Under-The-Radar 2024 Bigs

With a list of 81 players out for the PGH NJ 2024 prospect rankings, there are so many names to talk about across the board. However, we wanted to do our part to highlight some more underrated bigs in the state from the 2024 class you should be watching. <strong>No. 28: [player_tooltip player_id="406937" first="Brenae" last="Jones"] - 6-0 C, Bound Brook</strong> Jones went from narrowly missing out on a double-double average as a freshman to 11/11 averages as a sophomore along with 3.2 blocks a game. She got stronger overall as a player and with success came more experience. That freshman year, while abbreviated due to Covid, was very crucial in Jones’s player development as she gained confidence and position in the lane to be able to dominate this year in a big way for Bound Brook. Expect her to improve on those numbers tremendously this winter/spring. <strong>No. 41: [player_tooltip player_id="326665" first="Maya" last="Giordano"] - C, Old Tappan</strong> Giordano barely saw the floor as a freshman, appearing in just five games and scoring nearly three points a game. One season later, she’s posting a scoring average of 11.8 PPG along with hauling in roughly eight rebounds a game for Old Tappan. Her key to success was playing time and she didn’t necessarily get that as a freshman. That added playing time as a sophomore allowed her to blossom and develop as a great post player with plus rebounding abilities and a soft touch at the basket. <strong>No. 48: [player_tooltip player_id="325206" first="Demi" last="Simpson"] - 6-0 PF, Teaneck</strong> Simpson, from the start of her high school career, has been more known for her defense and her rebounding ability. That showed once again this season as she averaged 9.8 RPG and 2.5 BPG, a stalwart in the lane that opponents have much trouble with. While Simpson’s rebounding average actually declined this season, her blocks per game went up roughly 0.5 a game. That level of a jump is incredibly impressive for the Teaneck forward, who did increase her scoring output as well, averaging nearly 6.0 PPG. <strong>No. 45: [player_tooltip player_id="326410" first="Miya" last="Villari"] - PF, Pitman</strong> While Villari does possess many traits of a forward, she really turned the corner as an offensive player this season for Pitman. Her defense took a slight backseat as her three-point shooting became the star of the show for the Panthers. She knocked down just under one three-pointer a game and found her stride early on. That confidence continued to build as the season progressed, showing she can add more components to her game, like perimeter shooting. <strong>No. 70: [player_tooltip player_id="325208" first="Siena" last="Shuster"] - 5-11 PF, Wayne Hills</strong> The first action we saw of Shuster at the varsity level was this year for Warren Hills and she didn’t disappoint, averaging 9.0 PPG. She still very much has the benefit of having more time to develop in her high school career. She seems comfortable finding her shot in the paint and Shuster has a bit of range to her game as well, showing the ability to know down threes. Shuster will be playing the majority of her game inside the perimeter, but that being an option will keep opponents on their toes.