Under-The-Radar New Jersey 2026 Prospects to Watch
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The high school girls basketball season in New Jersey might be over, but there’s still plenty to talk about when it comes to looking a great talent for the spring. AAU ball is coming up and we’ll be seeing a…
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Continue ReadingThe high school girls basketball season in New Jersey might be over, but there’s still plenty to talk about when it comes to looking a great talent for the spring. AAU ball is coming up and we’ll be seeing a number of players across the state participate. It’s time to give more love to the 2026 class in this article as we talk about some underrated prospects in New Jersey to watch this spring and summer.
Hannah Abele Hannah Abele SG Riverside | 2026 State NJ – SG, Riverside
A strong shooting guard with one of the best releases we’ve seen of anyone in the 2026 class, Abele is among a group of top-end three and D players amongst underclassmen. Her perimeter defense cannot go understated with just how lethal it is and her ability to hit threes with consistency has brought something to Riverside that is hasn’t quite seen in recent years.
Nayelli Aultmon Nayelli Aultmon 5'6" | SG Hackensack | 2026 NJ – G, Hackensack
Aultmon’s stats don’t necessarily jump off the page like others, but her consistency in scoring is something to keep an eye out for moving forward. Someone who can drive and someone who can shoot it from deep, she’s made a niche for herself within Hackensack’s program and should really break out within the next two years.
Makayla Caban Makayla Caban SF East Brunswick Magnet | 2026 NJ – G/F, East Brunswick Magnet
Versatility is something that stands out with a lot of younger players and Caban has definitely displayed some of that versatility this season, able to score and rebound with ease. However, her best asset is neither of those, but instead, her defense. Easily one of the most potent defensive-minded freshmen in the state, She averaged nearly seven steals a game…in her first season in high school.
Cameryn Connallon Cameryn Connallon 5'9" | C Keyport | 2026 NJ – F, Keyport
Connallon falls into the category of players who have utilized their size well down on the post defensively, who are still developing their offensive games. That’s not a knock at all to what she was able to do as a freshman, recording a double-double and racking up more than seven rebounds a game. Once she gets her feet under her and works on creating space offensively, she’s well on track to becoming a double-double machine.
Nikki Costantini – F/G, Hunterdon Central
Likely playing either as a small forward or wing guard/shooting guard, Costantini showcased great shooting as a freshman, nearly hitting a three a game for Hunterdon Central. Her defense and interior play complemented that as well as a tenacity in the lane for rebounds. It’s not quite there yet, but we can see a glimpse of what she can become as a facilitator and it definitely excites us.
Anilah Diggs Anilah Diggs 5'5" | SG Carteret | 2026 State NJ – 5-4 G, Carteret
It’s going to be tough for Carteret to find its way in the Greater Middlesex Conference, one of the better girls basketball conferences in the state, but it has stability up top in Diggs, a great shooter who can get to the lane just as well. She seems to be the perfect combo of mid-range and perimeter shooting while having some flexibility and finesse to make plays at the cup.
Emma Fowler Emma Fowler SG Bogota | 2026 State NJ – SG, Bogota
We mistakenly left her out of our talk about the best freshmen shooters in the state because she’s easily entered herself into the conversation. Knocking down well over two threes a game this season (47 in 21 games), Fowler has patented down her game as a specialized shooter, and she’s done an impressive job. She’ll hit from anywhere on the floor and does well with a defender in her face.
Annika Kivisikk Annika Kivisikk 5'11" | C Park Ridge | 2026 MO – F, Park Ridge
Kivisikk might not get the same sort of publicity as her teammate, Allie Shenloogian Allie Shenloogian 5'7" | CG Park Ridge | 2025 State NJ , does because of what an insane sophomore season she had, but do not discount the freshman forward after a great year for Park Ridge. Both her and Kate Broderick were both fantastic down the lost, with Kivisikk finishing with 22 blocks and 49 steals in 31 games. She was also one of the best rebounders in the region, finishing with 7.2 RPG.
Alissa Myers – 5-7 G, Franklin
The freshman progression begins with a solid entrance into the high school game, and Myers showcased a bright future with Franklin after some great performances to start. She finished with 5 PPG, 2.6 RPG and 1.4 APG as well as 11 made three-pointers, a 69.7 percent free throw percentage and 1.5 SPG. She was active on both sides of the ball and did what she could to spread the floor during the season.
Juliana Odum Juliana Odum PG Saddle Brook | 2026 State NJ – G/F, Saddle Brook
Odum certainly had some flashes of success with Saddle Brook as a freshman, capped off by a 21-point performance early on against Garfield. She averaged 5.5 PPG, but mixed up her shot selection well on the floor, from getting to the line to shooting from deep and hitting mid-range shots as well as crafty runners in the lane. Odum shined as an interior guard and we’re excited to see what she does this spring and summer.