Sophomore Spotlight: Under The Radar Bigs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the world of girls' basketball, where the spotlight often falls on the most hyped prospects, a group of emerging talents is poised to take center stage. They command the front court and have been diligently refining their skills and pushing their limits. With the 2023-2024 season fast approaching, these newly minted sophomores are now on the cusp of stepping into bigger roles within their teams. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='669307' first='Giada' last='Celetti'] | 5'11" | Saddle River Day</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> Giada has very disciplined footwork, can play with her back to the basket or face up and attack the rim. This summer with NY Basketball Academy, she wreaked havoc in the paint! Her teammates got her post touches which she easily converted to buckets and put her team in position to win games against tough opponents. Playing even bigger than her 5'11" frame suggests, Giada's tremendous reach allows her to block shots and snatch rebounds over much taller players. Fully confident and riding a wave of momentum, she is sure to dazzle and help the Rebels go on a deep run in March.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='601329' first='Briana' last='Holt'] | 6'3" | Roselle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In her freshman year, Briana was just scratching the surface of her potential... which is saying something considering she averaged a double-double through twenty-four games! Coming off a strong summer with the NJ Raptors, she is locked and loaded for a huge second season with the Rams. With great mobility, strong hands and a soft touch around the rim, Briana's two-way game is undeniable. 500 points and 500 rebounds for her career are both within reach before her sophomore campaign is over.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='559037' first='Taylor' last='Sofilkanich'] | 6'4" | St. John Vianney</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the graduation of big sister Ashley (Bucknell) and Mikaela Hubbard (Emory) comes a new starting role for Taylor. This summer on the Nike circuit with the Jersey Gemz, she turned up, showed out and put the nation on notice! A menacing post presence, her two-way game is the stuff basketball nightmares are made of: impressive mobility, strong post moves, evolving face up game and furious rejections. Her sophomore season may see milestones of 200 points and 200 rebounds. With tremendous upside, you can fully expect Taylor's stock to continue rising exponentially as she makes herself a household name across the Garden State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='601520' first='Allison' last='Snyder'] | 5'11" | Glen Ridge</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With multiple championships and undefeated weekends for the NJ Panthers, few players had a better summer than Allison. She wrapped up the aau season being named to the Orlando Splash Aqua Division All-Tourney Team and will look to carry that confidence over to her second season with the Ridgers. Her game is wickedly versatile, as she can command the post or glide across the court and run the floor like a guard. Allison will look to eclipse 300 points, 300 rebounds and 100 blocks and further solidify her ever-evolving two-way game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='601409' first='Annika' last='Kivisikk'] | 5'11" | Park Ridge</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Annika's furious rebounding allowed her team second (and sometimes third) chances and put them in position to win many games throughout her freshman season. At just over 7 rebounds per contest, she backed down from no one and showed tremendous grit and fearlessness game after game. The beneficiary of many post-entry passes, she used sheer strength and overall efficiency to absorb contact and finish under the hoop at a high level. Her second season with the Owls may see career marks of 300 points and 400 rebounds as she continues to raise her stock and position herself as one of New Jersey's best sophomores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->