2021 Watch List: Juniors To See This Season
The ever important junior season is pivotal for a lot of players looking to secure their bag and pull in that first scholarship offer. Some already have a couple on the table and are looking to add more by raising…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe ever important junior season is pivotal for a lot of players looking to secure their bag and pull in that first scholarship offer. Some already have a couple on the table and are looking to add more by raising their stock and setting up their summer recruiting profiles. This is my first look at some of the juniors looking to make that leap to the next level in their careers.
Kristen Sterling, Wing, Pikesville
Kristen played a huge role in Pikesville’s run to the 1A state championship last year. She is a big shot maker as she proved in their thrilling rally win over Forest Park in last year’s playoffs. She carried that over into the championship game and looks to expand on that this season. At 5’10” she has size and power to play inside and she can knock down shots from long range consistently. With two division one offers on the table, she’s hungry and eager to add more which she should do with a strong junior campaign.
Vashae Rideout, Guard, Pallotti
It’s a new location and a new role for Rideout. She transferred in from Western for a change of scenery and will be called upon to provide scoring from the bench and some minutes at point guard. Vashae is a solid on ball defender and she has range out to the 3 point line. She is aggressively offensively and gets to the free throw line often. She should excel in her new environment. A couple of D1 schools are circling the wagons, let’s see who pulls the trigger first.
Cassandra Smith, Wing, Aberdeen
This is a smooth six foot wing that will be at the front of the list for Harford County player of the year. She is a very efficient scorer as she proved in last year’s playoff loss to Poly, where she shot 7 for 10 from the field. Her strength is scoring off mid range jumpers and slashes to the rim, but she has added the 3 point shot to her arsenal.
Kayla Cabbagestalk, Wing, Chesapeake-BC
KC is one of the top wing defenders in the area. She is tenacious and relentless and always sets the tone for her team. Her long arms and speed cause problems and allow her to lock people down often. She has added a reliable jumper to her slashing offensive game, so is fast becoming the complete package. She could lead Baltimore County in scoring. I expect her to pick up more D1 offers during the season.
Sammy White, Point Guard, Dulaney
Sammy is a big time athlete and recently committed to Northwestern, for lacrosse. That won’t stop her from lighting it up on the court this winter though. A lightning quick point guard that goes hard on both ends, she is worth the price of admission. I wouldn’t be surprised to see her pull double duty at Northwestern and end up playing hoops as well.
Ny’Shae Weaver, Forward, Coppin Academy
Athletic six footers with speed like Ms. Weaver posseses are always in demand. She has slowly added some skills to go along with her freaky athleticism. Her improved footwork has made her more effective in the post and she has added a midrange jumper to her arsenal.
Rose Bubakar, Forward, Frederick
Ms. Bubakar has improved rapidly over her first two high school seasons. She has excellent size and is a very strong rebounder. She is now more confident with her ball handling and really looks to score in different ways. This should be a huge season for six foot power forward.
Ashlyn Bender, Wing, Glenelg Country School
Ashlyn had a solid summer on the Under Armour circuit but battled some injuries. She is back and one hundred percent healthy, so I expect an all IAAM conference type of performance this season. A silky smooth six footer, Ashlyn is known for her range on her shot, but she can also score off the dribble. She is a solid passer so I expect to see her facilitate a lot of the offense this season.