Mental Edge Series: Who’s Dominating With Confidence and Focus?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Continuing our Mental Edge series, we spotlight players who stand out due to intangibles like confidence, effort, and focus. Here are some New England standouts whose mental edge has been key to their teams' success. Keep an eye out for these players:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1171060"],"_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-689f454392c2f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Avery, a recent Trinity College commit, a 2025 HockomockSports First Team Selection, is a standout guard with confidence that shines through. I noticed this confidence especially in her shooting—whether off a pass, a screen, or the dribble, Avery is ready to shoot and does so with confidence. What I love most is that she doesn't get down after a miss—you can tell she believes the next one will go in by her focus. Beyond shooting, Avery is an elite guard who is a great scorer and faciliator.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1276438"],"_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-689f454392c99"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Izzy is a player with elite focus and confidence. Her confidence and focus was clear in the Division 2 championship game, where Medfield's junior captain exploded for 28 points, 10 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 assists, and 3 blocks, leading her team to a 62–20 victory. Izzy's confidence and focus shone in the second half, scoring 21 of her 28 points then. She can drive to the hoop, score in the post, and hit the three. Izzy consistently plays at a high level and will be a forward to watch this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["645616"],"_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-689f454392ce9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nylah, an Emmanuel commit, is a physical forward with great size. Her mental edge comes from her defensive effort. She sets the tone on defense and can guard multiple positions, making switches seamless and helping her teammates. Nylah stays focused, generating stops and deflections. She dominated the 2024–25 season—earning Metro Division Player of the Year, leading her team to a historic state title with a 20-point performance in the final, and being named Vermont MaxPreps Player of the Year.</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":"Reagan Vaughan","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12123","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Milton Academy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"MTE Ducks ","_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":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-689f454392da7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Reagan is a standout with accolades to match: EPSGBCA All Star, Patriot Ledger All-Scholastic Honorable Mention, and NEPSAC All-Star Honorable Mention. Her mental edge comes from her size, athleticism, and vocal presence. She is able to score well at the rim and is a defensive force that is able to get stops through rotations or one-on-one defense, resulting in blocks and stops. What takes Reagan to the next level is her communication—she directs teammates and leads on the floor. She is a standout guard to watch this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->