AAU Preview: NJ Soldiers 2026 (16U) HGSL

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>NJ Soldiers is running two AAU teams out this season, one 17U team and a 16U team. The 17U squad has a bunch of names that you've heard before: [player_tooltip player_id='414340' first='Macie' last='McCracken'], [player_tooltip player_id='414395' first='Reese' last='Downey'] and [player_tooltip player_id='583712' first='McKenzie' last='Palek'] among the highlights. This article, however, will focus on the 16U team, a strong cast of players scattered throughout the Jersey Shore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='564263' first='Lauren' last='Cella'] - 5-4 PG, Holy Spirit (2026)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cella is coming off her most productive season to date for Holy Spirit, a strong sophomore campaign that puts her in the driver's seat going into what the Spartans hope will be a breakout junior season. Really quick, agile player that plays fast, but plays smart. Great eye for teammates and ability to dish the ball off when she sees an open look. Also just an impressive scorer overall, someone who can shoot from deep or create her own shot inside the arc.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='601414' first='Angela' last='Wilber'] - 5-3 PG, Wildwood (2026)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wilber has a strong supporting cast around her with McCracken taking up most of the attention of opponents from game-to-game. That doesn't mean that the remainder of the Warriors don't have some x-factors of their own. The rising junior guard is a perfect example of that, one of the better sharp-shooters in the region. She hit at a clip of around 2.5 threes per game and saw her offensive production rise dramatically as a result. More than twice the made three-pointers in just three more games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='898071' first='Reagen' last='Powell'] - 5-9 G, Middle Township (2026)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Powell is an exciting name to watch on one of the better teams in South Jersey, a team returning a lot of star power come next season and the seasons following. Of the talent on this roster, it was Powell who led in scoring seemingly out of nowhere, averaging 8.6 points per game in 32 games played. She went from scoring 19 points in nine games to 27 in one game against Manchester Township late last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='564266' first='Lily' last='King'] - 5-9 G, Wildwood Catholic (2026)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wildwood Catholic needs players to step up in the winter and needs it badly. If the Crusaders want to be competitive and successful, all hands need to be on deck. Luckily, amongst a cast of seniors last season, King got some valuable playing time and showed some glimpses of the future. Impressive range from the guard coupled with a competitive mindset defensively gives her a great chance to succeed as a junior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='794562' first='Riley' last='Odom'] - 5-4 SG/PG, Middle Township (2026)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Odom came off the bench for Middle Township last season, but had some good performances in the first third of the schedule. She has a lot of intangibles that teams would love to have on their roster and she wasn't someone who really focused on one thing on the floor. She could be getting a pass for a contested three, making something out of a broken play with a dribble-drive into the lane or finding an open teammate on an odd-man break up the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='965009' first='Megan' last='Kane'] - 5-9 G/F, Holy Spirit (2026)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whether it was coming on the floor as a starter of coming off the bench, Kane had a the role of a role player for Holy Spirit amongst a deep roster of talent. One of seven players who regularly saw some significant game time, Kane made her mark on the glass, finishing fourth in rebounds per game. She had plenty of defensive success too and with two of the Spartans' best defenders graduating in the spring, Kane will almost certainly be asked to pick up the load in some capacity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='965011' first='Angelina' last='Richards'] - 5-8 F, Wildwood Catholic (2026)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Richard has a crucial role to play for Wildwood Catholic going into next season, making this summer for her incredibly important to really ramp up her reps in the frontcourt. There are no forwards with ample experience returning upcoming, so it's Richards who is going to be that necessary piece to grow and mature over the summer to face the gauntlet of teams the Crusaders will be facing. It's a lot to ask of an unproven player, but Richards has the chance to prove many wrong.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='871258' first='Sarah' last='Farrow'] - 5-8 F, Middle Township (2026)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Farrow was in the main rotation for Middle Township last season, thrust in there from barely having a role as a freshman. Her playing time increased which meant that she needed to get herself ready to go and ready to contribute on the floor. Luckily for her, she did just that, a solid frontcourt piece that can rebound, block and just be a presence down low, exactly what the Panthers need out of her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='669303' first='Abbey' last='Cappelletti'] - 5-5 SG, Middle Township (2026)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cappelletti, along with her older sister, Hannah, was not afraid to shoot the three last season and she fared well from deep. Those numbers are expected to rise as she takes on a more profound role, very much a specialized shooter role for Middle Township. She's done that role incredibly well and she'll need to take that torch from her sister, who was the leading three-point shooter for the Panthers last season. Smooth shot, clean finish, quick release and able to shoot in on-ball and off-ball situations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->