New faces to watch as regional tournament approaches – Part I
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Lucie Cline Lucie Cline 6'0" | PF Parkersburg South | 2026 State WV , Parkersburg South, W, 5-11, Fr. – Cline possesses all the skills to be a Division I basketball player. Yes, even as a freshman. Perhaps, they all…
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Continue ReadingLucie Cline Lucie Cline 6'0" | PF Parkersburg South | 2026 State WV , Parkersburg South, W, 5-11, Fr. – Cline possesses all the skills to be a Division I basketball player. Yes, even as a freshman. Perhaps, they all haven’t come out on the floor during her first year as a Patriot, but when they do, you catch a glimpse of outstanding potential. Take her wonderful shooting performance against University for example. Locked in a tight game, and with Gracie Shamblin Gracie Shamblin 5'10" | C Parkersburg South | 2024 State WV and Brooke Sandy struggling to score, Cline took it upon herself to be the main source of offense. She repeatedly worked herself open and knocked down six big treys that helped the Patriots hold off the Hawks. Furthermore, she’s shown that her presence alone makes a difference on the basketball floor. South is a different team when she is making things happen. They are more relaxed. They are more deadly. And they really attack you in many different ways then when she is absent. Coaches who are interested in a kid with a ton of ability should pay close attention to Cline these next four years.
NuNu Pannell NuNu Pannell 5'6" | PG St. Albans | 2026 State WV , St. Albans, PG, 5-4, Fr. – Yolanda Steele tried to tell us. She yelled it loud and proud. “Nunu Panell will be making an impact for St. Albans as a freshman,” she said. How right she turned out to be. Why if she was any more right, she could’ve taken her suspicions to the bank. Fresh off a summer where she played confident ball, Pannell joined a young St. Albans team, forced her way onto the floor, and really hasn’t looked back. There have been a few bumps in the road. But, she’s become a part of the starting lineup and really given the Red Devils depth at the point guard position. Sometimes she may try and do too much, but that is every freshman. She sees and commands the floor well, rarely turns the ball over, and is always hustling on either end of the floor. Perhaps, the most impressive thing about her is her fearlessness in going to the rim, she just doesn’t care. Body, soul, injury who cares. She doesn’t. If she can attack, she will. If she can score, she’s gonna try. If she can create chaos and kick it out to a teammate, she will do that too.
Reagan Edsell, Spring Mills, W, 5-9, Fr. – Corrin Edsell talked a big game about her sister’s ability to immediately step in and help out Spring Mills. Reagan hasn’t disappointed. Sitting smack dab in her first season of varsity ball, she’s become one of the Cardinals’ biggest contributors, particularly on the boards and in the scoring column. Perhaps the former should have been expected, but the latter wasn’t a guarantee. SM already had plenty of kids capable of tallying points. Being so undersized and a team full of guards, rebounding was what the Cardinals really needed her to do, and she’s done it. At one point this season, she ripped down 18 boards in one game. She’s not just getting lucky kick back shots, either. Edsell effectively boxes our her opponent and keeps them from getting near the glass. Her length helps her reach balls. Making things even better, she keeps the ball up high and quickly identifies where point guard Preslee Treadway Preslee Treadway 5'8" | SF Greenbrier West | 2025 State WV is in the bat court so the Cards can start transition. Given that Bolduc is among the best PGs in the state, that last bit certainly is important. Coaches on the hunt for someone who can help kickstart a transition game with her rebounding should keep an eye on Edsell.
Brooklyn Ellis Brooklyn Ellis 5'9" | SF Spring Valley | 2026 State WV , Spring Valley, W, 5-8, Fr. – There wasn’t a ton of room for a freshman to make an impact as Spring Valley returned four starters. However, Brooklyn Ellis Brooklyn Ellis 5'9" | SF Spring Valley | 2026 State WV has made her mark. One could say her mark has even become an important part of the Timberwolves’ offensive attack. Yes, she often gets easy layups. Yes, she breaks out early before a defensive rebound is secure and yes, she has a lot of learning to do on the defensive end. But, her offensive approach has been exactly what SV probably wanted and maybe even more. Maybe, this role won’t end up being her final role on the team, but for now she’s showing coaches around the country she can do what is being asked of her.
Rilee Storm Rilee Storm 5'10" | SF John Marshall | 2026 State WV , John Marshall, F, 5-9, Fr. – This year was supposed to be the Kayli Derrow Kayli Derrow 5'11" | SF John Marshall | 2024 State WV and Kaitlyn Blake Kaitlyn Blake 5'9" | SF Wheeling Central | 2025 State WV show at John Marshall. Instead, Rilee Storm Rilee Storm 5'10" | SF John Marshall | 2026 State WV turned it into a triple-threat attack. Perhaps, she isn’t fully up to speed with her teammates, but close enough. Picture a kid who is ready to play the game at a moments notice, now drop in a dash of enthusiasm and a hint of speed … that is what Storm has brought to the Monarchs. Watch any game and she immediately stands out. Sometimes it may be for the wrong reasons, but more often than not she’s doing the right things for a freshman. She’s lead the Monarchs in scoring on several outings, and cut her teeth against some of the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference’s best teams. The future is bright for this young lady who enjoys running out in transition and has several different ways to stick the ball in the basket.