Weekend Stock Risers: EJ’s Gr8 Eight

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This exciting weekend of grassroots basketball saw a lot of teams from the Garden State in action! Events such as The Shoreshots Summer Showdown in Neptune, NJ and The Rose Classic in Brooklyn, NY hosted a field of ultra-fierce competition. It may have been a grey and stormy few days, but I can assure you all of the electricity was happening INSIDE the gyms! There were eight players who had some of the most sensational performances, establishing themselves as players to keep close tabs on as things continue to sizzle on the circuit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["408702"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":510452,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Crafty handles, spin moves, reverse layups... Chloe had the full arsenal on display this weekend at The Rose Classic! She led her Demons 17U squad to success averaging 15 points per game while playing relentless, aggressive basketball. Shockingly fast, Chloe was the quickest on the court in every game played. On fast breaks, she floated down the court ahead of the pack with no chance of being caught. She was efficient off the dribble and used shifty shake-and-bake handles to stagger defenders and create space. Her outside game was clicking on all cylinders as she consistently drained them from deep all while being tightly guarded. She rolled off screens effectively and successfully evaded double teams and traps with her quickness and stellar footwork. Defensively, she was a menace. Her on-ball defense was scrappy, smothering and stifling. Chloe displayed her brilliant two-way game all weekend long.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["591477"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":510452,"_player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Gandy is hitting her stride and everybody better clear out because she's coming FULL THROTTLE. At 6'5u0022, she is much more than just a u0022big.u0022 Yes, she commands the low post. Yes, she intimidates on defense and closes the door on shots. Yes, she plays bully ball and rebounds ferociously. However, it's her effectiveness away from the ball that is truly blossoming into something next-level. She's agile and quick, isn't afraid to run the floor, sets hard screens and creates opportunites for the ball-handler around the perimeter. Gandy covers a ton of space on the court and sometimes it feels like she's everywhere all at once! Offensively, she's great in the high-low action and uses excellent footwork to work the defender in the paint. Once she calls for the ball, it's game over! This is a player with a very high ceiling who is primed to take the circuit by storm all summer long.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["588708"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":510452,"_player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"One half of the Mazur twin sister duo, Ava's awe-inspiring handles and phenomenal guard play gave defenders nightmares over the weekend. Ferocious off the dribble, Ava is hard to stop once she gets into her dribble-drive motion. She is terrific at absorbing contact and finishing for the and-one. She knows how to run the show and is a true floor general who directs traffic and spaces the floor. Defensively, her tenacity and relentless pursuit of the ball forces a slew of turnovers and forces coaches to take u0022frustration time-outs.u0022 She disrupts the lanes, deflects passes and dives on the floor for 50/50 balls. And while she's a menacing two-way player, what truly makes her a standout is her sky-high basketball IQ. A very cerebral player, Ava is a student of the game who sees each playing moment as an opportunity to hone her craft and add to her elite skill-set.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["406943"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Alongside twin sister Ava, the two form a formidable duo in the back court who feed off each other and establish themselves early on. A vocal leader, Bella effectively communicates and runs plays to perfection. She utilizes screens effectively and rolls to the rim for easy buckets. This weekend, she buried opponents with her almost-automatic mid-range game. Her ball-handling staggered opponents and allowed for quality, high-percentage shots. She's a punishing scorer at all three levels and when she's locked and loaded, her game clicks on all cylinders. Defensively, she scraps and does the dirty work to force turnovers and come up with steals for transition scoring. Additionally, she's a very underrated rebounding guard who isn't afraid to crash the glass with much bigger players.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["559084"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":510452,"_player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Sophie is quickly making her case for one of the best players in New Jersey's Class of 2026. She came up with a clutch rejection under the basket to lead the Shoreshots to victory over a very tough ESBF squad. Her mobility was impressive, as was her footwork and physicality in the post. She demanded the ball in the low block and aggressively muscled up for 2. All indications point to not only a terrific summer on the circuit, but also a sensational sophomore season with Red Bank Catholic! Her game is evolving right before our very eyes.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["414407"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_player_featured_image":510452,"_player_evaluations_5_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Leah was dynamic at the Summer Showdown, plain and simple! She used fantastic footwork to split defenders, often incorporating a spin move as she fearlessly attacked the glass. Her game was super versatile, running the floor with guard-like instincts, facing up and attacking the basket and playing back-to-the-basket bully ball. Her lockdown defense was on full display as she terrorized and frustrated the opposing team's best player. Her ability to move without the ball effectively has taken her game to new heights. With or without the ball in her hand, Leah is fearless and ferocious.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-644ffb45dc921"} /--> <!-- 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":510452,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Lissy Lyons","_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":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12124","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"St. John Vianney","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"NJ Shoreshots 2027 Dubina","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The high school scene better watch out, because there's a storm headed it's way next year named LISSY LYONS. She was relentless at the Showdown, coming up with two monumental performances to lead her Shoreshots to victory in tightly contested affairs. Against the Bensalem Chargers, Lissy knocked down a huge 3-pointer as time expired and got fouled in the process; a rare four point play which she capitalized on, earning the 1 point victory. She followed that up with a jaw-dropping buzzer-beating lay-up against a tough NJ Pride squad to give her team yet another 1 point victory, the second in as many days. She's a long, lean versatile player who attacks the basket with authority and has lethal range. She has a fantastic all-court game that is only going to continue to improve and evolve, which is a scary thing for opponents.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["333323"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":510452,"_player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Aleena was dishing highlight-worthy dimes all weekend long. She brought electric energy to the court and was high octane wire-to-wire. Her crafty handles were effective in creating space and freeing herself to drive inside for 2 or kick-out to an open teammate. Her offense saw impressive cuts to the basket, consistent jumpers at the elbow and range out to 3. Defensively, Aleena pressured the ball-handler and came up with clutch steals which she converted to transition offense. Next season, Coach Karpell is getting a returning player with newfound confidence and an array of improved skills. Aleena 2.0.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-645044857f809"} /-->