NJIC’s Best of the Rest

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Naturally, when you find the best of the best, you have to find the best of the rest, but make no mistake, the players listed below are far from overlooked talent in the NJIC. There are some studs, some bonafide superstars in this article that are going to make a name for themselves this year or keep the good times rolling from years past.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='832358' first='Gina' last='Minichiello'] - Hasbrouck Heights (2027)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On a team that lost Samantha Russo in the spring, Hasbrouck Heights is building quite the young core of players for success, led by [player_tooltip player_id='832358' first='Gina' last='Minichiello'], who made her presence felt early and often down low. Averaging 10.9/4.6/3.9 a game, not to mention some great defensive success and excellent shot-blocking ability, Minichiello is a great forward option and a great passer as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='835465' first='Olivia' last='Buckingham'] - Secaucus (2027)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Secaucus is losing some top-end talent going into this season after both Alyssa Craigwell and Mia Cruz graduated in the spring. Players need to step up and players already have, like sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='835465' first='Olivia' last='Buckingham'], who put on an absolute clinic in her freshman season. The Patriots' guard knocked down more than 2.5 three-pointers a game, making it look effortless from the perimeter all year long.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='601407' first='Mackenzie' last='Vellis'] - Rutherford (2026)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rutherford had a 20-win season last year and is looking to repeat the feat, hoping to make a deep playoff run. They'll need a leader to make some big time plays when it comes down to it, and [player_tooltip player_id='601407' first='Mackenzie' last='Vellis'] is exactly the person they'll be going to. She's already an excellent playmaker and a great scorer on top of that. Would like to see her expand her range more as a junior to couple with great defensive work overall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='583946' first='Asya' last='Akar'] - Lyndhurst (2025)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are two seniors on this team to watch out for, starting with guard [player_tooltip player_id='414427' first='Sam' last='Mayer'], a great shooter and leader at the top of the key. However, we're here to focus on her comrade down low in [player_tooltip player_id='583946' first='Asya' last='Akar'], a near-double-double machine combined with junior [player_tooltip player_id='601408' first='Brooke' last='Harper']. Akar has some range to her game, she's a fantastic scorer at all levels and her defense has produced quite a few turnovers for the Golden Bears.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='414430' first='Allie' last='Shenloogian'] - Park Ridge (2025)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Park Ridge has proven itself to be one of the best teams in the NJIC, thanks in large part to the play of their senior guard, [player_tooltip player_id='414430' first='Allie' last='Shenloogian']. It seems like every year, she's only getting better and better, now closing in on 2,000 career points in high school after averaging nearly 24 points a game as a junior. Consistently one of the best guards in the state, can score in any situation, any scenario, anywhere on the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='601410' first='Lyla' last='Stokes'] - Waldwick (2026)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Waldwick is a relatively balanced team when it comes to scoring, but even through the most balanced teams, there is always a standout. That standout is [player_tooltip player_id='601410' first='Lyla' last='Stokes'], a do-it-all guard that is the definition of a stat-stuffer in the best way. She led her team in scoring, rebounding, blocks and steals, showing her aggression and grit on the floor as the x-factor and one of the brightest stars in the conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='583960' first='Kayla' last='Elek'] - Emerson Boro (2025)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Emerson Boro has one of the best tandems in the NJIC headed into this season, led by senior [player_tooltip player_id='583960' first='Kayla' last='Elek']. She's put in work over the last three years to be an all-conference level player, a high-level scorer with intangibles on the glass and the passing department. Great defensive player, very aggressive player on the interior and a complementary perimeter shooting game to go with it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='871237' first='Gabriella' last='Micucci'] - Emerson Boro (2026)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Teammate [player_tooltip player_id='871237' first='Gabriella' last='Micucci'] took a massive step forward for Emerson Boro as a sophomore, going from a bench player to a starter and one of the best players on the team. She averaged 14.2 PPG over her final 11 games of the season as she took off as a player, building momentum at the right time into the summer and this season. Easily a top-level defender in the NJIC and her scoring prowess is off the charts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->