West Orange, which gave University a real scare before being edged 50-45 in last season’s ECT semifinals, has a terrific 1-2 senior punch in its 'double-double' machine Karriem (North Carolina A&T commit) and the talented guard Gary-Grayson (Coppin State), while sophomore guard Rhyan Watt is continuing to merge as one of the top, young players in the county.

Glen Ridge, which has gone 44-12 the previous two seasons with pretty much the group of girls it has now, continues to be a force to watch in Group 1 with the return of senior forward Riley O’Sullivan, senior guard Katie Powers, junior forward Riley O’Sullivan and sophomore guard Caitlin Hood.

The Mount competes with Glen Ridge in the rigorous SEC-American and Dorf, who comes in with considerable experience as a former assistant for several boys and girls programs, guides a Lions squad that features three college softball prospects who are also solid hoopsters in junior Jillian Cianfrocca and sophomores Bella Iannitelli and Ava Kelshaw.

A young Caldwell team, behind the leadership of Amanda Keenan, looks to key players led by the coach’s daughter, sophomore sharpshooter Addison Keenan along with freshman Elena Kearns and the Fiore sisters, junior Tea and freshman Fallon.

Payne Tech, which has an early-season win vs. West Essex, has its own superb talent quotient with the high-scoring guard Kayla Butler along with fellow senior Jordan Owens and sophomore Morgan Hair.

West Essex continues to make nice progress under coach Amber Tobia with the return of standout forward Sasha Resnick and other solid seniors including Talia LaBorgne.

Last season’s SC Essex County Coach of the Year Lashawn Williams of Central had to bid adieu to an all-time great in Faith Fedd Robinson, who is seeing action this season as a freshman guard for Toledo University; however, the Blue Devils still have talent in tow led by junior guard Sage Reed along with senior Sanaa Hayes and junior C’Jaiya Tillman.

The early-season pick in the SEC-Colonial should be Verona as Pat Coyle, who was last season’s runner-up as SC’s Essex Coach of the Year, has a strong arsenal back in tow led by standouts such as senior guard Cali Giacomazza, junior Jade Bednar and sophomore Eliana Marateo.

NOTES- Immaculate continues to face a very strong independent slate which will include taking on longtime Non-Public A Shore Conference power St. John Vianney Dec. 30 in the Holiday Hoopfest, and going up against national power Long Island Lutheran on Jan. 25. The New York state power was recently ranked No. 2 in the country behind Montverde (Fla.) in the SB Live/SI Top 25. In that same rating service, New Jersey is represented by Red Bank Catholic at No. 8 and Morris Catholic at No.12…Former Essex County girls hoops stars continuing to excel in the college ranks include current juniors Kiley Capstraw of West Orange (at Yale University) and Brielle Guarente (at Moravian in Bethlehem, Pa.). Guarente is the granddaughter of legendary retired Verona boys hoops coach Doug Gaffney.

SEC GIRLS HOOPS 2024-2025 DIVISION BREAKDOWN:
American: Immaculate, University, West Orange, Newark Academy, Glen Ridge, Mount St. Dominic

Liberty: Caldwell, Central, West Essex, Payne Tech, Nutley, Columbia

Colonial: Verona, Cedar Grove, Bloomfield, East Orange Campus, Montclair, North Star Academy

Independence: MKA, Millburn, Livingston, East Side, Newark Tech, Newark Lab

Freedom: St. Benedict’s, Science Park, Newark Collegiate, Irvington, Arts, Barringer, Belleville, Weequahic

National: West Side, St. Vincent’s, Golda Och, West Caldwell Tech, Orange, Technology, Bard, Shabazz