Player are listed alphabetically
Camryn Collins, Junior – Foxboro
Starting a pair of underclassmen in the backcourt could be the recipe for a long season, but with Collins and, then freshman, Kailey Sullivan gave Foxboro the foundation to build a run to the Div. 2 Sweet Sixteen. Collins showed flashes of her potential during the shortened 2020-21 season but last year she broke through as an all-around standout. She scored 12.9 points per game while chipping in with more than six rebounds and two steals per night. An aggressive player on the offensive end, Collins can take players off the dribble and keeps defenders off-balance with her ability to knock down pull-up jumpers. As she continues to develop her three-point shooting, it will open more driving lanes. Collins also uses her tenacity on the defensive end to match up against some of the league’s top guards. She has good positioning and quick hands to force turnovers and is a great fit for Foxboro’s high-pressure style. The Warriors will expect to be in the running for the league title this winter and Collins will continue to be the player leading the way.
Samya DaSilva, Senior – Canton
Canton is going to look very different this season with the graduation of Fay and Sydney Gallery and Kiara Cerruti. Losing the big three will be a huge challenge, but it is also an opportunity for other players to step up and DaSilva is one of the returning players who could benefit from the extra looks this season. With a solid inside-out game, DaSilva has shown the ability to score in the paint or step out to the three-point line and knock down shots. Her footwork on the block makes it tough to keep her away from the rim and her passing makes it tough for teams to send a second defender. DaSilva is also aggressive attacking the glass on both ends of the floor and her outlet passes can get the Bulldogs out in transition. While DaSilva isn’t the tallest player in the league, she gives Canton a strong defensive presence in the paint, using her strength and positioning to make it tough to finish at the rim. Moving on from three of the best players in program history is a huge task for Canton but DaSilva will give the Bulldogs a foundation to build on as they try to keep the momentum that they’ve built in the past few seasons.
Jasmine Davis, Junior – Sharon
Davis burst onto the scene last year, scoring 32 points and pulling down 28 rebounds in her varsity debut against Milford, and proved to be a double-double machine for the Eagles all season long. She scored nearly 17 points per game and grabbed more than 15 rebounds a night, at times dominating the paint despite all of the attention from opposing defenses. Davis can face up to the basket and take players off the dribble because her strong mid-range jumper forces teams to be aggressive on her. A smooth player with the ball in her hands, Davis showed a range of offensive moves and the ability to finish with either hand. A rebound magnet, Davis used her positioning, not just her length, to be a force on the boards. She can also be a disruptor on the defensive end of the floor, blocking shots, holding teams to one look, and clogging the passing lanes. With a new coaching staff coming in this season, the Eagles will be hoping to make a state tournament push and if Davis continues to grow into one of the best interior players in the league maybe Sharon could be a dark horse in the Davenport.
Kaydance Derba, Junior – Oliver Ames
Oliver Ames will attempt to defend its Div. 2 title with a new coaching staff and several new faces, but the Tigers do have some returning players who have already established themselves as some of the best in the league. Derba is one of those. The junior guard is one of the top long-range shooters in the Hock, with range that stretches defenses well beyond the three-point line. Her length and high release means she can get her shot off against almost all perimeter players, but if matched up against bigger forwards can take them off the dribble and get into the lane. Derba averaged more than eight points per game last year and she also led the Tigers with 98 assists, showing off great court vision and being able to slip passes into tight windows. Her length is also a factor on the defensive side, as she was third on the team in blocks and can cause havoc by getting into the passing lanes. Derba gives OA a dependable ball-handler and consistent shooter to build around this season and she seems ready to take on more responsibility this winter, so her numbers may take a big jump for a Tigers team that will be aiming for another league title.
Kayla Goldrick, Junior – Attleboro
Graduating a team’s leading scorer is always difficult, but Attleboro has several players that seem poised to step into bigger roles this winter. Goldrick is the prime candidate for a breakout season for the Bombardiers. The junior guard was one of the team’s top perimeter defenders last year, while also becoming its primary ball-handler, avoiding turnovers against some of the high-pressure defenses that Attleboro faced. She scored more than seven points and grabbed more than five rebounds without needing to be the go-to player on the offensive end and her strength on the ball, ability to finish at the rim, and impressive mid-range pull-up game means that she can score in multiple ways. Goldrick’s versatility allows her to play and to guard multiple positions, making it hard for teams to find the right match up against her. For Attleboro to continue its upward trajectory, Goldrick will need to continue developing her all-around game and provide the Bombardiers with the added scoring punch that she’s shown flashes of for the past two seasons.
