NJSIAA Group IV Public School Guards to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The high school season is fast-approaching in New Jersey and there's still much content to put out in anticipation for another stellar campaign of basketball. We've done conference-specific content before, but it's time for us to branch out more broadly from that point. With that being said, here are some guards to watch amongst Group 4 public schools this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='321573' first='Annie' last='Ryan'] - PG, Westfield (2023)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ryan is the leading returning guard for the newly crowed Group IV state champions this season, taking over Chloe Kreusser's spot more permanently, though the two more than co-existed last season for the Blue devils. She's the best shooter on this team handedly and the best perimeter shooter at that rate as well. We've been beyond impressed with the range that Ryan has showed and are really curious to see how she continues to develop as a shooter. Don't count out her defense either as one of four players on Westfield with at least 20 blocks and one of three with at least 70 steals last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='488997' first='Hally' last='Cottrell'] - SG, Monroe (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You're looking at one of the best shooting guards amongst Group IV public schools in New Jersey in Cottrell, the sharp-shooter from Monroe. She led Monroe in perimeter shooting last season and is expected to do the same in her junior year. Cottrell already looks so poised as a shooter and really composes herself well beyond the arc. That level of composure, that level of maturity in a shooting guard is incredibly impressive to see already in a player who just completed her sophomore season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='482280' first='Brianna' last='English'] - SG, East Orange (2023)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>English not only showed out as a shooter last season for East Orange, but put the foundation in place for her to take over as the team leader once Trinity Haskins graduated in the spring. With 73 made three-pointers last season, just over three made three-pointers a game for the junior, she's put herself comfortably in the conversation of the best shooters in the state. Close to 70 percent of English's scoring comes from beyond the arc, so she'll be taking plenty of threes next season, but with her accuracy, we could see her threaten triple-digits for made threes in a year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='488724' first='Yana' last='Shupak'] - 5-5 PG, Toms River East (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shupak is an exciting prospect to watch, especially as she develops not just through the high school season, but with the NJ Shoreshots in the AAU season as well. She's coming around as a point guard and is quickly gaining the confidence needed to show out as the one controlling the ball at the point. This season for TRE, Shupak is the main guard returning and the best player returning to the program, which means that the pressure will be on her, but she'll be the one tasked with running the show. That should be no problem for the 5-5 standout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='488673' first='Iyanna' last='Cotten'] - 5-6 CG, Franklin (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cotten helped to guide Franklin to a semifinal appearance in the North Jersey Section 2, Group IV playoffs last season, but fell short of a shot at the sectional final. That's going to be on her mind coming into this season as the returning leading scorer for the Warriors. Cotten will be asked more of on defense with last season's senior forward, Christina Midgette, having graduated in the spring. That shouldn't affect the offensive output she's shown off with Franklin, especially last year from beyond the arc.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->