Six Sophomores with Big Upside

This season, these six players have surely shown their potential for future growth and development. They continue to put in the work necessary to grow their game and expand their overall skillset, with raw talent that has not yet been fully utilized. Still with two and a half years of high school hoops ahead of them, be on the lookout for these sophomores now and in the future:   [player_tooltip player_id='1109441' first='Audrey' last='Heerema'] | Eastern Christian   Audrey has already shown great strides since freshman year, eclipsing most of those totals in just fourteen games. She has the tools to be a major impact player next year not only for Eastern Christian, but also in the NJIC. Her size aids in rebounds and and versatility on offense brings a nice inside-out game, complete with range out to 3. As she develops consistency in that 3-point shot and continues to adapt to the different flows of the game, she'll see a big boost in production. She's coachable and committed to the assignment, both crucial for success.   [player_tooltip player_id='913923' first='Chynna' last='Fiddler'] | OLMA   At 5'3", Chynna knows she has to work hard to combat the stigma of small guard basketball. She's been an integral part of OLMA's success with blazing speed and strong defense to offense conversion. Already with a huge jump from freshman year, she's shown progress maneuvering through traffic both dishes dimes and blasting to the basket. She's finding the smallest of gaps to feed teammates and improving her court vision. The more consistent she becomes finishing over taller defenders and sinking the 3, the higher she'll climb on many scouts' radars.   [player_tooltip player_id='982714' first='Antonia' last='Jackson'] | St. John Vianney   Cheech is a strong guard who plays bigger than her 5'9" size. Her confidence shines every time she steps out on the court, no matter the opponent. SJV is known for playing a wildly difficult schedule, but when her number's called, she's delivers. Stats don't always tell the full story in basketball, but watching her play, the potential is jaw-dropping. The intangibles... the preparedness... the toughness... the hustle... the coachability... Cheech has it all! She might just be one of the breakout stories of the 2026-2027 season under Coach Karpell.   [player_tooltip player_id='972035' first='Isla' last='Fry'] | Immaculate Heart   A 6'0" wing, Isla uses her size to score and defend inside and out. She has the physical tools and athleticism to be successful at this level and the next, able to put a body on defenders in the post and using her long wingspan to make an impact defensively. The work she puts in continue to pay off, showing much improved rebounding and shot selection from this time last year. Consistency from 3 and more effective closeouts will take her two-way game to new heights.   [player_tooltip player_id='1702402' first='Taraji' last='Muhammad'] | West Orange   Her fiery guard play has tallied six double-digit games this season. She's mixed up her scoring with 3-level offense on display and showing out defensively as well. She's become very good at reading the defense and attacking any gaps in coverage. The more reps she gets in, the more consistent her 3-level scoring will be come, something needed to ascend at the next level. Quicker cuts and more efficient pull-up jumpers will totally transform her guard play.   [player_tooltip player_id='1208624' first='Gia' last='Scicutella'] | Kinnelon   Gia is Kinnelon's do-it-all stud, sometimes playing multiple positions to get the job done. She's a tough cookie on the court and doesn't back down from a challenge, absorbing contact on drives and putbacks, and rebounding with aggression through much taller trees. Committed defensively, she has done a great job holding her own and blocking shots with authority, playing much bigger than her 5'9" frame. With increased production on offense, especially from 18+ and beyond, she'll add tools necessary for success going forward.

This season, these six players have surely shown their potential for future growth and development. They continue to put in the work necessary to grow their game and expand their overall skillset, with raw talent that has not yet been fully utilized. Still with two and a half years of high school hoops ahead of them, be on the lookout for these sophomores now and in the future: