FRESHMEN LIGHTING IT UP
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These 2027’s burst onto the high school hoops scene this winter and immediately made an impact on their respective teams. Their poise, production and overall sharp basketball acumen separates them from what you’d typically expect from a freshman. These ladies…
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Continue ReadingThese 2027’s burst onto the high school hoops scene this winter and immediately made an impact on their respective teams. Their poise, production and overall sharp basketball acumen separates them from what you’d typically expect from a freshman. These ladies have made a name for themselves as some of the best in their Class.
Jacqueline Edelman Jacqueline Edelman 6'0" | SG Morris Catholic | 2027 State NJ | Morris Catholic
Jax wasted no time producing big numbers for nationally ranked power Morris Catholic. In just her second career game (vs juggernaut Life Center), she put up 18 points hitting four from deep along the way. Her versatility and length allows her to stretch the floor wonderfully and cause a myriad of issues for defenders. She is averaging just shy of a double-double at 8.5 ppg and 8.6 rpg.
Lola McGonigle Lola McGonigle 5'5" | PG Wildwood Catholic | 2027 State NJ | Wildwood Catholic
If you’re looking for a true point guard and a 3-point sniper all in one, look no further! Lola’s court vision coupled with her scorching hot shooting has put everyone on notice early on. Through ten games she has knocked down twenty-four 3’s, good for almost 3 per game. A career high 30 points came against Absegami earlier this month. She is also dishing out nearly 5 assists per game!
Raina Gibbs Raina Gibbs 5'10" | SG Pascack Valley | 2027 State NJ | Pascack Valley
Raina’s length, speed and lights-out shooting has been a thing of beauty! The way she zips down the court and spots up around the perimeter is effortless and efficient. She has established herself as a dangerous 3-pointer shooter, knocking down twenty-two from long range in her first ten games. Her 5’10” frame is on full display as she isn’t afraid to crash the glass and fight for rebounds.
El-Anita Joe-Samuel El-Anita Joe-Samuel 6'0" | SF Lenape | 2027 State NJ | Lenape
The 6-foot guard/forward has been a force of nature for the Indians and one of the top scorers in all of Group 4. She has scored in double-figures ten of the first eleven games of her career, including a career high 30 points against Eastern on Wednesday. Her ability to get buckets consistently inside and out makes her a problem for defenders to try and stop.
Leayana Dorville Leayana Dorville 5'10" | SF Teaneck | 2027 State NJ | Teaneck
Leayana came into the season ready to work and it was evident from the very first game where she poured in 13 points, pulled down a pair of rebounds and swiped a pair of steals. She’s long, quick and determined to score at will. Most impressive, however, is her commitment to defense and to developing a strong two-way game. She can really do it all and play out of position if needed.
Kezia Brackett Kezia Brackett 5'4" | PG Glassboro | 2027 State NJ | Glassboro
Kezia has started off the season scorching hot and is currently one of Group 1’s leading scorers at just under 20 points per contest. A beast on offense, she’s put up four 20+ point performances, including a career high 29 points in her high school debut against Deptford. One of the best two-way guards in her Class, she is averaging just under 5 steals per game, putting her suffocating ball pressure defense on full display night after night.
Rhaiyna Brown Rhaiyna Brown CG Timothy Christian | 2027 State NJ | Timothy Christian
Rhaiyna has torched opponents in the GMC Gold conference and is averaging just over 24 points per game, one of the best scoring averages in the state so far this season. She has accounted for more than 50% of her team’s offense through the first six games as defenders have be unsuccessful in trying to contain her. Her 3-point shooting (3 per game) is just as menacing as her defense (4 steals per game).
Khalia Lewis Khalia Lewis 6'0" | SF Our Lady Of Mercy Academy | 2027 State NJ | Our Lady of Mercy Academy (OLMA)
When I got my first glimpse at Khalia over the holiday break, I just knew something special was brewing. It was also that game against Wildwood where she put up an astounding… wait for it… TWENTY-SEVEN REBOUNDS! She is currently one of the state’s top rebounders, at just over 17 per game. From the end of December to the beginning of January, she posted five consecutive 20+ rebound games. Her versatility on offense is also impressive, with the ability to pound the paint or pop from the mid-range. She is surely something special!
