City Rankings: Top Atlantic City-Area Forwards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Jersey Shore is not just a place to soak up the sun in the summer and catch some waves. When the high school basketball season comes around, it's one of the best places to watch up-and-coming talent in the Garden State. It only seemed appropriate to include the area as part of our City Rankings and take a look at the best overall prospects. This article focuses on the top forwards in the area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='321548' first='Emma' last='Peretti'] - 6-1 PF, Hammonton (2023)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Peretti is one of the highest-ranked 2023 prospects from South Jersey in our rankings after another fantastic season as a junior that saw her post double-double averages for the second-consecutive year. When you're averaging upwards of 20 points and 15 rebounds a game, it's simply pure domination. Peretti has a dominant presence on the post and just commands the game so well as a forward. She knows what to do with the ball and how to make the most of her offensive opportunities. Her height plays a factor in rebounding, but her grit is really the difference-maker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='406933' first='Madelynn' last='Bernhardt'] - 5-7 SF/SG, OLMA (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bernhardt had her freshman year shortened due to Covid, but showcased a style of play that translated well into her role with OLMA. Her sophomore year, she's expanded her outside shooting while continuing to stay aggressive on the defensive side of the ball, not allowing one part of her game to slip over another. She impresses as a shot-blocker and can produce turnovers consistently. Her offense is near-perfect by this point, an all-around scorer who can shoot, drive and finish as needed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='321557' first='Quanirah' last='Cherry-Montague'] - 6-2 PF, Atlantic City (2023)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cherry-Montague, a homegrown talent from Atlantic City, has already garnered a number of Division 1 offers and for good reason after watching her play. This summer with the New Jersey Sparks, her athleticism and size was on full display, a stretch-four who can quite literally stretch the floor and play a dynamic style of basketball. She's an excellent shot-blocker, a great rebounder, but an even better and more diverse offensive player. Montague has expanded her range to three-point territory and can knock down shots in volume.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='488774' first='Destiny' last='Wallace'] - Vineland (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wallace is a relatively unknown player in the greater conversation about New Jersey girls basketball, but she has some untapped potential that should get unlocked as a junior. Vineland's main front-court presence last season was senior Skylar Fowlkes, who graduated in the spring. That swung the door wide open for Wallace to take over her spot and develop more as a defensive player. She impressed in short stints offensively, but taking that next step defensively is what we'll be looking at from her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Angeline Dragone - 6-1 C/PF, OLMA (2023)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dragone is the main front-court piece for Our Lady of Mercy this season, her final high school season. Watching her play, her defense has come more naturally to her and she's found much more success defensively looking at the stats. It's not surprising, seeing her 6-1 frame, that she's been a great rebounder and shot-blocker, but that offense can be just as good if not better for the same reasons. Her height gives her an advantage down on the block to dominate and we hope her senior season, she does just that.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mia Elisano - 5-10 PF/C, Middle Township (2023)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Elisano is going to benefit greatly off the success of her teammate, [player_tooltip player_id='404202' first='Jada' last='Elston'], in a big way this season like she did as a junior. Having such a great back-court presence in Elston means much of the attention will be put on her. That leaves the lane open often times, meaning Elisano gets open looks at the basket and more space to operate. Don't discount this forward either because she's developed quite rapidly after seeing bench time her first two seasons at Middle Township. That rapid progression in her game means there's still plenty more in the tank this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->