentage shots. On the glass, Baisley has improved in boxing out opponents and that's helped when it comes to outlet passes for assists. She's also been a big-time perimeter defender for GSB. <strong>Brenae Jones - 6-0 PF/C, Bound Brook</strong> Jones already proved herself to be a top-level forward for Bound Brook as a freshman, putting up identical scoring and rebounding numbers. However, this season, she's refined her game more and has attacked both of those with more tenacity on the floor. Her defense down on the block has been much better overall as Jones is meeting opponents at the apex of their shots to block them and is causing much more disruption on the floor, leading to many more turnovers and offensive opportunities. <strong>Giovanna Drajin - 5-10 SF/PF, Immacolata</strong> Drajin is having quite the first season for Immacolata so far and she's been an extremely balanced player overall without a doubt. She plays like a stretch four and most definitely stretches the floor on offense, knocking down big-time three-pointers from the perimeter or pushing the ball in the paint. Her size gives and height gives her an advantage either way. Let's not overlook her excellent defense which is a combination of great agility and high basketball IQ. Drajin is already one of the best emerging shot-blockers in the Skyland. <strong>Amanda Rapel - PG, Phillipsburg</strong> Rapel found her stride of confidence as the season went on as a freshman, but this season, she's gotten off the ground running hard for Phillipsburg. This guard is shooting the three as well as any other guard in the conference and the state. She's releasing her shots quicker and with a smoother release, but her success from the perimeter has opened up the floor for her to get buckets in the lane and within the perimeter more often. That's been fantastic to see her mix up that shot selection and she's become a lot better as a result. <strong>Bella Soto - 5-5 PG/SG, Warren Hills</strong> Soto is a three-point specialist for Warren Hills and has quickly found her stride and her shooting stroke on the floor. With limited playing time last season, Soto wasn't able to work on developing her game as much, but we've quickly found how much of a three-point threat she is. Soto operates well on and off-ball and has a great shooting motion overall. She is never forcing shots and as much as she's been effective from shooting, she's been just as efficient. <strong>Sara Thiessen - 5-7 G, Bound Brook</strong> Thiessen is a quality starting guard who is best utilized at the top of the key, though she's been a great defensive presence for Bound Brook. While she's gotten plenty more time on the floor this season, she needs to work on consistency when it comes to scoring in the middle. She's stood out the most on the defensive end as multiple times a game, Thiessen is finding herself in prime positions to pick off passes or create a steal off the dribble to start a fast break on the other side of the floor.