NC Top Sophomores/Rising Juniors
These players formed a strong sophomore class last year and will assure next year’s junior class is one to not only watch but to be excited about. It will also assure college interest in North Carolina girl’s high school basketball…
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Continue ReadingThese players formed a strong sophomore class last year and will assure next year’s junior class is one to not only watch but to be excited about. It will also assure college interest in North Carolina girl’s high school basketball with many big-time Division 1 programs visiting gyms statewide.
Indya Nivar Indya Nivar 5'10" | SG Apex-Friendship | 2022 State #59 Nation NC – 5’10” Guard Apex Friendship– Leads this class of 2022 and is one of the most complete players not only in NC but in the girl’s high school scene nationwide. She literally can do it all she is great in transition and finishes with ease around the rim, she handles the ball well and can create her own shot and she shoots the 3 with ease and accuracy really she has all the tools. She is athletic which serves her well on both ends of the floor, she plays great on-ball defense with good instincts. All of this went into her 26.1 points per game, 8.4 rebounds per game and 5 steals per game average and led to honors that included 2nd Team All-State NCCBA and 1st Team All-State Suddenlink, POY and 1st Team All-District to name a few and has her ranked 19th on the ESPNW HoopGutz Terrific 25 list for her class. If you have not seen her play you must treat yourself and rest assured she is atop of every Division 1 powerhouse recruiting list and she deserves to be there. Oh and by the way she still has two more years of high school basketball remaining to mature and get stronger and for her skills to sharpen so by the time she finishes her high school career it hard to imagine how good she will be but will be exciting to watch.
Emily Hege- 5’7” Guard North Davidson– All the top programs are usually led by guards that share similar characteristics, they are great ball handlers that don’t turn the ball over much and make good decisions, they shoot the ball well to space the floor and have the ability to create shots for themselves and their teammates and are just tough no-nonsense players. All these programs will find all those attributes and more in this player. She is simply put someone you would want running your team she handles the ball well, makes great decisions, is a deadly knockdown shooter, shoots over 75% from the FT line, defends her position well and is just a solid basketball player, oh and she was only a sophomore. This season she averaged an amazing 26.4ppg from all over the court, 5 assists per game to go along with 5 steals and for her size showed her toughness by averaging 7.5 rebounds a game to simply fill the stat sheet. Her honors include 1st Team All-District and All-Conference to name a few but before her career is over the honors will be too many to mention and one of the big Division 1 programs would have signed themselves a guard to lead their team into the future and I can assure you whoever that is, will be in good hands.
Jerni Kiaku Jerni Kiaku 5'7" | CG Garner Magnet | 2022 State NC – 5’4” Guard Garner Magnet– There is speed and then there is blow-by speed and this best describes her. Her ability to advance the ball of the floor with blazing under control speed and her next-level ability to not only get into the lane but to finish over anyone that maybe there makes her special. Her ball-handling skills and quickness mean no one player can stay in front of her and she can get anywhere she wants to when she wants to at will. But what really impresses is her ability once she gets in the lane to score over and around players much bigger than her and her ability to pass and find teammates as well makes her a double threat when she gets in the lane. Add to that her ability to shoot the 3 from incredible range and you can see why she is a must-see next season. She was able to average 22 points a game while dishing out 4 assists per game and her honors include 1st Team All-District and All-Conference honors to mention a few. Her quickness and speed, which she uses well on both ends of the floor, will assure her a spot on a Division 1 program when the time comes and will entertain North Carolina high school fans in the meantime.
Kate Hollifield Kate Hollifield 5'9" | CG Shelby | 2022 State NC – 5’9” Guard Shelby High School– If ever there was truth to the statement hard work pays off then this player is testament to that. I always say “basketball players are made not born” and again that is so true for this player. Her hard work on her game the hours spent working on her shot working on her ball-handling and just playing the game the right way is the main reason she is going to end up at a major Division 1 program. There are shooters then there is marksman she is definitely the latter she shoots the ball with the thought and form that every shot she shoots looks like it is going in and usually does. She used this to amass a 21.5 ppg average and only after two years has surpassed the 1000 point mark. She is so fundamentally sound it is just a pleasure to watch her play she uses her outside shot and a super shot fake to get to the basket and finishes well when she gets in the lane, she also handles the ball well and is a good passer and defender. Her honors include the 1st Team All-District and All-Conference to name a few. To be such a polished player as a sophomore the ceiling is high for her and now as she matures and gets stronger she is going to be a force for the next two years and have college coaches beating a path to her gym to watch her play.
Maya Hood- 5’11” Power Forward Northern Durham– If defense wins championships then there are a lot of teams that will be vying for this player’s signature in two years’ time. Her size and wingspan and quickness make her the ultimate defender especially when you add to that her anticipation and desire to be a great defensive player. She is able to defend multiple positions easily but excels in full and half-court presses that enable her to roam and hunt out errant passes that she can steal or deflect that enables her to get in transition and the open court which is where her offense shines. In no way is she limited offensively evident by her 19.3 points per game average this past season. She is strong in the lane and finishes well and shoots the ball well from mid-range and as she matures and gets stronger her range will improve as she has a sweet stroke and good form. Her honors include 1st Team All-District and All-Conference honors and would easily have been a candidate for defensive player of the year if an award was given. As her offensive skills continue to improve over the next two years and with the emphasis top programs put on defense she is definitely on track to be joining a major Division 1 program.