Aleah Sunkins Aleah Sunkins 6'0" | SF Franklin | 2027 State NJ | Franklin
Arguably the state’s best Freshman, Aleah is in beast mode every time she takes the court. Playing a difficult schedule that has included games against Gill St. Bernard’s, St. Frances (MD), Pingry and Rutgers Prep, Aleah has never once been shaken or rattled. She asserts herself and imposes her will early on in games, using her solid 6’0″ frame to bully smaller defenders off the bounce and battle with bigs down in and around the paint. She has posted four games in double-figure scoring (including a career high 27 against Marlboro) and three games with double-digit rebounds.
Sarae Croley-Battle Sarae Croley-Battle SF Piscataway | 2027 State NJ | Piscataway
Averaging nearly a double-double, Sarae has proved she can hang with the big dogs and produce numbers! She is a major scoring threat, a force on the glass, emerging rim protector and has superb court vision. In her first nine games, she is averaging 11.2 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.6 spg and 1.3 bpg. She is an all-court player with a workhorse mentality who puts in work on both sides of the ball!
Rebecca Benichou Rebecca Benichou 5'6" | SG Wildwood | 2027 State NJ | Wildwood
At nearly three 3’s per game, Rebecca has been a bright spot for the Warriors since she made her debut against Pennsville (13 points & three 3’s). Her efficiency from long range has been incredible, knocking down shots in rapid succession with little to no space given by the defense. She has proven to be an extremely confident and reliable shooter, never afraid of the moment. She is putting up just under 13 points per contest.
Harper Cohn Harper Cohn 5'4" | PG Mahwah | 2027 State NJ | Mahwah
Harper’s ability to create scoring opportunities for herself is truly impressive and has been majorly impactful for the Thunderbirds. She is currently their second leading scorer (leading 3-point shooter) and third in steals swiped. She has a high motor and brings tenacity and fearlessness on both sides of the ball. Mahwah is 10-1 through their first eleven games and Harper has a lot to do with this early-season success!
Dani Daproza Dani Daproza 5'4" | CG Leonia | 2027 State NJ | Leonia
One of the best two-way guards in all of Group 2, Dani has wreaked havoc on opponents! She has posted two impressive double-doubles (30 points & 10 steals against Hawthorne, 21 points & 10 steals against Bogota) and a remarkable triple-double against Emerson Boro (31 points, 10 rebounds, 11 steals). I’m convinced there isn’t anything Dani can’t do out there! She is averaging 17.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.7 apg and 6.2 spg through the first ten games of her high school playing career.
Ashley Kreiger Ashley Kreiger 6'3" | C Ranney | 2027 State NJ | Ranney
At 6’3″, Ashley is an interior force for the Panthers. She has put up impressive numbers against difficult opponent such as Blair (15 points & 6 rebounds), St. Thomas Aquinas (9 points & 18 rebounds) and Holmdel (18 points & 10 rebounds). She is an emerging rim protector extraordinaire who boasts great mobility and a tremendous reach. She isn’t confined to just the low post however, as she can stretch the floor and knock down 3’s, has strong handles and creates from the high post. Ashley already holds an offer from Boston College and the scary part is that she’s just beginning to scratch the surface of he potential!
Juliet Johnson Juliet Johnson 6'1" | PF Morris Hills | 2027 State NJ | Morris Hills
Juliet burst onto the scene and hit the ground running for the Scarlet Knights! Through eleven games, she leads her team in rebounds and blocks and ranks second in scoring. She is a strong two-way player who stands 6’1″ and commands the low block. Against Sparta, she posted a 14-point/14-rebound double-double. Against Boonton, she went off for a 12-point/11-rebound game to go along with 6 huge blocks. She pulled down a career high 17 rebounds against Morris Tech and swatted away a career high 10 shots against Hopatcong. She is emerging as one of the top two-way players in the Class of 2027.
Emily Mattson Emily Mattson 5'8" | CG Union Catholic | 2027 State NJ | Union Catholic
Emily let everyone know she meant business in her high school debut against Hillside where she went off for 17 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 blocks and 5 steals. She can play both the 1 and the 2 equally as effective as she is both an efficient scorer and a fantastic facilitator. A player who runs the floor hard, scores it well at multiple levels and sees the floor wonderfully, Emily is a handful to try and successfully contain. Through 10 games, she’s posted three 20+ point performances, including a 26 point outburst in a win against Koinonia. With averages of 15.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 4.0 apg & 1.6 spg, she has proven she can do a little bit of everything out there and do it very well. This is a name you need to know!