Five MUST SEE Preseason Games

Another exciting season of high school hoops is just around the corner, with scrimmages kicking off in early December. Some of the NJ top teams will look to gel quickly and develop chemistry in hopes for a very successful 2025-2026 campaign. I selected five matchups that are sure to put the state's best teams to the test early on.   DePaul Catholic vs St. Thomas Aquinas   December 9th   Star players: DePaul- [player_tooltip player_id='981887' first='Giovanna' last='Burress'], [player_tooltip player_id='972291' first='Angelyn' last='Almonte'], [player_tooltip player_id='1198649' first='Maya' last='Morrison'] | STA- [player_tooltip player_id='600922' first='Trista' last='Whitney'], [player_tooltip player_id='559080' first='Jordan' last='Barnes'], [player_tooltip player_id='651518' first='Lauryn' last='Downing'], [player_tooltip player_id='865288' first='Leah' last='Kearney']   A bunch of heavyweights will clash in this one! There's plenty of stars but both teams also feature a tremendous supporting cast, with [player_tooltip player_id='1116141' first='London' last='Reese'] & [player_tooltip player_id='995787' first='Breya' last='LeTennier'] (DePaul) and [player_tooltip player_id='559035' first='Kayla' last='Navarro'] & [player_tooltip player_id='913934' first='Alexis' last='Amistad-Borowski'] (STA). Experience could play a big factor in this one, with the Trojans being the older and much more experienced bunch. However, the Spartans of DePaul have one of the best back courts in the state with Burress and Almonte, both on national radars. We're going to see a lot of shifty guard play and 3 balls in this one!   Rutgers Prep vs Immaculate Heart   December 10th   Star players: RP- [player_tooltip player_id='559046' first='Ava' last='LaMonica'], [player_tooltip player_id='981918' first='Hailey' last='Benbow'], [player_tooltip player_id='601341' first='Sophia' last='Georgiades'], [player_tooltip player_id='559030' first='Ava' last='Frith'] | Immaculate Heart- [player_tooltip player_id='559818' first='Samantha' last='Grella'], [player_tooltip player_id='959125' first='Addi' last='Valdez'], [player_tooltip player_id='677063' first='Lucie' last='Schell']   Rutgers Prep features a wicked lineup that will compete for the #1 spot in the state rankings this season. Their schedule is not for the faint of heart, so a battle with Immaculate Heart will be a great test to kick things off. One of the biggest stock risers of the past year, [player_tooltip player_id='559030' first='Ava' last='Frith'], is this team's Swiss-Army knife who has grown her inside-out game and is a dangerous three-level scorer. This could very well be [player_tooltip player_id='981918' first='Hailey' last='Benbow']'s season to cement her spot on the All-State First Team, already having solidified her spot as one of the nation's top '28's. The Blue Eagles will certainly have their hands full, but are no slouch! Sam Grella is no stranger to competition and looked really good during Jersey Live. They also feature a secret weapon named [player_tooltip player_id='959818' first='Stella' last='Broderick'] who can hang and bang with the best of 'em.   St. Rose vs Franklin   December 10th   Star players: SR- [player_tooltip player_id='559817' first='Brooke' last='Missry'], [player_tooltip player_id='559825' first='Belle' last='Alvarado'] | Franklin- [player_tooltip player_id='651517' first='Aleah' last='Sunkins'], [player_tooltip player_id='981911' first='Nola' last='Bright'], [player_tooltip player_id='651521' first='Alivia' last='Stewart']   St. Rose lost big pieces from a year ago and head into the season looking to find a new identity. For Missry, Alvarado and co., Franklin will be a huge test as they'll likely be the top ranked public school team in the state at some point this season. The Warriors are long and physical, led by superstar [player_tooltip player_id='651517' first='Aleah' last='Sunkins'] and paced by two more elite forwards/wings in [player_tooltip player_id='651521' first='Alivia' last='Stewart'] and [player_tooltip player_id='981911' first='Nola' last='Bright']. Keep your eyes on guards [player_tooltip player_id='559079' first='Kayla' last='Duncan'] (3-point shot) and Jamila McRiney (handles & transition). The Purple Roses will lean on newcomers [player_tooltip player_id='831948' first='Cali' last='Brown'] and [player_tooltip player_id='651481' first='Brooke' last='Jaenicke'] for a burst of offense and emerging talents Cali Decker and [player_tooltip player_id='651493' first='Grace' last='Heims']. Decker is well known for aggressive dribble penetration and lane disruption on D. Heims had a breakout summer with the CJ Hawks, showing off range with deep 3 bombs and flat-out two-way hustle.   