SHE GOT NEXT!

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The following ballers are all state champions from this season who will look to have a bigger role come the 2024-2025 high school hoops season. They have the tools, the dedication and the hunger to help get their respective teams back to the pinnacle of New Jersey hoops.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='873268' first='Ki-Lin' last='Thomas'] | University</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023-2024 Result: Group 1 State Champion</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ki is on the verge of a breakthrough and her senior season looks to be extremely promising. She has continued to up her production as the seasons have passed, with this junior year being her best to date. She chipped in crucial buckets and pulled down big rebounds in the state tournament, averaging a solid 5.3 ppg &amp; 4.8 rpg through six games (right around her season averages). Ki is undefeated in the Group 1 state final for her career, having claimed three consecutive Chips with her Lady Phoenix squad. With the graduation of standouts [player_tooltip player_id='325169' first='Morgan' last='Marshall'] and [player_tooltip player_id='414304' first='Zakiyyah' last='Lindsay'], you can fully expect her role to be much, much bigger going forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='559030' first='Ava' last='Frith'] | Manasquan</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023-2024 Result: Group 2 State Champion</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6'1" forward made the most of her playing time for the Warriors, commanding the paint and giving folks a taste of what's to come in Year 3. She continues to work on her craft in the off-season/AAU and the growth is quite obvious! Manasquan graduates four in June and with another summer of AAU ahead of her, I fully expect Ava to come back next year even tougher and more determined to make an immediate impact! She is just barely scratching the surface of her potential and is truly one of the Garden State's most impressive hidden gems.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='873274' first='Ava' last='Sheeran'] | Mainland</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023-2024 Result: Group 3 State Champion</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mainland graduates five this year and close to 90% of their scoring. Next season, the new-look Mustangs will turn to mostly underclassmen to get the job done and Ava will be leading the pack as one of only three seniors (and the most experienced). On a roster full of next-level talent, she saw steady playing time which she converted into quality minutes. She proved she can score the ball, pull down rebounds and lock down on defense for a Mainland team who only lost one game. Ava is ready for her moment in the sun!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='671949' first='Olivia' last='Watkins'] | Lenape</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023-2024 Result: Group 4 State Champion</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rising junior just about doubled her points production from her rookie season and made a big impact for Lenape in their Group 4 state title run. Olivia was especially reliable from behind the arc where she swished twenty-six 3's, eleven more than the previous season. She averaged just under 5 points as the Indians skated past opponents in the post-season. Expect her minutes to drastically increase with the graduation of three players, including standout [player_tooltip player_id='488645' first='Sienna' last='Fedoruk'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='559031' first='Daniela' last='Maletsky'] | Red Bank Catholic</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023-2024 Result: Non-Public A State Champion</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On a team loaded with elite underclassmen talent (and the top sophomore class in the state), Daniela really proved herself in Year 2 and took her game to new heights. She was fearless and focused while facing some of the nation's top competition in LuHi (NY), Morris Catholic, Archbishop Wood (PA) and Dr. Phillips (FL), just to name a few. With season averages of 5.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.8 apg &amp; 1.9 spg, she did a little bit of everything for the Caseys as they tore through opponents on their way to a NPA state title. As her confidence continues to climb, expect her game to be even more lethal with her junior year ahead of her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='333550' first='Tatianna' last='Collins'] | Morris Catholic</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023-2024 Result: Non-Public B State Champion</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Playing on an elite guard-heavy roster for a team ranked in the Top 20 nationally, Tati has competed with and against some incredible competition day in and day out. She was locked in all season long, playing tough against top-ranked teams from around the state and country while averaging 5.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg &amp; 1.8 spg. Her first season with the Crusaders was ultra-successful and now that she got a taste of state title glory and national recognition, expect her to return for her senior season with even more fire and intensity! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->