Mid-Season Junior Stock Risers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The season is officially at it's mid-way point and we have already seen some phenomenal and jaw-dropping performances around the Garden State. With so much high level basketball played, it's been fun to witness the growth of players in real-time as their hard-work in the summer and during the preseason has definitely paid off. The following juniors have turned it on and TURNED IT UP in Year 3:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='414402' first='Jessica' last='Devine'] | Middlesex</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jess came out swinging this season and put her terrific two-way game on full display. Leading the Bluejays in scoring, assists, steals, 3-pointers and free throws made, she has been tough for opponents to contain. She set career-highs in points (33 against Dunellen), rebounds (10 against Koinonia and Iselin Kennedy) and assists (15 against Koinonia) and went off for a quadruple double earlier this month (24 points, 10 rebounds, 15 assists, 10 steals). One of the most dynamic guards in this junior class, Jess's uptempo play and ability to put the ball through the hoop is truly must-see tv! Through 17 games, she is averaging 23.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 5.3 apg and 6.2 spg. She eclipsed both 100 3-pointers made and 1,000 career points earlier this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='525406' first='Lizzie' last='Calandruccio'] | Spotswood </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lizzie is putting everyone on notice this year! Through 14 games, she has already recorded six 20+ point performances, including a career-high 25 in a win against Raritan. She ranks first in scoring, first in 3-pointers made, first in steals, second in assists and third in rebounding for her 11-3 Chargers. Lizzie has been furious on offense and locked in on defense, with averages of 17.1 ppg and 3.9 spg thus far. In Monday night's game versus Metuchen, Lizzie sank her 100th career and then proceeded to hit #101 to tie the game and #102 to win the game in overtime!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='333333' first='Cassidy' last='Kruesi'] | St. Rose</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cassidy put in a ton of work over the summer with her CJ Hawks squad and the growth from last season to this one is evident. Her confidence is peaking, as are her stats across the board! Through 17 games with the Purple Roses, she has already surpassed her totals from a season ago in 3-pointers made (30 current vs 25 total), assists dished out (36 current vs 34 total) and is well on her way to scoring more points, grabbing more rebounds and snagging more steals. The Tampa commit is a total workhorse who gets after it on both sides of the ball. She posted a career-high 19 points against Holmdel (where she also sank a career-high five 3's) and is averaging 8.5 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 2.1 apg and 1.5 spg for a St. Rose team who plays a juggernaut of a schedule!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='583951' first='Brooke' last='Braen'] | Saddle River Day</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brooke first caught my eye in the very first game of the season up at Shore Games, where she played tough and was totally unafraid taking on an ultra-physical Trenton Catholic squad. So far through 14 games, she has recorded four games in double-figure scoring and posted a career-high in points, 3-pointers made and steals (16, 4 &amp; 8 all against Park Ridge). She runs the point wonderfully and is equal parts scorer and facilitator. Brooke is averaging 8.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.1 apg and 2.2 spg for the Colonial Rebels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='414349' first='Bella' last='Curanovic'] | Cranford</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With 12 out of 15 games in double-figure scoring, including six 20+ point games, it's safe to say Bella is not playing around this season! She has career-highs in nearly every statistical category: 23 points against River Dell and Watchung Hills, 4 assists against Oak Knoll, 6 blocks against Madison, 5 steals against Linden. She's really stepped it up on defense and has emerged as a very solid two-way player who deflect shots, breaks apart plays and isn't afraid to dive and scrap for 50/50 balls. She is currently averaging 16.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.2 bpg and 1.3 spg and leads her team in scoring, rebounding, steals and free throws made.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='414290' first='Christa' last='Ramos'] | Neptune</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the most electrifying guards in the state, Christa dazzles and makes magic with the rock in her hands. She has more double-doubles this season that in both previous combined (3) and posted an incredible triple-double against Central Regional last month (22 points, 12 rebounds, 10 steals). In just 18 games, she has already surpassed her totals from all of last season in points, 3-pointers, rebounds, assists, blocks and free throws. With eight 20+ point games and sixteen in double-figure scoring, Christa is putting everyone on notice in her junior year. She is averaging 18.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.2 apg and 2.6 spg and is leading the Scarlet Fliers in scoring, 3-pointers made and rebounding, while ranking second in assists and third in steals. At the time of this article being written, she sits just five 3-pointers away from 100 for her career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='333347' first='Kadie' last='Fleming'] | South Hunterdon</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6'0" guard/forward has been on an absolute TEAR in Year 3! She recorded her second career triple-double against Manville (21 points, 10 rebounds, 10 blocks), posted a career-high in points and blocks (32 &amp; 17 against College Achieve Central) and has already banged in more 3-pointers this season than in her first two combined. Kadie does it all and does it quite well, imposing her tenacious two-way game and leading her team in every category from points to blocks and everything in between. Through 15 games, she is averaging an impressive 19.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.9 apg, 4.2 bpg and 2 spg.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='525407' first='Gianna' last='Chuffo'] | St. Thomas Aquinas</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's all about raising the stakes for Gianna, and that's exactly what she's done thus far in her junior year. In half of the total games played last season, she's just about matched her totals in points, rebounds, assists and steals! She began the season in eye-opening fashion, knocking down a career-high NINE 3-pointers en-route to a career-high 27 points against North Brunswick. She has six 20+ points games (more than in her freshman and sophomore years combined) and has upped the intensity on defense as well, swiping a career-high 5 steals against East Brunswick in her first game of 2024. With averages of 16.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3 apg and 1.9 spg and leading her team in scoring, Gianna is proving to be a massive threat in Non-Public A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='414346' first='Brenna' last='Slattery'] | New Providence</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brenna's star is shining bright this season as she's seen an uptick in production across the board. She's on pace to score more points this season than in her last two combined and has already posted double-figure scoring totals in fifteen of eighteen games. With three 20-point games, a career-high in rebounds (9 against Scotch Plains-Fanwood) and blocks (3 against Oak Knoll), Brenna is well on her way to becoming one of Group 2's most improved players by season's end. She leads the 16-2 Pioneers in points and through 18 games is averaging 13.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.6 apg and just under 1 bpg.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='844403' first='Penelope' last='Swarn'] | Hightstown</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As if 6'4" [player_tooltip player_id='325190' first='Abby' last='Misier'] wasn't enough inside, add 6'4" [player_tooltip player_id='844403' first='Penelope' last='Swarn'] into the mix for Hightstown (more like HEIGHTstown) and you have the twin towers of Group 4! Through 13 games, Penelope has already matched her total points from all of last season and has elevated her defense to wreak havoc on opponents. She pulled down a career-high 22 boards against West Windsor-Plainsboro South and has recorded 10 games in double-figure rebounding to go along with four double-doubles. Her defensive prowess has been on full display and she's heating up just in time for the state playoffs in a few weeks. She is currently averaging 7.4 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 1.8 apg, 2.5 bpg and 1.9 spg for a 12-3 Rams squad. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->