CIF SS Open Division Preview: Rising Prospects in Pool D

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"Harmony Golightly","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Mater Dei","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Why Not","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698e0ccfe48d0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">An elite shot creator with a deep offensive bag that makes her a constant threat in isolation. She has an advanced array of moves and counters, allowing her to beat defenders in multiple ways—when one option is taken away, she seamlessly flows into the next. She needs very little space to get her shot off and has proven she can consistently convert difficult, contested looks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Beyond her scoring ability, she is also an excellent playmaker with a strong feel for the game. She anticipates help defense before it arrives, reads rotations quickly, and delivers the correct pass to open teammates, keeping the offense fluid and unpredictable.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Defensively, she is just as impactful. She is unafraid to apply full-court pressure and take on the challenge of guarding the opposing team's best perimeter player. Her high defensive IQ allows her to recognize offensive actions early, disrupt timing, and take away first scoring options.</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":"Stella Hoss","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Mater Dei","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Sports Academy Swish","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698e49f4d1027"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A long, versatile defender with the ability to legitimately switch and guard all five positions. Her foot speed allows her to stay in front of quick guards, while her length and athleticism give her the tools to hold her own in the post. She is an intelligent team defender with a strong sense of timing, showing an excellent ability to help, recover, and disrupt passing lanes without giving up position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Offensively, she has always been a capable shooter, but she is now knocking down the three with confidence and has developed into a legitimate perimeter threat. Defenders can no longer sag off her, which opens the floor and creates driving lanes for her teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In transition, she runs the floor extremely well and consistently creates easy scoring opportunities by spacing to the right areas. She can fill lanes for open layups, rim run and seal for dump-offs, or clear space to free up cutters and drivers.</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":"Addison Uphoff","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Sage Hill","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Sports Academy Swish","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698e49f4d1109"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A high-IQ offensive player who consistently puts herself in the right positions to create scoring opportunities for both herself and her teammates. She is very comfortable sealing smaller guards in the post and shows strong poise and patience when double teams arrive, finishing through contact or making the right read to keep the offense flowing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In transition, she understands how to attack the middle of the floor to collapse the defense, opening up driving lanes and scoring opportunities for herself while creating space for teammates on the wings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Off the ball, she has an advanced feel for spacing and timing, knowing when to cut, when to fill open areas, and how to operate in space to maximize the efficiency of her team's offense. Her combination of intelligence, patience, and positional awareness makes her a reliable and impactful presence on the floor.</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":"Eve Fowler","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12120","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Sage Hill","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Sports Academy Swish","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698e49f4d11d8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">An elite rim protector who consistently impacts the game on the defensive end by being in the right place at the right time. She shows excellent timing and discipline, contesting shots vertically and altering attempts around the basket without fouling. Her awareness and positioning make her a reliable anchor in the paint.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Offensively, she is a capable face-up scorer with a dependable jump shot out to 15 feet, which forces defenders to respect her away from the rim and opens space for dribble penetration.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In pick-and-roll coverage, she is an effective hedger who can step out and contain ball handlers for short stretches. She uses a blend of physicality, footwork, and basketball IQ to disrupt the action, then quickly recovers back to her assignment.</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":"Robin Hopkins","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Redondo Union","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698e49f4d12a4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A powerful lead guard who is extremely difficult to contain once she gets downhill with momentum. Her size and strength allow her to overwhelm defenders, and opponents who are out of position are often unable to stay in front of her as she attacks the rim and finishes through contact.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In the open court, she immediately commands defensive attention, which she uses to her advantage as a playmaker. She is an advanced passer with either hand and consistently creates early offense by finding open teammates before the defense can get set.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In the half court, she shows strong vision and patience on drives, allowing the defense to commit before making the correct read. Rather than forcing shots, she reacts to help defenders and delivers the ball to open players, laying the foundation for a true floor general who can elevate those around her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->