2024 Rankings: Greatest Gainers
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There was a ton of movement in the latest rankings update, with a lot of hoopers’ stocks rising from a big Spring and Summer grassroots season. These young ladies put in the work, honed their craft and made it count…
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Continue ReadingThere was a ton of movement in the latest rankings update, with a lot of hoopers’ stocks rising from a big Spring and Summer grassroots season. These young ladies put in the work, honed their craft and made it count when the lights shined the brightest. From their junior campaign to a few weeks removed from their senior season and last hurrah, their stock has soared and their trajectory is trending upwards. We take a look at some of the Class of 2024’s biggest movers and shakers since our last update a year ago.
Brooke Baisley Brooke Baisley 5'10" | SF Gill St. Bernard's | 2024 State NJ | Prev. Rank #89 | New Rank #27
We should’ve known a monster summer was on the horizon when she kicked off the grassroots season with a game-winning dagger 3 in overtime against the Bay State Jags in April at the New England Warm-Up. Riding a wave of confidence from her breakout junior year at Gill St. Bernard’s, Brooke took her game to new heights in 2023. She tallied 361 points last season for the Knights and was named to the Skyland Delaware Division All-Conference Team. With United NJ AAU, she battled against tough competition at The Clash, The Prime Event East, The Atlantic City Showcase and Select 40 Finals. At Run 4 Roses in Kentucky, Brooke was the picture of efficiency, helping her team knock off national powers Indiana Elite and Minnesota Fury and going 4-2 overall. The Boston University commit will look to reach the 1,000-point milestone and help her high school achieve a great deal of success this winter.
Maya Summerville Maya Summerville 6'0" | SF Morristown | 2024 State NJ | Prev. Rank #102 | New Rank #43
When I saw her put the clamps on Serenity Lancaster, one of the top forwards in New England, I knew a special AAU season was loading. Coming off a stellar junior year where she amassed 320 points, 257 rebounds and 95 blocks, Maya’s tenacious two-way game was on full display all winter. This summer with United NJ AAU, she used her length and quickness to impact plays on both sides of the ball. From Ohio to Kentucky and everywhere in between, her versatility and sharp basketball acumen was impressive! College coaches took note also, as she packed the sidelines and earned offers from programs such as Loyola and Dartmouth before finally committing to Northeastern in July. 352 points removed from 1,000, Maya has an opportunity to cross the major milestone this season and further solidify herself as one of the greatest to ever hoop at Morristown.
Eliott McCabe Eliott McCabe 5'10" | SF Wildwood Catholic | 2024 State NJ | Prev. Rank #171 | New Rank #87
Some of my notes from watching El play throughout the summer (with the NJ Soldiers) include things like “blue collar defender,” “strong finisher” and “wickedly aggressive.” At Hoop Island In June, El was arguably one of the toughest, grittiest and most competitive players I laid eyes on. High energy and high confidence attacking from the wing and making an impact in the paint on both sides of the ball. A few weeks later at the NJ Jam Fest, it was more of the same and then some! Impressively strong box-outs under the basket, scrappy perimeter defense and a knack for getting to the rim at will. The extreme versatility and awe-inspiring two-way game was a common theme as the summer progressed, with El’s game getting better and better. The third leading scorer for the Crusaders a season ago, expect this senior leader to turn up the heat even more and assert their dominance in the CAL and beyond.
Savannah Butz Savannah Butz 6'0" | SF Colts Neck | 2024 State NJ | Prev. Rank #184 | New Rank #88
Standing 6’0″ tall, this long and athletic wing excels on both ends of the floor. A multi-level scorer, ferocious board snatcher and defensive menace, Savannah hasn’t slowed down once since her junior year wrapped! At nearly 10 points and just over 7 rebounds per game last season, she was effective on both ends from the first game to the last. That consistency carried over to AAU ball where she flat-out dominated for NJ Rise. In the Atlantic City Showcase finale, she went up against an extremely tough HUrban Legends team and show no fear, relentless attacking the rim and crashing the glass with authority. At the Prime Event East, she had defenders on the Comets scrambling to adjust and contain her ferocity. In Louisville, she faced opponents from national powers such as GTS Fusion, New Heights and Maine Firecrackers and showed off her gut-punching moves in the paint and high basketball IQ. Savannah is primed for a supreme senior season, hoping to build on last year’s stats and success which saw her lead the Cougars in rebounds, blocks and made free throws, as well as being the second-leading scorer.
Alyssa Cueto Alyssa Cueto 5'5" | CG Union City | 2024 State NJ | Prev. Rank #212 | New Rank #91
Moving up 121 spots (and into the top 100), she is the greatest gainer in our latest rankings update! The ultimate “glue girl,” Alyssa’s pass-first style of play gets everyone involved and splashing buckets in rapid succession. In her junior year, she was one of the Garden State’s leaders in assists at nearly 3 per game (153 total). This summer with the Shoreshots, she executed perfect passes and showed off the same elite court vision she displayed all winter with Union City. She was clutch in Atlantic City at The Showcase, downright scary good at Spooky and extremely efficient at the PA Jam Fest in June, which led to her team going 4-0 and claiming the title at ESU! At Run 4 Roses, Alyssa helped her team to victory in their Pool and make an appearance in the Aqua Silver Championship game. Her great guard play continued all throughout Championship Weekend in Atlantic City as she led her team to the Platinum Championship game. She was all gas this summer, never once letting up or turning down the intensity. She’ll enter her senior year with a chance to cross career totals of 400 points, 500 rebounds, 400 assists and 200 steals before it’s all said and done!
Dacia Mack Dacia Mack 5'7" | PG Highland | 2024 State NJ | Prev. Rank #196 | New Rank #98
Making her debut in the top 100, Dacia’s stock soared exponentially and her impressive play attracted tons of attention this summer from fans and coaches alike! Her physical and ferocious demeanor on the court was something to marvel at. A match-up nightmare, her ability to punish smaller guards and speed past lurking bigs down low made her dangerous. At the PA Jam Fest in June, Dacia was relentless against teams like XGEN Elite and Berks Lehigh Panthers, putting her gritty guard play on full display and giving opponents nightmares. Her impressive form continued through the season, where she helped the Shoreshots go 5-1 at Jersey Shore Live. In her final AAU tournament at Championship Weekend, she was one of my “Gr8 Eight” stock risers of the event, showing of every trick in her bag and showing off her tremendous two-way game. Dacia’s energy is hard to match, as is her grit and laser-focus. This senior year at Highland could see career totals of more than 700 points and 500 rebounds, as well as crossing the century mark in 3-pointers made and steals swiped.
Sofia Chebookjian Sofia Chebookjian 5'9" | PF Ocean Township | 2024 State NJ | Prev. Rank #239 | New Rank #164
Rising 75 spots well into the Top 175, Sofia made a statement in her junior season and carried that momentum over into the summer with her CJ Hawks travel team. Last season at Ocean Township, she had career bests in 3-pointers made, assists dished and steals swiped while helping her team compile a 23-6 record and make an appearance in the Central Jersey Group 3 Final. Over the summer, Sofia used her strong frame and sheer athleticism to impose her will on opponents and get buckets from almost everywhere on the floor. From Spooky Nook, to Atlantic City, to Louisville, the 5’9″ wing splashed it from the mid-range and used excellent footwork in and around the paint. Unafraid to pound it inside or crash the glass against much taller opponents, Sofia was aggressive and physical under the rim, fearless and not easily swayed off her based. She applied pressure on defense and kept the intensity high throughout. The two-sport William Paterson commit (basketball and field hockey) enters her final high school hoops season with a chance to eclipse career milestones of 600 points and 500 rebounds.