Top Returners Among NHIAA Division IV Schools

<p>We'll have plenty more content coming up as we get closer and closer to the start of the New Hampshire high school basketball season this winter, but in the lead-up to the season, here's a concluding look at the top returners across the state, ending with those from New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association Division IV schools.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Haley Rossitto - Colebrook (2026)</h2>   <p>Rossitto knows how to score, knows how to win and knows how to lead. She's the perfect player to be among the best for Colebrook and she's established herself as a great guard with high upside. Impressive scoring output as a sophomore, closing in on 20 points a game at her peak. Plays physical basketball and often gets to the foul line as a result. Manufactures points and scoring opportunities at every turn.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Madison Ricker - Farmington (2025)</h2>   <p>Ricker thrives in the guard position, a bonafide leader on this team coming into this season and someone who is comfortable leading this team, making plays and being productive on the floor. The biggest thing with her and her development on the floor will be efficiency in shooting. We know she can score, but if she can score at closer to a 45% clip on the court, she's going to be a massive problem for other teams to try to stop.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lily Cornell - Franklin (2027)</h2>   <p>Franklin has just the right team at just the right time as a Class of 2027 revolution has overtaken things. [player_tooltip player_id='1171231' first='Kourtney' last='Kaplan'] is the leader of the pack, someone we'll be discussing below, and her teammate Lily Cornell, is second in command. Cornell has had some great performances already in her high school career as the Tornadoes made the Round of 16 in the state tournament this season. Still plenty of meat left on the bone to chew for her and Franklin.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1171231' first='Kourtney' last='Kaplan'] - Franklin (2027)</h2>   <p>Whatever heights that Franklin reached last season, those merely seem like the new expectation for this team moving forward as a two-headed sophomore monster is taking over Division III. [player_tooltip player_id='1171231' first='Kourtney' last='Kaplan'] is half of that tandem and what an incredible player she was last year, scoring 20 points a game, seemingly at ease, hitting threes, nailing her midrange shots, making her free throws count and finding ways to exploit the interior on dribble-drives.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Delaney Whiting - Groveton (2026)</h2>   <p>Whiting knows how to score and knows how to score a lot on the floor. She's got an incredible x-factor to her as an an efficient, effective playmaker, high production rates on both sides of the ball and near triple-double averages to go on top of that. She's affecting the game at virtually every step, getting teammates involved, crashing the boards, driving to the rim and giving opponents nightmares.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ryenn Pedone - Holy Family (2027)</h2>   <p>Last year was a big year for Holy Family and a successful year at that. Plenty of things were accomplished, but plenty more were left on the table to accomplish upcoming. It's a good thing they'll have Class of 2027 standout Ryenn Pedone there to help get those goals achieved. She's proven herself to be a major commodity within this program, playing like a veteran at the top of the key, running the show and succeeding well at it.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Addison Pilgrim - Littleton (2027)</h2>   <p>Littleton ran the gauntlet last season, a perfect 22-0 en route to a Division IV state title. Two Addisons were among the best, if not the two best players on the team in the spring, with Addison Pilgrim leading the way, dominating competition and coming up big in quite literally the biggest moments of the season. She was a freshman playing in state title games, seemingly unphased by the bright lights and large crowds.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Kiara Rugora - Newmarket (2028)</h2>   <p>Rugora is in a very unique position compared to all others on this list as she's already high school experience under her belt before her freshman year. She didn't just play as an eighth grader, but she led the team in scoring last season, a great precursor to what she can do as a high schooler. Quick on her feet, quick to the ball, quick to the boards, Rugora uses her speed and quick-thinking on the floor to her advantage.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ava Buchanan - Portsmouth Christian (2026)</h2>   <p>A versatile piece up top, able to play as a point and shooting guard, though it's best to call her a combo guard with her ability to do both well, Buchanan was incredibly impressive to watch as a sophomore for Portsmouth Christian. A seemingly unstoppable force on the floor, she could do anything, from driving through contact in the lane, hitting a stepback jumper, spotting up from three or finding an open teammate for a shot.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lexi Bausha - Wilton-Lyndeborough (2027)</h2>   <p>The Bausha sisters, Lexi and Adri, made quite the statement last season, the lone season that the two would cross paths at Wilton-Lyndeborough. As Adri heads out of the program, Lexi is going to be stepping in as the go-to piece for this program, a ceremonious passing of the torch from sister to sister. They have a star already in Lexi, an all-state caliber player with high upside and years left to hone in on her craft.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Paige Royer - Woodsville (2025)</h2>   <p>Woodsville has a sneaky chance to do some big things this season with two big pieces returning to the fold. Makayla Walker and Paige Royer will be the unquestioned leaders of this team, though we're incredibly excited to see what Royer is able to do as a senior. Poised offensive presence with an impressive overall skillset. Maturity on the floor plays a key role in her overall success. She's been there, done that, knows what to do to be successful.</p>

We'll have plenty more content coming up as we get closer and closer to the start of the New Hampshire high school basketball season this winter, but in the lead-up to the season, here's a concluding look at the top returners across the state, ending with those from New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association Division IV schools.