Zaida Aponte Zaida Aponte CG State New E (2028) | CG |

Aponte received an offer from Hood College earlier this month. Zaida will be one to watch in her junior season.

Zaida Aponte Zaida Aponte CG State New E (2028) | CG |

Aponte is someone that’s hard to get an exact gauge on. There’s times Zaida gets going quickly and looks like the best player on the floor, then there’re times when she can kind of fade away. However, her dynamic ability as a cg is so easily identifiable. Zaida’s fun playstyle injects energy in her team with every made bucket or defensive turnover caused. She just picked up an offer from Hood College recently too. Aponte is a matchup horror for a lot of the RI scene.

Zaida Aponte Zaida Aponte CG State New E (2028) | CG |

A blur with the ball in hands, Aponte operates well in space and has quick counter instincts on drives that give her the edge when defenders attempt to deter her from driving lanes. Zaida’s emergence over the past year has many looking at her in a new light. Her coaches have been raving about her for some time and she’s certainly backing up all the excitement behind her. 

Zaida brings a crafty scoring package highlighted by her smooth floater, which allows her to finish effectively over taller defenders. She is also a reliable three-point shooter who can stretch defenses from the perimeter. Zaida does a great job changing pace and using creative finishes, including off-hand layups, to avoid shot blockers and keep defenders off balance.

Zaida put together a standout sophomore season, earning all-state honorable mention along with all-division and all-class honors while averaging 16 points, 5 steals, and 4 assists per game. She is explosive off the dribble, needing just a few efficient moves to get from the perimeter to the rim. Zaida finishes well with either hand and consistently punishes defenders who pressure too high by blowing past them.

Zaida Aponte Zaida Aponte CG State New E (2028) | CG | Rogers

Aponte has certainly answered the call this year. Earlier in the season there were questions around her assertiveness and she’s been much more of a menace than anticipated. The sophomore’s 28 pt, 9 stl, 5 ast, 3 reb performance is very telling. Rogers will go as far as Zaida bring them.

Zaida Aponte Zaida Aponte CG State New E (2028) | CG | Rogers

There’s a strong argument that can be made about Aponte being one of the top guard prospects in RI. She plays with purpose and is determined to affect the game in some sort of way. Her change of speeds, downhill ability plus the knack for creating havoc by blitzing opposing ballhandlers make her so effective. It’s clear Zaida is talented, as she starts to assert herself more, there’ll be a lot more coverage on the high-powered guard. She certainly has the potential to be dominant against the competition for the remainder of the season. Aponte has all the tools; it’s just about applying them properly.

Zaida Aponte Zaida Aponte CG State New E (2028) | CG | Rogers

It’s hard to not to include Zaida in watchlists. She’s one of the better 2-way guards in her class from Rhode Island. Her blazing speed, athleticism, ability to create angle advantages with the ball in her hand and pestering defense are all factors that play into why she’ll be paramount this season. This isn’t a player to overlook anymore.

Zaida stands out on defense with her quick hands, using them to disrupt passing lanes and pick opponents’ pockets. Even when it seems like an opponent has beaten her, she’ll recover with a smart back tap to regain possession. Those steals often turn into easy fast-break opportunities for her team. She’s also an unselfish player who makes the right extra passes to set up her teammates.

Zaida Aponte Zaida Aponte CG State New E (2028) | CG | Team Providence

Aponte is a guard with the capacity to have high scoring outputs each time stepping onto the court and she can do it in fashion. Her ability to capitalize on isolation possessions as well as get to her spots makes her a real danger in any game. Zaida is one of RI’s brightest young players and she’s likely to have a statement year this upcoming season. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see her name be one of the main headlines in her area. Aponte is a fun watch, with a distinct game that makes her that much more striking,