5 Scorers to watch in the Class of 2024
Our skill breakdown series will now dive into incoming sophomores (Class of 2024) by analyzing what these players did as freshmen, and projecting what could be on the horizon going forward. Scoring isn’t just about putting up numbers or counting…
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Continue ReadingOur skill breakdown series will now dive into incoming sophomores (Class of 2024) by analyzing what these players did as freshmen, and projecting what could be on the horizon going forward.
Scoring isn’t just about putting up numbers or counting stats. While the raw numbers can look impressive, what I ask more often than not is how they scored. Were they efficient? Did they take good shots? Are they getting their teammates involved or are they a ball-stopper? These are the questions scouts and coaches ask as they look to implement these kids into their programs.
This group still has a long way to go before graduation and reaching that next level, but it’s always nice to see if the right habits are forming early on in their development. Opportunity is everything, and these ladies are about to get an increased workload as they move on from freshman to sophomore year. Along with increased offensive responsibilities and workloads comes more attention from defenses and adjustments that will be thrown their way.
Here are the five incoming sophomore scoring sensations that caught our eye:
Jocelyn Chavez Jocelyn Chavez 4'0" | C La Joya Community | 2023 AZ
Chavez led all freshmen in points per game, averaging 19.1 a game on 31% FG shooting. She was 24% from three and 62% from the free-throw line on the season. Standing at 5’9″, she has more than ideal size for her position at her age. The next step in her development will be working on efficiency across the board.
The talent is undoubtedly there with her, now it’s about progressing in shot selection and decision-making. She is a top 5 ranked player in the state in our Class of 2024 Rankings for a reason.
Jasmine Olivar Jasmine Olivar 5'6" | SG Xavier College Prep | 2024 State AZOlivar had a productive year last season for the Fort Thomas Apaches, as the 5’5″ guard posted 14.7 points per game on an efficient 48% FG shooting. She also put up 4.8 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.8 steals per game in her 21 games played for the Apaches.
The efficiency is what really stood out to me, as she shot 46% from three, 49% on two-point field goals, and 65% from the charity stripe. She is ranked 24th in our Class Rankings, and should only climb higher if she continues to produce at an elite level.
Cayci Muessig Cayci Muessig 5'9" | SF Ridgeline Academy | 2024 State AZMuessig is a 5’9″ guard/forward that also scored at an impressive rate, especially for a freshman. The combination of her size, basketball IQ, and efficiency make her someone that could rise up rankings as time goes on. She averaged the second-most points per game by any freshman (17.7) to go with 5.1 rebounds, and 4.2 steals per game.
Aniyah Riddell Aniyah Riddell 6'1" | PF Desert Vista | 2024 State AZRiddell is an excellent interior scorer that played with conviction and purpose on the court despite being just a freshman. Aniyah is ranked 7th in our 2024 Class Rankings for good reason, as she is approaching the 6’0″ mark at a young age and is able to carve out space down low and get to her nearly spot at will.
She put up 14.7 points and 12.5 rebounds per game to go with 2.5 steals a contest. She shot nearly 50% from the field, and should only get better with experience. Keep an eye out for a monster sophomore season from the Mountain Point Pride forward.
Eanae Dagons (Desert Vista, G)
Dagons is a 5’3″ guard that can score with the best of them, averaging 14.4 points per contest her freshman season. She was also able to display her all-around game posting 2.8 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.6 steals per game. The efficiency could improve for her in terms of two-pointers (38%) and free-throws (59%), but she shot very well from three-point range (36%) on a decent volume.
While she didn’t make the cut in our 24′ rankings, keep an eye out for her if she continues to produce and can improve her efficiency.
That concludes our breakdown of some promising young scorers around the state of Arizona to get you prepared for the upcoming season. We will have several more skill breakdowns along with some tournament coverage in the coming weeks.