Class of 2027: Rising Stocks & Climbing Spots

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The recent mid-season rankings update saw a ton of movement, with the following players represent the sophomore class's greatest gainers:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='789169' first='Morgan' last='Fulston'] | Morris Catholic</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New Rank: #12 | Previous Rank: #32</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Playing an incredibly difficult schedule with Morris Catholic, Morgan continues to prove herself time and time again against some of the best teams in the state and across the country. At 6'3", she's this team's interior force, averaging 5.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg &amp; 3.3 bpg. She has two double-doubles on the season and has recorded career-highs in points, rebounds and blocks in a January game against Morristown-Beard (15 points, 15 rebounds, 8 blocks). She was solid going up against nationally ranked opponents in DME Academy (FL) &amp; St. Frances (MD): 6 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks &amp; 8 points, 6 rebounds, 6 blocks, respectively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='789188' first='Vale' last='Triana'] | Pingry </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New Rank: #25 | Previous Rank: #66</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Valentina has really stepped it up from a season ago! Now in Year 2, the 5'8" guard leads the team in rebounds (5.1 rpg) and ranks second in scoring (12.0 ppg) and steals (2.8 spg). She's getting the job done on both sides of the ball and to this point, has helped Pingry achieve a 13-3 record. She had herself a career day in a close win over Voorhees, scoring 21 points and snatching 8 steals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='789187' first='Heziah' last='Kinston'] | Thrive Charter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New Rank: #41 | Previous Rank: #71</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Heziah made the leap over from Life Center Academy to Thrive Charter (formerly Trenton Catholic) for the 2024-2025 season. She leads the Titans in scoring at 11.1 ppg and has made a statement against very good competition. The schedule hasn't been easily so far, but she's proven formidable against George (PA) (14 points, 7 rebounds), Notre Dame (15 points, 4 steals) and PA powerhouse Archbishop Carroll (8 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists). She gives this team a steady threat in the back court and hopes to lead them to a deep postseason run in Group 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='835219' first='Dani' last='Daproza'] | Leonia</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New Rank: #46 | Previous Rank: #125</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dani is a DOG! It's just that simple really! At 22.1 ppg &amp; 6.9 spg, she's one of the state's leaders in points and steals. She has two triple-doubles on her resume already this season, one of them part of a career night against Passaic Charter where she went off for a career-best in points, rebounds &amp; steals: 40, 11 &amp; 15! She's a two-way terror who hasn't dropped fewer than 14 points in a game all season! With every game played, she inches closer and closer to the 1K milestone, currently 169 points away.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='959812' first='Amanda' last='Eggers'] | Gloucester Catholic</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New Rank: #49 | Previous Rank: #97</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Amanda's newfound confidence and hot 3-point shooting has helped the Rams to an undefeated 7-0 record in the Tri-County Conference and 13-2 overall. On a team filled with talent, she's emerged as one of GC's brightest stars, averaging 13.0 ppg (2nd on team) and leading them in 3-point baskets (41). The schedule so far has been anything but easy, with Amanda posting big performances against PA powerhouses such as Audenreid (17 points, five 3's) and Cardinal O'Hara (13 points, three 3's) and Tri-County foe Wildwood (21 points, three 3's).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='651503' first='Susie' last='Gentile'] | Hudson Catholic</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New Rank: #52 | Previous Rank: #104</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Susie has proved herself against some of the state's toughest teams and leads the Hawks in scoring and steals at 12.9 ppg &amp; 4.3 spg, respectively. She's scored in double-figures in twelve of their last seventeen games, including 17 points against St. Thomas Aquinas, 14 against Bayonne and 21 against Saddle River Day, teams all expected to make deep postseason runs. Her two-way guard play has been clicking on all cylinders!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='651514' first='Rebecca' last='Benichou'] | Wildwood</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New Rank: #53 | Previous Rank: #126</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rebecca's hot 3-point shooting has helped Wildwood win some close ones this season, including a 51-45 dub over island rival Wildwood Catholic (18 points, four 3's). She's absolutely fearless and never looks rattled, no matter how scrappy or intense the defense applied. She's second the team in scoring and steals at 13.1 ppg &amp; 2.6 spg and knocking down nearly three 3's per game. Already having knocked down her 100th career 3 this season, she's well on her way to becoming Wildwood's next 1,000-point scorer next year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='835215' first='Kate' last='Fahrenfeld'] | Wallkill Valley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New Rank: #54 | Previous Rank: #133</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kate leads a very young Lady Rangers in nearly every stat across the board; averaging 15.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.6 apg &amp; 3.0 spg. On a team with six other underclassmen, she has done a great job keeping the program afloat amidst a rebuilding year. She recorded career-best numbers in points, rebounds and steals, posting 35 points vs Dover, 11 rebounds vs Kittatinny and 6 steals vs Sussex Tech. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Keaira Sellers | Paul VI</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New Rank: #60 | Previous Rank: WL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keaira's rise has been meteroic this season! She's been remarkable running the point for the Eagles and imposing her two-way game, averaging a team-best 3.8 apg &amp; 3.3 spg to go with 7.8 ppg. With a sharp pass-first mentality, she's been able to find her teammates through even the smallest of gaps in the defense against powerhouse teams such as St. John Vianney, Audenreid (PA), Ursuline Academy (DE) and Gloucester Catholic. At the time of this being written, Paul VI is currently undefeated at 13-0.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='835514' first='Charlotte' last='Yarnall'] | Summit</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New Rank: #73 | Previous Rank: #127</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With six double-doubles in the last sixteen games, she's been on a total tear in Year 2! An impressive January win over union Catholic turned a lot of heads, with Charlotte posting a monster 30-point, 22-rebound (career-high) double-double. She kept her foot firmly on the gas and followed that up with a career-high 33 points in a mid-January win over Brearley. A complete effort has seen her average 15.1 ppg, 8.9 rpg &amp; 2.3 spg which has helped the Hilltoppers achieve an 11-5 record.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->