Elevated Starting Role (Central Jersey)

The following players in Central Jersey are poised to see bigger roles this season and make an impact in the starting rotation. Whether it's starters lost to graduation, a successful summer on the AAU trail or a combination of both, look for these hoopers to shiner brighter than ever once the season rolls around:   [player_tooltip player_id='987722' first='Avery' last='Iskra'] | Middlesex   Avery made waves in her freshman season as the third leading scorer on the team (5.9 PPG) and second in blocked shots. At 5'11", she did a great job anchoring inside and preventing easy buckets around the rim, but also showed off versatility and stretched to defend the perimeter. With the graduation of Lexi Demeter and Jessica Devine, you can surely expect larger contributions across the board.   Grace Ascolese | Shore   Grace held her own on a lineup with multiple prolific scorers last season. She gave the Blue Devils a boost at 4.2 PPG and tallied double-figures five times. Reliable 3-point shooting made her a threat from distance, knocking down at least three triples in six games. Seniors Kimi Sayson and Reese Fiore departed, taking 53% of the team's scoring with them, which leaves an opening for Grace to really make her mark now as a sophomore.   Elliana Loffreno | Point Pleasant Beach   A breakout junior year saw Elliana average 6.6 PPG and trail only seniors Erin Frauenheim and Kaitlyn Hard in scoring. She was dependable as a third scoring option in the starting rotation alongside four seniors and now catapults to a senior leadership role. She'll look to set the tone on both offense and defense while leading a very young roster to another above .500 season and postseason appearance.   [player_tooltip player_id='564267' first='Shannon' last='Looney'] | Manasquan   Playing on a stacked roster last year, Shannon was a very impactful x-factor but played mostly in the shadow of some really talented seniors in Shea Donnelly, Kayden Clark, Shannon Heine, Grace Love and Olivia Shaughnessy. Now a senior, this is HER year! Squan lost 63% of their scoring with the departure of those five and she'll look to step up and help fill the void in her final campaign. From reliable sixth woman to team leader!   [player_tooltip player_id='651481' first='Brooke' last='Jaenicke'] | Rumson-Fair Haven   The departure of seniors Annabelle Costello and second leading scorer Sylvie Notine will leave room for Brooke to help fill the void. Her productivity, primarily 3-point shooting, was an integral part of RFH's success last season. She's gotten better and better as the years have gone by and I'm all but certain Year 3 will be the breakout she's anticipating.   [player_tooltip player_id='651505' first='Lily' last='Kroun'] | Spotswood   Lily's all-court game allowed her to produce across the board, with solid efforts in scoring, dime-dishing and defense. I think what stands out most about her game is her tenacity and strong-willed, hard-nosed competitive nature. A small, scrappy guard who gets the job done! This team loses five seniors who made up nearly half of the total scoring, rebounding and steals collected.   [player_tooltip player_id='913962' first='Claire' last='Gillespie'] | Holmdel   Hovering around 6'0', Claire made an immediate impact last year as a freshie. The third leading scorer and rebounder, as well as their leader in steals, she wasted no time establishing her two-way game and bringing command to the front court. She'll looked to guide this very young team who lost just a lone starter, albeit a very important lone starter in Mackenzie Teevan (Holy Cross). By herself, Teevan accounted for nearly half of Holmdel's points at 18.5 PPG. I expected double, maybe even triple the productivity in Year 2 for CG.   [player_tooltip player_id='831941' first='Ariana' last='Wadley'] | Ewing   Ariana stepped up to the plate from freshman to sophomore year, something she'll look to repeat in Year 3 on a team who only lost two seniors. She brings a very steady two-way game to the table which will see greater gains in Year 3. I have big expectations for Ari, only because I know how talented she is and how she's just barely scratched the surface of her potential. Double-digit scoring averages are well within range.   [player_tooltip player_id='1051811' first='Mattilyn' last='Caffiero'] | Colts Neck   With everything I saw from Matti this summer, I'm convinced she could be one of the leading scorers this season for the Cougars. She doesn't shy away from tough competition and embraces the physicality of the game. The work she put in from April-July is sure to pay off as she becomes one of the leaders on this very young team.   [player_tooltip player_id='981911' first='Nola' last='Bright'] | Franklin   Nola could very well be one of the most talented wings in the 2028 Class. Year 2 could be her big breakout, with her signature inside-out scoring leading the way. As her versatility continues to strengthen, the points will tally at a rapid pace. She was one of the rebounding leaders last season, an aspect of her game that is very consistent. On a team surrounded by talent, she'll look to up the ante and help Franklin get on the winning track.

The following players in Central Jersey are poised to see bigger roles this season and make an impact in the starting rotation. Whether it's starters lost to graduation, a successful summer on the AAU trail or a combination of both, look for these hoopers to shiner brighter than ever once the season rolls around: