2024 AAU Preview: Jersey Gemz 17U EYBL

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The high school girls basketball season is over in New Jersey, but the AAU season has just begun. As has been the case often in recent years, there are quite a few standout teams and programs scattered throughout the state. We'll do our best to talk about all of them below, starting with Jersey Gemz and their 17U EYBL squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='559046' first='Ava' last='LaMonica'] - Rutgers Prep (2026)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lamonica has been a strong contributing piece for Rutgers Prep over each of the past two seasons, a hybrid option between the sixth woman and a starter. She's played her role well, much more of a starter this season, which has allowed her to really blossom and shine against top opponents. The paint, down low, that's her bread and butter, a place where she's thrived on both sides of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='333355' first='Haley' last='Poser'] - Ranney (2025)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the more prolific three-point shooters in the state, Poser reached career-highs in scoring and several defensive metrics as a junior. Yes, she's quite the shooter, someone who hit well over two threes a game this season, but her creativity near the lane, her ability to get to the basket and make something happen, it's impressive to watch. Much of the same can be said for how often she was able to get to the foul line too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='976727' first='Anya' last='George'] - Paul VI (2025)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>George is a name you'll start hearing about way more about in her senior year, but she was quite the complementary piece for Paul VI as a junior. Someone who's able to make an impact in a number of ways, she's less of a shooter and more a shot creator overall. It works well with her game from what we've seen as she lets things come to her as much as she's opening up space for others.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='414234' first='Azanah' last='Campbell'] - Paul VI (2025)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another Paul VI product and another player destined for a breakout senior campaign, Campbell flowed well in the system for the Eagles this season. Her offensive efficiency and success reached a high overall, really showcasing a feel for the game that she hadn't quite had in her first two seasons. That comes as a result of more game time and more opportunities on the court, allowing her to shine.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='651517' first='Aleah' last='Sunkins'] - Franklin (2027)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The youngest one of this season's roster, Sunkins just might be the best one on the roster too. Rated as one of the best freshman in New Jersey and in the Northeast, she just about did it all in her first high school season. There was no intimidation, no settling in period because Sunkins was dominating from the jump, making a name for herself as a versatile six-foot player, a guard at times and a menacing forward at other times.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='414407' first='Leah' last='Crosby'] - Rutgers Prep (2025)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crosby is a headliner for Rutgers Prep next season, easily one of the best players upcoming, making her a top player on this AAU roster as well. While there was some adjustments to be made moving to a new program, Crosby settled in well to her new role as a frontcourt piece for the Argos, even recording six double-doubles with that. Consistency in a new place comes with time, and this summer is her time to reach that next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='559135' first='Stella' last='Lockhart'] - St. John Vianney (2026)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Turns out the move to SJV was exactly what Lockhart needed, a new place to showcase herself and a place with a big void that needed to be filled after Zoe Brooks left. So enters the sophomore, already posting career-highs in scoring and rebounding with a number of 15+ point performances to her name. She got the opportunity and ran with it. Now, this summer is her proving ground to elevate herself to superstar status.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='583705' first='Kiyanna' last='Blacks-Stewart'] - Paul VI (2025)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This EYBL roster just might be Paul VI North with three Eagles, all future seniors, on the roster. Blacks-Stewart was another exciting piece from this past season, someone who came over from Camden Catholic after what seemed like a massive roster overhaul there. She came into a new program, one that needed consistency across the board to be successful, and she provided that frontcourt spark as a building block for the future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='559037' first='Taylor' last='Sofilkanich'] - St. John Vianney (2025)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Sofilkanich family has quite the grasp on St. John Vianney, first with Ashley, who graduated in 2023, only to make an immediate impact at the Division I level. Now, there's her younger sister, Taylor, a great forward in her own right that burst onto the scene as a junior, making some massive strides in her game and her production. That 6-4 frame has made her a matchup nightmare for opponents and she's taken advantage of it plenty.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->