CIF SS Open Division Preview: Rising Prospects in Pool B

This year's open division includes the usual suspect as well as newcomers looking to pull off a few upset victories. There is a depth of talent across all teams, with a few that are peaking at the right time. Let's dive into who we've been seeing raising their stock.    Phillips is a powerful and skilled forward who consistently establishes deep position in both the high and low post. Her turn-and-face game is a major strength, highlighted by excellent footwork and the ability to maneuver around defenders with ease. She is comfortable attacking off either shoulder and shows a natural feel for creating space in the paint.   When catching with her back to the basket, Phillips plays with great patience and poise. She keeps defenders on her hip, absorbs contact, and finishes through traffic, frequently drawing fouls and earning trips to the free-throw line.   On the glass, her strength and athleticism stand out as she attacks offensive rebounds, either carving out space with her strong base or using her quickness to crash in from the perimeter.     She is a rangy, versatile defender whose length and quick feet allow her to stay in front of both bigger wings and smaller guards. Her lateral mobility and reach make her a difficult matchup on the perimeter, and she consistently disrupts passing lanes and contests shots without overcommitting.   Offensively, she is an excellent perimeter shooter with range out to the three-point line. She is dangerous as a catch-and-shoot threat, but is equally effective creating off the bounce and knocking down shots even when closely contested.     She is a legitimate pull-up shooter with range to the three-point line, capable of punishing defenders both in space and out of ball screens. Her shooting gravity forces defenders to play her tight, opening driving lanes and creating advantages for the offense.   She plays with great confidence attacking downhill, using her body to shed defenders and get to her spots. With a dangerous first step and strong body control, she finishes creatively at the rim and shows a high-level awareness of help defenders, allowing her to create clean pull-up opportunities when the defense collapses.   Defensively, she is a high-level point-of-attack defender who is unafraid to apply pressure the moment opposing guards cross half court. Her competitive edge and on-ball presence disrupt timing and set the tone on the defensive end.     Ella is an excellent rim protector who consistently rotates into the right position and uses her length and timing to deter and alter shots. Her defensive instincts and awareness allow her to anchor the paint while still staying active within the flow of the defense.   On the glass, she plays with a great motor, attacking rebounds on both the offensive and defensive ends and creating extra possessions through effort and physicality.     In transition, she runs the floor well, finishing strong when she catches on the move. Defensively, she gets back quickly to cut off initial drives and protect the paint, making her a true two-way anchor.     Aaliyah is a strong, physical post presence who plays with fearless aggression, making her a difficult matchup on the block. As the season has progressed, she has shown improved patience and composure in the post, allowing her to get to her spots and finish consistently at the rim.   Defensively, she has taken a step forward as a rim protector, rotating on time to help on drives and using her size and strength to alter shots in the paint.   She has also become a more reliable decision-maker when facing double teams. She reads where the help is coming from, stays poised, and delivers sharp passes—whether it's a cross-court kick-out or a dump-off to a cutter.

This year's open division includes the usual suspect as well as newcomers looking to pull off a few upset victories. There is a depth of talent across all teams, with a few that are peaking at the right time. Let's dive into who we've been seeing raising their stock.