Senior Spotlight: Point Guards

EJ Arocho August 22, 2023 @ 01:38 PM

With the new school year just around the corner, there's only one thing on my mind: HIGH SCHOOL HOOPS! And while I know it's a winter sport and still months away, it's hard not to look forward to the excitement that this season will bring. Anticipation is building for the following hoopers who run the show at the Point Guard position and are primed for more prominent roles on their respective teams. These young ladies are ready for their moment in the sun… or snow, because winter ;)   [player_tooltip player_id='326664' first='Sienna' last='Corey'] | 5'6" | Northern Highlands   Sienna's first season with the Highlanders was surely an exciting one. Equal parts scorer and facilitator, she proved efficient in setting up and executing the half-court offense. With the graduation of seven players, Sienna's role will now be elevated and her playing time greatly increased. Superb court vision, precision passing and an overall sharp acumen will be crucial to her (and her team's) overall success this winter. She is expected to eclipse the century mark in both assists and steals for her career with Northern Highlands.   [player_tooltip player_id='488850' first='Bianca' last='Ellis'] | 5'4" | Paramus Catholic   The corner pocket 3... the stop-and-pop 15-footer... the outlet pass for the easy lay-in. Bianca makes important shots and most importantly, executes important plays. She took her game to another level this summer with the Gauchos, ramping up the intensity and running the show as the primary point. A lethal 3-point sniper and fearless rebounding guard, her game is the epitome of "heart over height." In her final high school season, look for Bianca to eclipse the century mark in 3-pointers made as well as assists for her career with the Paladins.   [player_tooltip player_id='488763' first='Hannah' last='Cappelletti'] | 5'4" | Middle Township   I had the privilege of watching Hannah's game progress all summer long with the NJ Soldiers. I can assure you that heading into the 2023-2024 season, she is an entirely different player than she was last season... and that's saying something, considering she torched opponents in her junior year! She can burn you from deep or bury you from the mid-range, but she's even more impressive creating for others, finding teammates and threading the needle masterfully. Before it's all said and done, Hannah may end up with 150+ 3-pointers swished, 700+ points, and 100+ assists for her career.   [player_tooltip player_id='488731' first='Tanaiyah' last='Decker'] | 5'7" | St. Rose   Few hoopers had a better summer than Tanaiyah. From Spooky, to Atlantic City, to Kentucky and back to Atlantic City, she played high level basketball and had her stock soaring from May through July. She shot the ball with high efficiency, ignited fast breaks, pushed the pace and possessed a great knack for finding teammates and seemingly creating something out of nothing. In her second and final season with the Purple Roses, Tanaiyah will look to keep the aau momentum going and topple numbers from last season with included averages of 6.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.2 apg and 1 spg.   [player_tooltip player_id='488859' first='Celeste' last='Harper'] | 5'7" | Holy Angels   Celeste's final run with the NJ Panthers this summer was flat-out special! She showed flashes of brilliance in her multi-level scoring and selfless distribution of the ball. Whether it was a drive-and-dish, an outlet pass ahead or a slick backdoor pass, her craftiness and ability to create was significant for her squad. Her junior year production was a big part of Holy Angels' successful 17-10 season that saw a run to the North Jersey, Non-Public A semis in March. With the graduation of four players in June, Celeste's minutes on the court will only increase and we can expect a breakout season from her. Career totals of 800 points, 300 rebounds and 200 steals are all within the realm of possibility for the do-it-all stud.

With the new school year just around the corner, there's only one thing on my mind: HIGH SCHOOL HOOPS! And while I know it's a winter sport and still months away, it's hard not to look forward to the excitement that this season will bring. Anticipation is building for the following hoopers who run the show at the Point Guard position and are primed for more prominent roles on their respective teams. These young ladies are ready for their moment in the sun… or snow, because winter ;)