Morris Catholic vs Plainfield   December 10th   Star players: MC- [player_tooltip player_id='667787' first='Jacqueline' last='Edelman'], [player_tooltip player_id='789169' first='Morgan' last='Fulston'], [player_tooltip player_id='559076' first='Jayah' last='Curtis'], [player_tooltip player_id='601266' first='Kennedy' last='Brown'] | Plainfield- [player_tooltip player_id='635514' first='Imani' last='Mullings'], [player_tooltip player_id='835820' first='Mackenzie' last='Anderson Cook']   Don't listen to anybody who tells you that Morris Catholic is in a rebuilding phase this season. They lost elite, unforgettable talent but simply reloaded! ICHS transfer [player_tooltip player_id='559076' first='Jayah' last='Curtis'] and dynamic freshmen in [player_tooltip player_id='1259148' first='Alexa' last='Castaneda'], [player_tooltip player_id='1259198' first='Amahli' last='Vialva'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1259200' first='Amaya' last='Walker']. Sharpshooter Jax Edelman returns as the Crusaders' leader and will look to establish her dominance in Year 3. When she gets hot, there is no stopping her! [player_tooltip player_id='789169' first='Morgan' last='Fulston'] wreaked havoc in the paint last season and returns stronger than ever before! Standouts aside, MC features two of the most underrated dogs in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='1157963' first='Ashley' last='LaBeach'] and [player_tooltip player_id='676823' first='Anastasia' last='Bonfante']. These two guards can quickly swing momentum and take it to the very best. The ladies of Plainfield are led by Quinnipiac commit [player_tooltip player_id='635514' first='Imani' last='Mullings'], who brings the sauce with strong handles and a dynamic transition game... and [player_tooltip player_id='601280' first='Jah'nae' last='Lembrick'], a small guard capable of going off for 20 or 30 on any given day. They'll have help in the back court from [player_tooltip player_id='835820' first='Mackenzie' last='Anderson Cook'], who continue to make big improvements and expand her game.   St. John Vianney vs Franklin   December 13th   Star players: SJV- [player_tooltip player_id='559135' first='Stella' last='Lockhart'], [player_tooltip player_id='559037' first='Taylor' last='Sofilkanich'], [player_tooltip player_id='559039' first='Madison' last='Kocis'] | Franklin- [player_tooltip player_id='651517' first='Aleah' last='Sunkins'], [player_tooltip player_id='981911' first='Nola' last='Bright'], [player_tooltip player_id='651521' first='Alivia' last='Stewart']   No shortage of D1 players between these two, most notable on the Lady Lancers with UPenn (Kocis), Georgetown (Lockhart) and Duke (Sofilkanich). This team is stacked from top to bottom, with an elite supporting cast of players that includes [player_tooltip player_id='651477' first='Lissy' last='Lyons'], [player_tooltip player_id='651478' first='Tatum' last='Sharpe'], [player_tooltip player_id='898190' first='Gianna' last='Sano'] and Antonia Bates. It'll be quite the task for the Warriors, but a terrific [unofficial] start to the season that will see an impressively difficult schedule. This game will say a lot about both teams and what they will bring to the table... but one thing is absolutely for certain: this matchup will not lack competitive fire! I'm looking forward to the battle in the back court but even more eager to see who steps up to face the tall order of guarding 6'4" Sofilkanich.

Another exciting season of high school hoops is just around the corner, with scrimmages kicking off in early December. Some of the NJ top teams will look to gel quickly and develop chemistry in hopes for a very successful 2025-2026 campaign. I selected five matchups that are sure to put the state's best teams to the test early on.