Rising Stars: Who are the top freshmen in girls basketball this season?
Freshmen usually don’t see much playing time on varsity. But these 10 rookies made the most of their opportunities, whether they’re key players on a rebuilding team, or getting ready to make their district playoff debuts.
Gabby D’Agostino, New Hope-Solebury
The season that the Lions’ starting point guard has compiled would be impressive for a player of any age, much less a freshman. A contributor right from the start, D’Agostino had a breakout game against Abington in early January, when she scored 10 points and expertly ran the offense, allowing four players to score 10-plus points in the Lions’ biggest win of the year. From that point, D’Agostino continued to the shoot lights out, highlighted by a 21-point game in a win over Bensalem, a game-high 19 in a victory over Lower Moreland, and 18 against Tennent, in addition to several other double-digit outings.
Bailey Balkir, Gwynedd Mercy
The Monarchs were PIAA state quarterfinalists last season, but Balkir didn’t waste a minute before showing why she belongs in the starting lineup. In the Monarchs’ season-opening win, the guard scored eight points, and is second on the team in both scoring (eight points per game) and assists (1.1 per game). She led the team with 11 points in last week’s AACA semifinal win over Mount St. Joseph.
Natalie Berndt, Central Bucks East
The 5-foot-8 guard attended CB East’s basketball camps and summer workouts long before she started high school, and those experiences have paid off immensely. A poised-and-polished player, Berndt has proven to be an excellent 3-point shooter, knocking down 19 of 39 attempts in the first month of her high school career. She also keyed a few wins for the district playoff-bound Patriots, including a 15-point game with four 3s, against rival CB South, and in a comeback victory against North Penn, she drilled five 3-pointers, finishing with 17 points.
Emilia Coleman, Gwynedd Mercy
Coleman had some big shoes to fill, as her older sisters, Sofia and Bianca Coleman, were senior starters and first-team All-AACA selections on last year’s team. The young guard has already shown she is more than capable of carrying on the family legacy, delivering 9 rebounds, 7 points and 2 blocks in the Monarchs’ AACA semifinal win. For the season, she leads the team in rebounding, is second in steals, and third in points.
Halie Staub, William Tennent
Staub quickly established herself as a major scoring threat in the SOL. She scored a remarkable 25 points in a four-point loss to Upper Moreland, and finished the season with two double-digit outings, scoring 12 points (all in the first half) in a win against Cheltenham, and 10 points against Lower Moreland.
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Janelle Blokker, Central Bucks West
A talented soccer player who played a big role on the Bucks’ playoff team in the fall, Blokker also established herself as a key piece on a rebuilding basketball team. The guard was the leading scorer in the Bucks’ season-opening tournament win, and, with her top-notch work ethic and athleticism, she should see an expanded role next season.
Jules Tropea, Central Bucks South
The athletic forward quickly earned a spot in the starting lineup for a young Titans’ team and made an immediate impact. She had a team-high 16 points in a narrow loss to Neshaminy, and has had two or more steals in six games. Head coach Beth Mattern noted that Tropea is skilled at running the floor and has put lots of work into developing her on-the-ball defense and rebounding skills.
Jayda Coleman, Bristol
Coleman had a breakout game in early January when she scored 21 points against Chichester, and followed that with a game-high 17 points against Renaissance Academy — both wins for the Warriors. Since then, Coleman has shown that she can do much more than score, grabbing five offensive rebounds, two steals and two blocks in a pair of late January victories.
Emily Markel, Dock Mennonite
Markel was outstanding as goalie for the Lions’ district champion soccer team, and she has brought that defensive intensity to the basketball court for a young rebuilding team.
Sylvie Harrington, George School
The 5-foot-11 guard contributed right from the start, scoring six points in an early December win and is fifth on the team in scoring going into the PAISAA playoffs. She had two games with more than 10 points and five games with two or more steals.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Who are the top freshmen girls basketball players in Bucks Montco
