Top Sharpshooters Heading into the 2024-2025 Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's take a look at some of the best shooters we can expect to light it up from deep this upcoming season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["892447"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67167e065d68c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Harris put together quite an impressive sophomore season, averaging a whopping 31.2 ppg — a 10.0 point improvement from her freshman season. Much of her scoring came from behind the arch, averaging 5.8 threes per game on a solid 34% shooting. Roughly half her points per game came from behind the line as she averaged the most threes per game in the state. Her 167 made threes for the season were second in the state, behind only [player_tooltip player_id='773677' first='Kaleena' last='Smith'] who had 179. Harris was also very efficient from the free throw line, shooting 83% for the season on almost three makes a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["843628"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67167e065d70a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rabino shot a very impressive 39% from three in her sophomore season while averaging 4.0 threes per game. She made 116 threes during the 2023-2024 season which was ranked sixth in the state. Rabino's quick release has helped her become lethal with the catch-and-shoot. However, her game is not just limited to being a catch-and-shoot player. She is a very skilled ball handler and her quickness allows her to be efficient in pull-up jumpers off of ball screens as well. She has range that extends well beyond the arc which will help her game translate to the college level. Rabino's quick release makes her very effective in transition, as she does not need much time to get her shot off when she spots up in the corner or wing on fast breaks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Andrea Aina","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12124","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Hart High School ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Starting 5 ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67167e065d980"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Last season was a breakout season for Aina, improving from 3.9 points per game during her sophomore year to 15.8 points her junior year. The giant leap she took can be credited to her improvement as a shooter. Two seasons ago, she only made 16 threes all season, while last year she made 115 (7th most in California) all while shooting an efficient 40% from deep. After a bit of a slow start, Aina was consistently pouring in 4-6 threes night after night from December throughout the end of the season. Aina had two outings with seven made threes while shooting over 50%. Although it may be unrealistic to expect the same leap in progress as she made between her sophomore and junior years, her consistent year-over-year improvement suggests she's poised for a big senior season this winter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1045824"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67167e065d7b3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Last season, Taylor-Smith finished 11th in the state with 104 made threes, while shooting an efficient 38%. Her 4.0 made threes per game made up the bulk of her scoring as she averaged 15.2 points per game. She wasn't quite as efficient from the free throw line where she only shot 67% on a small sample size of 18 attempts. Much of Taylor-Smith's threes came off the catch. She moves exceptionally well without the ball, and her quick release makes her highly effective when curling off off-ball and back screens. She already has NBA range, forcing her defenders to come out well beyond the three-point line. The spacing she creates by being such a threat from beyond the arc helped the Eagles become an offensive juggernaut last season — finishing many games scoring in the high 80s and 90s. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["761222"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67167e065d807"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In her junior season, Sugar made 99 threes while shooting 41%. Many of Sugar's most impressive shooting nights were also her most efficient. Throughout the season, Sugar put together six games with five or more made three-pointers — all of which she shot over 50%. This includes games where she shot 5-5, 6-9, 6-7, 6-9, 7-14, and 7-14. Sugar has consistently improved both her volume and efficiency throughout her three varsity basketball seasons. Assuming this is the case as she enters her senior season this winter, we can expect her to remain one of the best shooters in the state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["761211"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67167e065d860"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Long finished right behind Sugar with 98 made three-pointers last season, despite playing five fewer games. However, she was much less efficient as she shot 30% from behind the arc last season. Long's lack of efficiency can be attributed to the high degree of difficulty of many of her three-point attempts. While she demonstrated the ability to knock them down, many of her attempts came from off the dribble or from well beyond the arc. A solid sign is the success Long found from the free throw line, where she shot 72% on 110 attempts. As a shot maker and shot creator, Long has all the tools — solid shot mechanics, quick release, long-range, and the ability to knock it down off the dribble. While the volume was there this past season, Long should aim to be more intentional with her shot selection this upcoming season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["658328"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67167e065d8c2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Cabrera put together a very impressive freshman season, averaging 20.1 points per game on 3.0 threes a night. Cabrera struggled with efficiency throughout the season which can be expected for a freshman. Cabrera was a streaky three-point shooter her freshman year as the nights when she was hitting five or more were often her most efficient, while she had some nights shooting 1-7, 1-8, 3-17, and so on. However, for a sophomore, she already has an incredibly deep bag. On the nights she was on, she demonstrated how diverse of a scorer she was from behind the arc. Entering her sophomore season, we can expect her shooting splits to improve, as she'll have a better sense of how to find her rhythm with a full season of experience under her belt. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["773677"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67167e065d768"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It should come as no surprise to see Smith on this list. In addition to being the best player in the state (and in many people's eyes, the best player in the nation), Smith led the state with 179 made threes as just a freshman. She made 5.4 threes per game on a very impressive 41% shooting. Additionally, she shot 83% from the line while making roughly 5.2 per game. Her efficiency from three and the free throw line contributed to over 20.0 of her 34.9 points per game. While it is hard to imagine her improving her already very efficient shooting splits, we can expect her to take even more shots this upcoming year as she enters her sophomore season. If she can maintain her efficiency, it would not be surprising if she averaged north of 40.0 points per game this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->