Class of 2027: New-Look Top 10

PGHNJ has just released its mid-season rankings and with so much movement comes a NEW-LOOK TOP 10! This sophomore class is absolutely stacked, so this was no easy task! The following ten hoopers represent ten different schools in Group 3, Group 4 and Non-Public A & B state classifications. Let's dive in for a further look:   [player_tooltip player_id='651517' first='Aleah' last='Sunkins'] | Franklin   State Rank: #1 | Position Rank: #1   Previous State Rank: #1   Franklin wouldn't have won a lot of their games this season without their star, who is averaging 16.5 ppg & 10.8 rpg through sixteen games. A walking double-double, if you will! She's recorded five 20+ point games and has only been held to single-digits twice. Playing one of the state's most difficult schedules thus far, Aleah has seen just about every type of defense thrown at her and somehow still manages to evade high pressure, escape double & triple teams and produce big results. In a win/loss split with Hillsborough, she recorded 19 points and 14 rebounds back in December and exploded for 25 points and 18 rebounds in their most recent meeting. She posted back-to-back double-doubles against state powers St. Rose and Immaculate Conception, 19 points & 13 rebounds and 17 points & 10 rebounds, respectively.   [player_tooltip player_id='667787' first='Jacqueline' last='Edelman'] | Morris Catholic   State Rank: #2 | Position Rank: #1   Previous State Rank: #2   Making the decision to leave #1 and #2 unchanged wasn't easy, because I feel both are interchangeable at that #1 overall spot. Jacqueline has proved, and continues to prove herself against some of the best teams not only in the state, but in the nation. Playing alongside superstars in the Pauldo Twins, Jax has proved that she belongs and can compete at a high level against anybody! Her length coupled with her quick-release 3-point sharpshooting makes her a tough task for defenders. Through fourteen games, she's averaging 11.2 ppg & 7.5 rpg for the top team in the state (#2 team in the nation, according to MaxPreps). She banged in three 3's & pulled down 9 boards against Red Bank Catholic, went off for 15 points against state power Gill St. Bernard's and poured in 16 points (including four 3's) against Group 4 favorite Bayonne.   [player_tooltip player_id='651496' first='Ashley' last='Kreiger'] | Ranney   State Rank: #3 | Position Rank: #1   Previous State Rank: #4   After a rough 0-5 start to the season, Ranney has figured things out and 6'3" [player_tooltip player_id='651496' first='Ashley' last='Kreiger'] has come alive! The Panthers are riding a 9-game win streak at the time of this article being written, with the superstar big averaging 14.8 ppg, 8.1 rpg & 1.5 spg this season. She's recorded six double-doubles, doing work against some very difficult teams. In the first meeting with Group 1 power Shore, she poured in 25 points and pulled down 17 rebounds. In the second meeting, she went off yet again, this time for 22 points. Her length and versatility has been tough to contain, posing a threat both inside and out.   [player_tooltip player_id='835906' first='El-Anita' last='Joe-Samuel'] | Lenape   State Rank: #4 | Position Rank: #2   Previous State Rank: #3   EAJS has only played in eight games so far this season, but she's commanded the floor like the dominant Wing she is. She's recorded two double-doubles and six games in double-figure scoring, for averages of 15.0 ppg & 5.1 rpg. In the two games she was absent, Lenape went on to drop both contests, a testament to her presence and what she brings to the table. She's assertive and physical, scoring the ball efficiently at all three levels. She has next-level size and a sharp IQ. If her shots aren't falling, she does a terrific job impacting the game in other ways, especially on defense.   [player_tooltip player_id='789189' first='Brooke' last='Stagliano'] | Paul VI   State Rank: #5 | Position Rank: #2   Previous Rank: #15   Brooke is having a breakout year for undefeated Paul VI and sees a 10-spot rise in the rankings! In just eleven games, she's already almost amassed her totals from a season ago! She's recorded big performances against tough out-of-state competition: 16 points (four 3's) vs Cristo Rey (PA), 27 points (six 3's) vs Audenried (PA), 25 points vs Ursuline Academy (DE) & a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double against Caravel Academy (DE). Her shooting has been torrid, especially from deep, where she's averaging three 3's per contest. The sophomore currently ranks second on the team in scoring at 14.3 ppg.   [player_tooltip player_id='1048715' first='Lola' last='McGonigle'] | Wildwood Catholic   State Rank: #6 | Position Rank: #1   Previous Rank: #6   Lola has been a dynamic scorer and facilitator for the Crusaders this season, averaging a team-best 15.4 ppg and 4.9 rpg. The two-way guard has helped her team get off to a 12-3 start, including a big win over Absegami in December (13 points, 10 assists) and OLMA in January (20 points, 6 assists). Her efforts on defense have been notable, logging just under three steals per game and coming up with clutch steals in close wins against Holy Spirit (5) and Middle Township (2). She's known for her 3-point shooting prowess (three per game) but she's so much more than that! Her scoring is now consistently coming from all three levels.   [player_tooltip player_id='835821' first='Sarae' last='Croley-Battle'] | Piscataway   State Rank: #7 | Position Rank: #3   Previous Rank: #8   In just 14 games, Sarae has surpassed last year's points total. Averaging 17.3 ppg to go along with 9.14 rpg, 2.6 apg & 2.5 spg, she's proven to be one of the best players in the GMC regardless of Class! With four double-doubles, she has imposed her will against teams like Colonia (21 & 10 in both contests), Woodbridge (20 & 16) and North Plainfield (28 & 12). Efforts on both sides of the ball have not only seen her reach career-highs in scoring and in steals (28 points vs North Plainfield, 5 steals vs Spotswood).   [player_tooltip player_id='831437' first='Khalia' last='Lewis'] | OLMA   State Rank: #8 | Position Rank: #4   Previous Rank: #31   One of the leading rebounders in the state, Khalia's game in very similar to that of Angel Reese and Aneesah Morrow the way she dominates in and around the paint! She's averaging a ferocious double-double at 18.6 ppg & 12.9 rpg for the Villagers and has seen career-best numbers in points (33 twice, vs Williamstown & Cinnaminson). Her positionless style of play has seen takeover 1-5 at times, stuffing the stat sheet and averaging 2.7 apg, 2.0 bpg & 2.6 spg. She notched a career-high 9 assists (vs Mainland) and 6 blocks (vs Millville). An area Khalia has shown vast improvement in has been stretching the floor. After not knocking down any 3's last season, she's already drained six and is establishing herself as a legit shooting threat from just about anywhere.   [player_tooltip player_id='816416' first='Emily' last='Mattson'] | Union Catholic   State Rank: #9 | Position Rank: #1   Previous Rank: #11   Emily's sizzling sophomore season has helped the Vikings get off to a 12-3 start, ranking second on the team in scoring (13.9 ppg) & assists (3.0 apg) and third in rebounds (5.5 rpg) & steals (1.9 spg). Strong two-way play has resulted in her first career double-double (19 points & 14 rebounds vs Timothy Christian) and a total of twenty-nine steals in fifteen games compared to thirty-five steals in twenty-five games last season. She's scoring the ball at multiple-levels with total confidence, including reliable shooting from 3-point land where she is averaging nearly two per game.   [player_tooltip player_id='789186' first='Zoe' last='Wasserlauf'] | Tenafly   State Rank: #10 | Position Rank: #2   Previous Rank: #7   Zoe is doing what she does best... playing assertive basketball on both ends of the court! She's putting up just under 16 points per game, dishing out 3.8 apg & swiping just over 2.1 spg. She posted a season-high 30 points (including a career-high eight 3's) in a January win over Bergenfield, a season-high 6 assists (twice, vs Cliffside Park & Dwight-Morrow) and a career-high 9 assists against Dwight-Morrow). She's quick, crafty and possesses the ability to take over any game!

PGHNJ has just released its mid-season rankings and with so much movement comes a NEW-LOOK TOP 10! This sophomore class is absolutely stacked, so this was no easy task! The following ten hoopers represent ten different schools in Group 3, Group 4 and Non-Public A & B state classifications. Let's dive in for a further look: