Preseason All-Olympic Conference Watch List

Our preseason all-conference watch list articles continue in New Jersey and in this article, we head over to the Olympic Conference, arguably the best and toughest conference in South Jersey. For good reason too because it really doesn't get much better than the Olympic, so here is our all-conference watch list for this season.   [player_tooltip player_id='134645' first='Hannah' last='Hidalgo'] - 5-7 PG, Paul VI (2023)   Our preseason Player of the Year pick in the Olympic, Hidalgo is probably the best prospect in the state right now and still has another year of high school basketball to show out on the court. What a fantastic talent and just what a playmaker she is. There's really no other way of putting it: a bonafide superstar in every sense of the word.   [player_tooltip player_id='321572' first='Avery' last='Kessler'] - PG/SG, Shawnee (2023)   Kessler has been instrumental in the rise of this Shawnee program in recent years, getting as far as the South Jersey Group IV title game against Cherokee last year. That started and ended with this dynamic guard who's quickly turned into a leader and a lockdown player in a number of facets of the game.   [player_tooltip player_id='321564' first='Nia' last='Scott'] - 6-1 PF, Shawnee (2023)   While Kessler has kept things going in the backcourt, Scott has been the driving force in the front court for the Renegades. A big body who knows how to score, how to haul in rebounds and how to use her size toward her advantage, Scott is Division 1 bound for a reason. There really aren't many other forwards as dominant as she.   [player_tooltip player_id='134757' first='Gabby' last='Recinto'] - 5-10 WING/F, Cherokee (2023)   Scott's equal on the other side of the floor in that South Jersey Group IV title game, Recinto has been a beast in the middle for the Chiefs. Able to generate a great deal of offense down on the post, her and Katie Fricker made quite the duo last season. That determination to score and defend has been nothing but fantastic for her.   [player_tooltip player_id='155448' first='Kassidy' last='Thompson'] - 5-9 SG, Camden Catholic (2023)   One of the most electrifying guards in the conference last season, Thompson gave Hidalgo and others a run for their money with such dynamic scoring ability, from down low to her mid-range game to beyond the arc. Thompson can do it all on the floor and then some, getting things done on the defensive side of the ball as well with ease.   [player_tooltip player_id='134752' first='Aaryn' last='Battle'] - 5-8 PG/SG, Camden Catholic (2023)   We couldn't talk about Camden Catholic without including the other half of the duo for the Irish in Battle, the point guard prowess herself. Her scoring speaks for itself, but that passing has been what has stood out the most for us, that and her perimeter defense, as lockdown as it gets in girls basketball.   [player_tooltip player_id='481507' first='Bryce' last='Harvey-Carr'] - PG/SG, Camden (2023)   Harvey-Carr gets overlooked way too often in the Olympic Conference, but she's one of the better guards in South Jersey without question. Those 58 three-pointers really jump off the page, as well as how well she's been able to draw contact in the lane and get to the foul line. She's a multi-dimensional scorer, but we're looking to see how her defense and passing follows.   [player_tooltip player_id='326406' first='Aiyonna' last='Alexander'] - 5-10 SF/SG, Winslow (2024)   Our first junior on this list, Alexander is going to be the go-to playmaker for Winslow this season after a number of impact seniors graduated from the program. That means more opportunities for her to score in the lane or improve her midrange game. Let's not forget how incredible that post defense and shot-blocking ability of hers is either.   [player_tooltip player_id='488637' first='Shariah' last='Baynes'] - SG/PG, Paul VI (2024)   Baynes hasn't needed to show out as much on the high school court to get her play recognized because she's already begun receiving Division 1 offers thanks to what she's done during the AAU season. She's a balanced guard who does just about everything right, including the little things like passing, rebounding, defensive positioning, etc.   Kaitlin King - 5-9 PG, Lenape (2023)   King's junior season was the breakout season she and Lenape have been looking for, and what a better time to do it. She's a great leader and someone who plays with maturity and composure, plays with poise on the floor. That interior game, the smarts and awareness to draw contact, only those performing at a high level can do that effectively.   [player_tooltip player_id='414232' first='Alexa' last='Henry'] - 5-6 CG, Lenape (2025)   Henry is one of the most exciting young prospects in the Olympic Conference and had a fantastic freshman season for Lenape last year. She's shown out from beyond the arc, hitting threes at a consistent pace, while also being able to still create and carve out scoring opportunities inside the lane. She knows how to score, when to score and when to take over a game to do so.

Our preseason all-conference watch list articles continue in New Jersey and in this article, we head over to the Olympic Conference, arguably the best and toughest conference in South Jersey. For good reason too because it really doesn't get much better than the Olympic, so here is our all-conference watch list for this season.