Here are the S.J. girls' basketball players to watch this season
Here is a look at the preseason all-South Jersey girls' basketball teams: First team Grace Marshall, Haddon Township, 5-7 junior guard As a freshman, Marshall was an instrumental piece off the bench on a team that made it to the Group 1 state championship game. Last season, she took a leap into stardom. The slick guard and stro
Here is a look at the preseason all-South Jersey girls' basketball teams:
First team
Grace Marshall, Haddon Township, 5-7 junior guard
As a freshman, Marshall was an instrumental piece off the bench on a team that made it to the Group 1 state championship game. Last season, she took a leap into stardom. The slick guard and strong outside shooter helped ensure the Hawks stayed one of the area's top teams despite losing five starters to graduation. She averaged 13.2 points per game last season, numbers that should increase.
Azana Baines, Gloucester Catholic, 5-9 sophomore guard
Baines was South Jersey's biggest breakout player last season. At Highland, she averaged 14.4 points and 9.6 rebounds while leading her team to a 26-2 record, marking one of the strongest seasons for Highland in generations. Baines transferred to Gloucester Catholic this season, making her the floor general for South Jersey's top team. Opposing teams couldn't stop Baines last season when she was the focal point of their defensive efforts. With so much talent around her now, Baines will probably have more room to operate as a sophomore and should be poised for a huge season after she sits the mandatory 30 days because of the state's transfer rule.
Isabella Therien, Cherokee, 6-0 senior forward
Therien will shoulder more of the burden this season for a Cherokee team that lost one of South Jersey's top senior classes. But she should be up to the task. The senior has been one of South Jersey's most consistent scorers (14.5 points per game as a junior) and rebounders since her freshman season. More than that, this Loyola (Md.) recruit is known for her intangibles, and she should set a strong example for a young team looking to stay competitive a season after advancing to the South Jersey Group 4 title game.
Danielle Sanderlin, Gloucester Catholic, 5-9 senior forward
Last season, Sanderlin emerged as one of the most feared defensive forces in New Jersey. Her high motor and willingness to battle for every rebound and loose ball made her stand out on South Jersey's No. 1 team. But it isn't all grit for this Canisius recruit. She has a smooth shooting stroke. She can handle the ball and has excellent court vision. She averaged 11 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and two steals as a junior. And, now, as a senior, she's the leader of a team poised for a special season.
Ashley Reynolds, Haddon Heights, 5-10 senior forward
Reynolds is the type of player most teams can't handle. At 5-foot-10, she's physical and fearless and overpowering in the paint on both ends of the floor. Try to stop her inside, and she'll showcase a reliable three-point shot. Last season, she battled injury and illness and still emerged as the leading scorer - she averaged 16.8 points and nine rebounds - on a team that finished 23-8 and won South Jersey Group 1. She enters this season with 1,203 points. The school record of 1,649 points is in her crosshairs.
Second team
Brenna Cloud, Delran, 5-8 senior guard
Cloud is a tough, crafty all-around player who has been Delran's most reliable scorer for the last three seasons. She averaged more than 16 points per game in both her sophomore and junior seasons and should again be among the area's highest scorers against a tough schedule.
Grace Sacco, Ocean City, 5-4 senior guard
Sacco returns as the leader of one of South Jersey's most consistent programs. She averaged 7.6 points and four assists as a junior, numbers that should increase this season.
Maddie Hahn, Kingsway, 6-2 senior forward
With the graduation of her sister, Zoe, Maddie Hahn will step into a bigger spotlight for the Dragons. She has great outside shooting ability for her size and is dangerous anywhere on the floor. She should build off a junior season during which she averaged 14.2 points per game.
Tenisha Pressley, Gloucester Catholic, 5-9 senior forward
The Boston University recruit does a little bit of everything for Gloucester Catholic. She's a tough rebounder, has great court awareness, and can hit from outside as seamlessly as she can drive the lane.
Brittany Garner, Camden Catholic, 6-3 junior center
Garner is a powerful and polished inside presence and one of the state's most purely talented players at any position. She averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds as a freshman before missing all of last season with a knee injury. She should return to form as a junior.
Third Team
Naiyana Sabb, Gloucester Catholic, 5-4 senior guard
Sabb's three-point shot has gotten progressively better since she transferred to Gloucester Catholic as a sophomore. She enters this season as one of the area's most reliable outside shooters. She is also one of the toughest defenders in South Jersey.
Kendall Keyes, Lenape, 5-5 sophomore guard
As a freshman, Keyes emerged as a sharpshooter by netting 50 three-pointers. She also had a knack for hitting big shots, averaging 9.8 points in the Indians' run to the Group 4 state championship.
Jonise Ledbetter, Rancocas Valley, 5-4 senior guard
This slick, crafty ball handler is one of the fastest players in South Jersey and a strong floor general. Ledbetter averaged 8.9 points, 4.2 assists, and 4 rebounds per game as a junior.
Aliyah Stephens, Paul VI, 5-8 senior forward
Stephens is one of the area's most versatile scorers. She battled injury last season to average 13.8 points per game, and she enters this season with 1,143 points.
Katie McShae, Rancocas Valley, 5-10 junior forward
McShae is a tough inside presence on a team with an experienced and speedy backcourt. She returns after leading the Red Devils in scoring (12 points per game) and rebounding (10 rebounds per game) as a sophomore.