Midseason NJ Player of the Year Watchlist

And then there were fourteen! Since our preseason selections, this bunch has emerged as a cut above the rest as we settle into the heart of the season. Through both non-conference and conference play, they've proved to be the very best in NJ and one of them will be crowned PGH's POY in March.   [player_tooltip player_id='559085' first='Addison' last='Nyemchek'] | Red Bank Catholic   Addy is currently the leader for POY, leading top-ranked RBC to a 12-1 record, with the lone loss coming to nationally ranked power LuHi (NY). She's been stellar in every game so far, averaging 20.6 PPG and going off against some of the best teams on the schedule: 28 points & 14 rebounds vs Hazelton (PA), 28 points vs Neumann Goretti (PA), 25 points vs Rutgers Prep, 22 points vs St. John Vianney. An impressive all-court effort is also seeing averages of 6.5 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.5 BPG & 2.8 SPG.   [player_tooltip player_id='559135' first='Stella' last='Lockhart'] | St. John Vianney   SJV's 11-2 start is largely in part to Stella's physical play and inside-out scoring. She's been excellent this season, putting up big performances against some of the best teams in the country. She posted a 21-point, 11-rebound double-double against Potomac School (VA), 22 points & 10 rebounds vs St. John's College (DC) and 22 points (including a career-high four 3's) against the nation's #1 ranked team Ontario Christian (CA). The Georgetown commit is averaging 12.7 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.2 APG & 1.5 SPG.   [player_tooltip player_id='559037' first='Taylor' last='Sofilkanich'] | St. John Vianney   The Duke commit has tallied ten games in double-digit scoring, including a career-high 28 points vs Prosser (WA) in December. Her size at 6'4" has been problematic for opponents to overcome, with averages of 13.2 PPG & 1.7 BPG playing a schedule full of difficult opponents.   [player_tooltip player_id='559039' first='Madison' last='Kocis'] | St. John Vianney   Madison is 1/3 of SJV's three-headed monster and currently having arguably the best season of her high school career. She's stepped up big against top tier competition, posting 21 points vs Potomac School (VA), 16 points vs Cherokee (GA), 21 points vs Xaverian (NY), 17 points vs NJ's #1 Red Bank Catholic and 16 points vs the nation's #1 Ontario Christian (CA). The fearless guard is averaging 14.0 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.1 APG & 1.2 SPG.   [player_tooltip player_id='981918' first='Hailey' last='Benbow'] | Rutgers Prep   One of the best players in the state REGARDLESS OF CLASS, Hailey has led the well-balanced Argos to a 10-2 record with averages of 14.2 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 3.2 APG & 2.6 SPG. She kicked off her sophomore season by recording her first-ever double-double, 16 points & [a career-high] 16 rebounds against one of the state's best teams in Morris Catholic. She's been impressive night after night, going up against elite competition: 16 points vs Sidwell (DC), 12 points vs Red Bank Catholic, 18 points vs South Bronx Prep (NY), 22 points & 11 rebounds vs Dexter (MA).   [player_tooltip player_id='559046' first='Ava' last='LaMonica'] | Rutgers Prep   Ava plays what I like to call "bulletproof basketball." She is, hands down, one of the toughest guards in the state and one of the best at creating through contact. She posted a double-double against nationally ranked Sidwell Friends (DC), tallied 17 against a physical South Bronx Prep (NY) and poured in 19 against an elite Dexter squad out of Massachusetts. Her scoring, passing and defense has been super solid en-route to averages of 12.0 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.2 APG & 2.0 SPG.   [player_tooltip player_id='981887' first='Giovanna' last='Burress'] | DePaul   GiGi has only played in six of DePaul's eight games but boy has she been stellar! She leads the undefeated Spartans on offense and defense, averaging 21.8 PPG & 3.8 SPG. Shifty guard play, efficient three-level shooting and lockdown defense has seen notable performances against West Milford (27 points & 5 steals), Wayne Valley (19 points & 5 steals) and Glen Rock (career-high 32 points and 2 steals).   [player_tooltip player_id='972291' first='Angelyn' last='Almonte'] | DePaul   The only freshman on this watchlist, Angelyn has played like a seasoned upperclassmen. Through six games, she averaged 19.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.8 APG & 2.8 SPG. Four 20+ points games, including a season-high 29 against West Milford in just her second-ever high school game. She's quickly establishing herself as a knockdown shooter and clutch play-maker.   [player_tooltip player_id='601413' first='Jahzara' last='Green'] | Gloucester Catholic   Averaging a team-best 18.3 PPG, Z has the Lady Rams off to a fantastic 10-2 start. Confident against the best opponents, she tallied 22 against Gill St. Bernard's, 25 against Lenape, 18 vs Archbishop Carroll (PA) and 13 vs Red Bank Catholic. A season-high 27 came against Washington Township, one of six games with 20+ points.   [player_tooltip player_id='789189' first='Brooke' last='Stagliano'] | Paul VI   The sharpshooter picked up where she left off last season, putting forth a superb two-way effort for averages of 16.4 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 2.8 APG & 2.3 SPG. Undefeated Paul VI has played some tough competition, with Brooke having impressive performances against both in-state and out-of-state opponents: 29 points vs Bentonville (AR) & 29 points vs Shawnee.   [player_tooltip player_id='667787' first='Jacqueline' last='Edelman'] | Morris Catholic   Jax's new role as MC's leader is paying off big time! Playing a gauntlet of a schedule, the Crusaders are 10-3 and she's averaging 11.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.0 APG & 1.8 SPG. She's been impressive against top-ranked talent, with highlights against: West Orange- 13 points, 6 rebounds, South Shore (NY)- 12 points, 7 rebounds, LuHi (NY)- 12 points, Medgar Evers (NY)- 21 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, Blair- 18 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals. Her 3-point shooting has been hot, with 2.3 makes per contest.   [player_tooltip player_id='835906' first='El-Anita' last='Joe-Samuel'] | Lenape   EAJS is one of the state's highest scoring players at 23.7 PPG. Lenape is off to a blazing 10-2 start thanks to Herculean efforts by the forward who outscored the opposing team all by herself three times (Shawnee, Highland, Seneca). She leads the Indians in nearly every statistical category, averaging 8.2 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.1 BPG & 2.8 SPG to complement her sensational scoring.   [player_tooltip player_id='601332' first='Annie' last='Conover'] | New Providence   One of few undefeated teams left in NJ, the Pioneers have rolled to 13-0 start thanks to an incredible display of skill by Annie game after game. She has recorded [three] double-doubles vs strong teams in Demarest, Westfield and Morristown, and [two] 30+ points games vs Northern Highlands and Fair Lawn. Her inside-out game looks better than ever and she leads NP in almost every stat, averaging 19.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 3.5 APG & 3.0 SPG.   [player_tooltip player_id='919624' first='Nawel' last='Ibazatene Lefebvre'] | Morristown   The versatile lefty forward has established herself as one of NJ's best players regardless of class. Her two-way game has been superb through thirteen games, tallying 30+ in four games and 5+ steals in six. She kicked off the season with a 15-point, 10-rebound effort vs Mendham, flirted with a triple-double vs Chatham (31 points, 9 rebounds, 8 steals) and nearly outscored Morris Knolls all by herself (29 points in a 42-32 win).

And then there were fourteen! Since our preseason selections, this bunch has emerged as a cut above the rest as we settle into the heart of the season. Through both non-conference and conference play, they've proved to be the very best in NJ and one of them will be crowned PGH's POY in March.