NJIC’s Best of the Best

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we get closer to the start of the high school girls basketball season in New Jersey, we wanted to shout out yet another conference in the state, the North Jersey Interscholastic Conference. One of the largest conferences in the state, the NJIC had eight teams with 18 or more wins and five with 20 or more wins on the year. Top teams come with top talent, so it's time to talk about the best of the best in the conference going into this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='333330' first='Faith' last='Williamson'] - Saddle River Day (2025)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We begin this article with talking about a bonafide superstar in every sense of the word, a standout talent and playmaker beyond her years in Saddle River Day senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='333330' first='Faith' last='Williamson']. Fantastic presence at the top of the key. Born leader and on top of that, a player that can take the game into her own hands when the lights shine brightest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='601345' first='Juliana' last='Odum'] - Saddle Brook (2026)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saddle Brook is going to have a much different look going into this season as Saoirse Twomey won't be on the team, graduating in the spring. That means that someone else will need to step up, someone like [player_tooltip player_id='601345' first='Juliana' last='Odum'], who did much of the same as a junior for the Falcons. Where she excels in her perimeter shooting, we would love to see that translate more over to her free throw shooting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mia Vergel de Dios - Glen Rock (2026)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Several players to look at on this team going into the winter, but here, we're going to focus on Mia Vergel de Dios, a fantastic guard with great range offensively, knows where her game plays best and can accompany that with complementary defensive play and in the assists/rebounds department. Great jump in production from her freshman to sophomore years, a great sign for continued production upcoming.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='601347' first='Precious' last='Mitchell'] - Manchester Regional (2026)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Manchester Regional had two different players who were able to shoot from deep last season in [player_tooltip player_id='601347' first='Precious' last='Mitchell'] and Ruby Silva, but with the frontcourt piece gone, Mitchell will need to step into a much bigger role for her team. Others will find ways to make up for Silva's production, but if Mitchell can keep up her overall success, especially as a defensive player with more than seven steals a game, she'll be in a perfect spot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1048719' first='Mia' last='Soto'] - Pompton Lakes (2025)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two really good players to watch out for on Pompton Lakes next year are [player_tooltip player_id='871377' first='Madelyn' last='DiPillo'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1048719' first='Mia' last='Soto'], a tandem that will terrorize the area for the next year. Soto is our focus below, the leading scorer for the Cardinals and an aggressive player in the lane. Likes to play downhill, drive into the paint and get contact if she can. Equally successful perimeter shooting which we would love her to tap into more.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='835219' first='Dani' last='Daproza'] - Leonia (2027)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What a dynamic duo Leonia has going into next season, a pair of players that are both going to be on the floor together for the next two years, ready to make a run for it. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='835219' first='Dani' last='Daproza'] burst onto the scene as a freshman, leading the team in scoring, three-point shooting and assists, not to mention 150+ steals. You're doing something right if you're averaging 18.5 points per game off the bat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='601403' first='Angelica' last='Do'] - Leonia (2026)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From Daproza, we head over to her junior teammate, [player_tooltip player_id='601403' first='Angelica' last='Do'], a defensive stalwart for the Lions. To average 7.7 steals per game is utterly absurd, especially considering some players don't even average that many points per game, let alone steals. Very impressive scorer on all three levels, can shoot the three well, will dish the ball off to teammates and has a high basketball IQ.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='414429' first='Katie' last='Reiner'] - Becton (2025)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We end this article with a bang, talking about Becton senior [player_tooltip player_id='414429' first='Katie' last='Reiner'] who has consistently been one of the best players in the conference, the region and the state over the past three years. Once again, she was dominant as a junior, hitting 79 threes while scoring 18.4 points per game. Better rebounding and defensive season for her as she showed off a more well-rounded skillset as a cornerstone for the Wildcats.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->