Sophomore X-Factors in the High School Playoffs

As the playoffs continue, we look at players in the 2027 class you had better keep an eye on. Many teams enter the playoffs with their eyes on the player or players to stop and then get torched by a player they weren't expecting to. In this article, we look at the Sophomores in the playoffs we call the X-Factors. These players are often in the shadows just doing their thing, but are elite players who have the skillset and on any given day they can raise their level of play and take over.    [player_tooltip player_id='400813' first='Asiana' last='McCreary'] is definitely the X-Factor for Tocoi Creek. McCreary plays with a prolific scorer and District Player of the Year, [player_tooltip player_id='400785' first='Audrey' last='Beyer'] and many teams come into the game focused on stopping Breyer. Rightfully so, but don't over look the contributions that McCreary is making on the court. McCreary can play the four and the five and can also play the three. She puts a defense in a bing with her ability to play on the perimeter and her ability to run the floor. When McCreary is being covered on the perimeter by a power forward or center, that clears the floor up for her guards to get to the rim. The versatile McCreary's importance doesn't go unnoticed. She recently posted 16 points in the Quarter finals. Getting that scoring production from McCreary is something she's doner a few timnes this season, but whether se scores 16 or 2, she's opening that lane up with her versatility and perhaps pulling a team's top rebounder out of position.     [player_tooltip player_id='400811' first='Elle' last='Deegan'] is an X-Factor in the 2027 class. She is a three point threat every time she steps on the basketball court. Her catch and shoot game is a thing of beauty. The Sophomore guard has connected on a respectable 39 threes for the season and has multiple games with at least 3 threes. As the playoffs continue, teams are defintely going to focus on Deegan's Sophomore counterpart, [player_tooltip player_id='515064' first='Kathleen' last='Crawley'] who averages 16 points per game and can hurt you inside and out. [player_tooltip player_id='400811' first='Elle' last='Deegan'] is the X-Factor and a player who can rip off multiple threes when she gets in the zone.       [player_tooltip player_id='873418' first='Emry' last='Warren'] averages 4.2 points per game and right at 5 rebounds per game. Warren is the perfect player to carry the X-Factor label. She brings a toughness and grit to her team and can disrupt the opposing power forward or center. Warren will face off against the frontline of West Port that features [player_tooltip player_id='638571' first='Aaliyah' last='Grant'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1192614' first='Calise' last='Smith']. Warren will be called upon to defend, rebound, and get a bucket here and there to keep the defense honest. She is an X-Factor who has the ability     [player_tooltip player_id='221602' first='Kori' last='Edge'] is an X-Factor in the playoffs and teams will need to focus on her in the playoffs. Edge is a young player on a very young and talented team. The team features one of the top ranked Sophomores in the country ([player_tooltip player_id='214184' first='Jalynn' last='Belton']) and one of the top Freshman in the State ([player_tooltip player_id='219786' first='Kennedy' last='Deal']) and a host of talented players. Edge is clutch performer who rises to the occasion when the stage is at its brightest. Her speed hasn't left her. Her ability to get down hill and excel in the open court are all traits that she showed last AAU season and still has. Edge can also shoot the three and could get hot and run off multiple threes at anytime. As teams prepare for Miami Country Day, Edge is the X-Factor, and could be a key figure as Miami Country Day attempts to witn their third straight State Championship and and four of the last five.     [player_tooltip player_id='934760' first='Lillian' last='Sanchez'] is a young player to keep an eye on as the playoffs continue. Sanchez's performance has propelled her into the top 30 in the 2027 class, but teams may not know how deadly she could be in a playoof game. [player_tooltip player_id='216440' first='Kailani' last='Merrell'] is the player who will be the primary focus of the opponent with her versatility and pedigree as a player. This is the perfect spot for Sanchez, who can push the pace and excel in a fast pace game. With the talented backcourt Sanchez will face in the Region Semifinals, the young guard could be the X-Factor.

As the playoffs continue, we look at players in the 2027 class you had better keep an eye on. Many teams enter the playoffs with their eyes on the player or players to stop and then get torched by a player they weren't expecting to. In this article, we look at the Sophomores in the playoffs we call the X-Factors. These players are often in the shadows just doing their thing, but are elite players who have the skillset and on any given day they can raise their level of play and take over.