The Ten Most Improved Players in NJ

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These ten represents the hoopers who've seen the biggest jump in production from last season to this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1232429' first='Charlotte' last='Hunzinger'] | Pingry</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6'0" forward went from averaging 3.2 PPG &amp; 4.1 RPG as a freshman to a double-double (15.8 PPG &amp;10.1 RPG) now as a sophomore. Her jump in production is a direct result from her stellar play over the summer with United NJ. She hasn't just put up strong numbers... she's DOMINATED. She's notched eleven double-doubles in twenty games, including some monster performances against Watchung Hills (35 PTS &amp; 13 REBS) and Holmdel (31 PTS &amp; 10 REBS). Statement performances against the best teams on the schedule boosted her stock in a major way; 21 PTS &amp; 8 REBS vs Bentonville (AR), 14 PTS &amp; 9 REBS vs GSB, 15 PTS &amp; 15 REBS vs Franklin [in their first meeting] and 17 PTS &amp; 11 REBS vs Franklin [in their second meeting]. She leads the team in points, rebounds, blocks (1.2 BPG) and steals (1.8 SPG).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1736436' first='Grace' last='Vanleeuwen'] | Metuchen</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grace saved her best for last, thriving as a senior for the Bulldogs. Her stats across the board are up in a major way; 2.0 PPG &amp; 1.9 RPG as a junior to 11.2 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.4 APG &amp; 2.3 SPG this year. Her 3-point shooting has also improved, knocking it down at a clip of one per game, but recording three triples in games against Perth Amboy and North Brunswick. Her rise in production has helped Metuchen to ten wins so far this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='913917' first='Calista' last='Vowteras'] | Manasquan</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Calista is a big reason why Squan is having a strong '25-'26 campaign. The sophomore is their third leading scorer and second in rebounds, assists and steals. A strong summer of AAU hoops certainly helped shape the big breakout season she's having, upping her scoring from 2.4 PPG as a freshman to a confident 9.6 PPG. She kicked off Year 2 with a career-high on opening day (13 points) and set a new career-high two games later vs Teaneck (17 points). Defensively, she's been rock solid in tight-game situations to help the Big Blue Warriors snatch the win [against St. Rose and St. Joseph By the Sea]; averaging 2.0 SPG.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='914275' first='Allison' last='McAndrew'] | Colts Neck</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Averaging 3.5 PPG &amp; 2.7 RPG as a freshman to 14.3 PPG &amp; 7.4 RPG as a sophomore, her uptick in production has been major. Alli ranks second on the Cougars in scoring while leading them in rebounds, helping them reach 17 wins on the season, including 9 in the Shore- B North. She has recorded four double-doubles this season and five 20 burgers and continues to get better and more confident with each passing game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='651499' first='Victoria' last='Liedl'] | Hillsborough</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Watching Victoria on the AAU circuit, I've been fully aware of what she's capable of for a few year now, so you can understand my elation at seeing it all come together with her high school team this season! She looks like a totally different player than the past two seasons, taking command in so many different aspects of the game and helping lead this team to a 15-5 record. One area she's vastly improved is 3-point shooting, sinking them at a clip of just over two per contest, compared to just seventeen total last season. She's aiding on the glass, looking for teammates to dish dime and hyper-focused defensively, averaging 3.8 RPG, 2.4 APG &amp; 1.8 SPG, respectively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1736437' first='Ava' last='Vizueta'] | Pompton Lakes</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With newfound confidence and undeniable commitment, Ava came out guns blazing now in her junior year. From minimal playing time last season to now leading the Cardinals in scoring at just under 10.0 PPG, her rise has been significant. She's recorded six games in double-figure scoring, with two of those being 20+ point outings. Through twenty games, she's averaging 9.4 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.3 APG &amp; 2.0 SPG, showing all-court balance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='835225' first='Cameron' last='Roche'] | Westwood</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cam's rise has been METEORIC. From averaging 12.0 PPG last year to becoming one of the state's leading scorers at 21.5 PPG, she's stepped it up in a major way! The 6'0" G/W recorded eight double-doubles in nineteen games and has a pair of 30 burgers, including a career-high 32 points that came against Fair Lawn. One of the coolest stats is that she's outscored the opposing team all by herself on two occasions (vs Indian Hills and Paramus). In addition to blazing scoring, she's also averaging 8.3 RPG, 1.7 APG &amp; 2.4 SPG.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='601521' first='Niaja' last='Troutman'] | Arts</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Niaja transferred from [the now defunct] Montclair Immaculate to Arts and her impact was felt immediately! Her experience playing a national juggernaut schedule last season has totally shaped her into the confident guard the Jags have today. She averaged 1.8 PPG, 3.3 RPG &amp; 1.1 SPG as a junior and has upped it to 9.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG &amp; 3.1 SPG, establishing herself as this team's leading rebounder and a very reliable third scoring option.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1736588' first='Brooke' last='Helpinstill'] | Bernards</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A reserve last season playing very limited minutes to now a key contributor in Bernards' roaring success, Brooke has elevated all aspects of her game. The senior forward is averaging 5.9 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.3 APG &amp; 1.3 SPG for the 17-3 Mountaineers. She hit double-figure scoring in three games, one of those part of a strong double-double performance vs Bridgewater-Rartian. Crucial execution in narrow victories over Voorhees (6 PTS &amp; 9 REBS in a 1-point win), Somerville (11 PTS &amp; 6 REBS in a 2-point win) and Hillsborough (7 PTS &amp; 9 REBS in a 2-point win) are further proof of her growth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1273249' first='Siena' last='Jaworski'] | Egg Harbor Township</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Siena's jump from freshman to sophomore year has been huge, going from a limited role off the bench (2.4 PPG) to the leading scorer (12.0 PPG) for the 17-7 Eagles. Her poise continues to impress, recording her best performances this season against the best teams on the schedule: 23 points vs Haddon Heights, 20 points vs OLMA, 15 points vs Colts Neck. She's been firing on all cylinders from 3, knocking down the triple at a clip of two per game, including single-game highs of 4 vs OLMA, Ocean City and Holy Spirit. A strong two-way effort has seen an average of 2.1 SPG and clutch stops in wins over Haddon Heights (career-high 5 steals), Wildwood Catholic (4 steals) and Mainland (3 steals).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->