Hoop Island Stock Risers: EJ’s Fantastic Five

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Teams from the Tri-State region invaded Cape May County this weekend in their pursuit to capture Hoop Island. Hosted by T-John Casiello and the team at Develup Hoops, this premier event had facilities in and around Wildwood jumping with elite talent. I had a front-row seat to some terrific basketball, notepad in hand and head on a swivel all weekend long. Five players stood out from the rest and made waves with stellar performances game after game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["525417"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Izzy had a strong weekend of basketball, showing off her versatile game u0026amp; high motor. She had her shot falling in a Saturday win against a scrappy Phoenixvillians team, contributing 6 points and imposing her will early on. She was money from 12-15 feet where she thrives, but also showed off her ability to knock down the long range shot, hitting a clutch 3-pointer. In a Sunday contest against the Soldiers, Izzy attacked the basket with strength and quickness and pulled up from the elbow, chipped in 6 points and continued her productive weekend. Playing in-your-face tenacious defense, she forced a multitude turnovers and rushed opponents to play faster than they wanted to. Her consistency and ability to do much more than just score the ball played a big role in the Wizards successful weekend.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Angelisa Kearns","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'4u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Edison","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"NJ Wizards","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Angie's motor simply has no quit in it! The primary ball-handler on her Wizards team, she ran the floor with quickness and set the tempo early on. I saw no fear in her game, as she took defenders off the dribble time and time again, getting to the rim by any means necessary. She tallied 6 points on Saturday, confidently attacking an intimidating Soldiers front-court that has great size and length. She made some smart decisions, knowing when to shoot it and when to distribute. Her defense was scrappy, at times downright harassing! Her on-ball pressure at the half-court was effective in turning opponents over and igniting transition offense. This is a player with tremendous upside who should be on everyone's radar after her showing at Hoop Island.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Aliyah Manley","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'4u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"12123","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"NJ Wizards","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"A player with a motor as high as Aliyah's is tough to stop once she turns the jets on. She led the pack on fast breaks with quickness and agility. Her knack for getting to the hoop was evident early on against JKMBA, in one stretch getting back-to-back steals and converting them into two easy buckets. She went off for 14 points and proved that her ability to fearlessly drive in and finish through contact is one of her biggest strengths. On defense, she hawked the perimeter and kept her opponent in front of her, always scanning the passing lanes for a steal. The high school scene better take notice, because Aliyah is coming in hot next Fall!","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["525308"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Sabrina has often found herself on my u0022stock risersu0022 articles this Spring because of her ability to constantly elevate her game and up the ante. Her production continues to grow and her two-way game keeps thriving with every event that passes. In a close loss to a loaded Casiello Construction squad on Saturday night, Sabrina proved to be a handful on both ends. She used effective dribble penetration, ran the floor hard in transition, commanded the mid-range and poured in 14 points in the process. Her lock-down defense forced a flurry of errant passes and turnovers. Sabrina kept her hot shooting and tenacious defense going into Sunday, where she proved menacing against the Wizards. 14 was her lucky number, as she once again poured in 14 points, this time also showing off her deep range from 3. She is the spark-plug that ignites the Soldiers with intensity, passion and fire.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["414340"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Some players simply cannot be contained, no matter how tenacious the defense: Macie is one of them. She fought through double-teams and high pressure defense on Saturday to pour in 11 points, including one (very deep) 3-pointer. Her will and determination to score would not be denied! Arguably the best 3-point shooter in the state, it's unusual to see her only hit a single 3-pointer. Well, considering the multi-sport stud competed at the NJSIAA SJ Group 1 Sectionals in track just a few hours before the game, it's safe to say she gets a pass! You would think extreme soreness would have set in by the next day when the Soliders took on the Wizards at Wildwood Catholic Academy. NEGATIVE! She showed off her sheer athleticism and surprisingly fresh legs, gliding across the court like a gazelle and tallying up 20 points in the process. Her long ball was splashing in rapid succession, as 18 of her 20 points came from behind the arc. Her stock continues to soar as the weeks go by.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-647d1ea56527b"} /-->