Ava McKeon, Senior – North Attleboro
McKeon brings an important level of aggressiveness and intensity to a North Attleboro roster that is filled with underclassmen who are adapting to the physical challenges of Hock play. A strong, quick guard, McKeon is a force in the fastbreak style of play that the Rocketeers prefer, being hard to stop once she gets a full head of steam and willing to absorb (and dish out) contact on her way to the rim. With an improving outside shot, McKeon can force defenders to close her down and open more driving lanes. Her vision is important to find open teammates on the perimeter when the defense collapses. Aggression and intensity are key to good defense and McKeon can cause all sorts of problems with her athleticism, getting into passing lanes, taking charges, chasing down players on the perimeter, and crashing the defensive glass. North introduced a few freshmen to the lineup last season, so as the Rocketeers look to make a playoff push McKeon’s leadership will be critical to make the winter a success.
Cali Melo, Junior – Taunton
The transfer of Kameron St. Pierre leaves a huge hole in Taunton’s scoring output, which means that defense is going to be even more of a priority this season. That is where Melo shines, bringing an intensity to that end of the floor, forcing turnovers, and getting the Tigers out in transition. Although not one of the biggest players on the court, the junior guard is also able to scrap on the boards and keep possessions alive. Her high-energy style is infectious and even as an underclassman was a leader on the court. Melo isn’t a prolific scorer but she can finish around the basket and has improved her shooting over the past two seasons. She is a solid passer, with good court vision, and she can open up a defense with her ball handling. No one will expect Melo to try and match St. Pierre’s scoring output, but she will get more chances to look for her own shot this year while continuing to run the show for the Tigers’ offense. Taunton wants to try and move up the league standings this year and Melo’s leadership, intensity, and tenacity will be a key
Katie Peterson, Senior – Franklin
Peterson emerged last season as one of the league’s top inside-outside threats, making the leap from role player as a sophomore to the team’s leading scorer as a junior. She scored 14 points per game and led the Panthers in steals last season while shooting better than 50 percent from the floor. The UMass girls lacrosse commit has the height to cause teams problems in the paint, but the range to stretch teams out beyond the three-point line. Peterson’s ability to take defenders off the dribble is perfect for Franklin’s drive-and-kick system and she can finish over most players when she gets to the rim. Her length is also a factor on the other end of the floor, as evidenced by her leading Franklin in steals, and she can keep possessions alive by crashing the boards. The Panthers have been the team to beat in the Kelley-Rex for the past four years and Peterson turning into one of the league’s top scoring threats should keep Franklin in the running for another league title this winter.
Emily Sawyer, Senior – King Philip
At 6-foot-3, Sawyer is inevitably the center of attention when KP takes the floor and last season the Sacred Heart volleyball commit dominated the paint on both ends of the floor. Sawyer scored 10 points and grabbed 11 rebounds a night last year, while also blocking a shot per game. Even when she’s not blocking a shot, Sawyer’s presence in the paint is always a factor for teams trying to get into the lane, forcing players to alter their shots anywhere close to the basket. Her ability to control the glass and the paint helped KP be one of the top defensive teams in the league. Sawyer has also developed her offensive game through the past three seasons, improving her footwork and becoming a more consistent finisher around the rim. When teams send extra players to guard her on the block, Sawyer has also become more adept at finding the right pass to get open looks for her teammates. KP will be hoping for another playoff appearance and maybe a league title challenge this season and the Warriors know that Sawyer will be right in the middle of all that they do well on both ends of the floor.
Abby Wager, Senior – Mansfield
It is always fun to watch a player develop new facets to their game and last season Wager, who was already a quick, athletic wing that could defend any position, became an all-around threat on the offensive end of the floor. Adding a more consistent outside shot to her repertoire, Wager scored 14 points per game to help the Hornets get back to the state tournament. The SNHU-commit’s shooting opened up more opportunities to blow past defenders off the dribble and get to the rim, where her strength allowed her to finish even with contact. Wager is one of the league’s top defensive wings, recording 51 blocks last year, and her speed allows her to turn any defensive stand into an instant fast break. Mansfield will play its first season in the Davenport division and the Hornets will be counting on Wager on both ends of the floor, as they try to make this season a title-winning one.
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