Princeton Tigers season preview

PRINCETON - The Princeton Tigers qualified for a trip to the WVSSAC Class AAA High School Girls Basketball state tournament quarterfinals one year ago. Once inside the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center, the Tigers fell to the Nitro Wildcats, 48-40. The loss set the Tigers' final record at 17-7. With four potential starters returning to the court for the upcoming season, the Tigers are looking to advance further than the state quarterfinals during the 2026-27 season. Here are six girls who will help Princeton head coach Matt Smith reach that goal:    Addy McCabe is a natural leader on the basketball court. She combines a high basketball IQ with a great feel for the point guard position. She understands what she does well and where her teammates excel, and then she does her best to extract the best play from herself and her teammates. Her shooting improved over summer break and she is an excellent rebounder for her size.     Honaker is a level-headed player who combines a great ability to lead with a extraordinary basketball IQ. She really can do everything on the basketball court. She is highly coachable, displays a willingness to learn anything about the game of basketball, and can get to the rim just as easily as she can shoot her own jump shot.       Rose possesses the basketball capacity to be a potent stretch three or four at the Divison II level. Yes, indeed. Her tool bag is full of goodies for a college coach. She owns a smooth three-point shot, she can run the point with great vision and ball-handling skills, and is extremely basketball savvy. She would definitely be a benefit in a five-out offense.       Jackson, a soft-spoken player, is a Tiger who is just starting to tap into her vast potential. She's making skill plays all over the basketball court. My favorite play came in a summer league game. She completed a three-quarter court bounce pass through traffic with spin to a teammate for a basket. Like many of the other Princeton Tigers on this list, she plays great defense, sees the floor like a point guard, and always makes the right play, according to Smith.     Burks is a through-and-through 3-and-D player. She can dominate a game from the three-point line and on defense. She keeps a level head on the basketball court. And, as a bonus, she can play in the post if needed, thanks to her 5-foot-10 frame.     Brystal Winfrey uses her athleticism well on the basketball court. Very well. She is a great rebounder. She is an excellent passer from the high post. And, she has developed a really nice 12- to 15-foot jump shot. College coaches will also appreciate the fact that she is developing an outside shot.

PRINCETON - The Princeton Tigers qualified for a trip to the WVSSAC Class AAA High School Girls Basketball state tournament quarterfinals one year ago. Once inside the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center, the Tigers fell to the Nitro Wildcats, 48-40. The loss set the Tigers' final record at 17-7. With four potential starters returning to the court for the upcoming season, the Tigers are looking to advance further than the state quarterfinals during the 2026-27 season. Here are six girls who will help Princeton head coach Matt Smith reach that goal: