NJ Showcase Day 1 Top Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On a weekend where the local talent was on full display at the Hoop Group NJ Showcase at Total Turf in Pitman, NJ, these young ladies caught my attention with their Day 1 performances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='644270' first='Gabby' last='D'Agostino'] - United NJ 17U Power 24</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In what was one of the best games of Day 1, United NJ held on to beat [program_tooltip program_id='714654' first='NJ' last='Shoreshots'] 17U HGSL. United led the entire game before a few turnovers late cost them the lead. Gabby took control late in the game and was the difference. Down 1, she drove hard to the rim among the opposing bigs and drew a foul. She made 1 of 2 to tie it up. On United's final possession, Gabby got in the lane and, after a few ball fakes, made an off balance shot to go up 2 with 3 seconds left which secured the win. She was up and down the court all weekend, attacks the rim hard and has a long ranger jumper to go with her game and plays with a motor. A 2026 playing up on the 17U squad, Gabby plays with a fearless mentality. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='559041' first='Tessa' last='Liggio'] - [program_tooltip program_id='714654' first='NJ' last='Shoreshots'] 16U HGSL</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In another 2-point battle this weekend between the [program_tooltip program_id='714654' first='NJ' last='Shoreshots'] and United NJ programs, this time the Shoreshots came out on top, and Tessa was the primary reason. Her 1st half performance was the main reason the Shoreshots led throughout. After hitting an early 3, she spent the rest of the 1st half getting into the paint on the United guards and using a little bump and quick step back to finish over the defenders. Though the Shoreshots guards struggled late with the United pressure, they held on to win and Tessa was a big reason why. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='564263' first='Lauren' last='Cella'] - NJ Soldiers 16U HGSL</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lauren is a quick guard with a quicker release when she toes the 3-point line. She catches the ball with confidence and is ready to shoot allowing her to get her shot off with very little space. She plays fast and pushes the ball in transition looking to get it to open teammates. Lauren can also break down defenders in the half court and get in the lane finishing with a nice floater. She is not afraid to get inside and work the boards as evidenced by her 4+rpg in her sophomore season at Holy Spirit. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='898071' first='Reagen' last='Powell'] - NJ Soldiers 16U HGSL</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Raegen showed the versatility that made her the leading scorer and rebounder for the South Jersey Group 2 Champions from Middle Township. Her length and athleticism showed when she was guarding on the perimeter with strong footwork and physicality. She gets out in transition and fills the lane while finishing strong at the rim. She attacks the glass and plays with energy at both ends of the court. Offensively she is best attacking the rim but has range out to the 3-point line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->