Even though the high school soccer season officially ended last Sunday and Thanksgiving just passed, a couple of local prep school girls’ basketball teams already have gotten their season started. How much of a help the early jump has remains to be seen as all five prepare to deal with change in 2024-25. The Hun School is the furthest along with three games under its belt (all wins). Third-year head coach Sean Costello’s Raiders have talent at just about every position, directed by the senior interior tandem of Amira Pinkett (six-foot) and CeeJay Thomas (5-foot-11, 10 points per game). “The development of our junior class will help us this season,” said Costello, who also returns the area’s top scorer in 5-5 junior guard Gabby D’Agostino (24.5 ppg). “We have depth. We’ll have more shooting, but we’ll have to play tough team defense. As we tell the girls, the key offensively will be passing up good shots for great shots.” Pennington, in its second season under Markie Watson, already has played two games. The 1-1 Red Hawks graduated all-time leading scorer Morgan Matthews, but will have another big scorer in 5-foot-7 shooting guard Izzy Augustine (17.3 ppg) to lead them. She is the young team’s lone senior. “Izzy has big shoes to fill, but I know she will do so with grace,” said Watson, who helped Pennington go 13-11 and win the now defunct Mercer County Invitational last season. “On the whole, we are young, but it’s still a great group. They are still working on their confidence. It’s time for them to become a cohesive unit. I believe the team will really come together.” The Lawrenceville School has had a scrimmage ahead of its opener Tuesday, Dec. 3. Third-year head coach Tripp Welborne saw his veteran backcourt of Anna O’Keefe and Hayla Dora graduate, so the Big Red will have some key spots to fill. As the club works in its new blood, it will rely upon seniors Jesslyn Bentum (5-8 center/forward), Alice Kizilbash (6-1 center) and Reagan Daly (5-8 forward/center) to lead the group. “The girls are excited to play. We have some size, and we have a lot of athletes from other sports,” said Welborne, whose team will get to play at its new facility this season. “Once we get the ball out of our side of the court, we’ll be O.K. We’ll have to bring the ball up by committee.” The Peddie School chose for a little later start (Dec. 13) to get some practices under its belt. Second-year head coach Bridgette McKnight’s Falcons will have the biggest senior class among the preps, including the return of 5-5 guard Aisha Caban after a year away. She will again join forces with classmates Chloe Salapatas (5-3 guard), Lexie Loughran (5-9 forward) and Sarah Naddelman (5-6 guard) to help Peddie improve. “Our schedule will be more compatible this season,” McKnight said. “Hopefully our speed will help (combat a lack of size). I think the girls are in a better spot this season. The system feels more familiar to them. Our senior leaders are locked in.” Stuart Country Day School had to start later for the 2024-25 campaign (Dec. 18) because it will be competing in the New Jersey Independent Schools Athletic Association Prep B Tournament as well as in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Tournament. Seventh-year head coach Tony Bowman’s Tartans have expanded their roster and schedule. He will be counting on leadership from seniors Annarose Bourgoin St. Maurice, a 5-foot-5 guard; Rachel Enimil Ashun, a 5-7 forward; and Lola Lopez-Spencer, a 5-8 forward; as they help a talented younger bunch grow. “It’s a good mix of girls,” said Bowman, whose club has three sets of sisters. “People are going to see a different team than we’ve had the last couple years. I think we’ll be a lot more competitive.” HUN Player                                   Height      Yr.       Pos Amira Pinkett                           6-0          Sr.         F CeeJay Thomas                      5-11         Sr.      F/G Addi McNally                            5-7          Jr.        G Victoria Lubaczewski               5-8          Jr.         G Gabby D’Agostino                    5-5          Jr.        G Scarlett Angelone                     5-8          Jr.         F Arion Naylor                             5-8          Jr.         G Ria Sheth                                 5-7          So.        G Jayla Williams                         5-10          Fr.        G Meso Nwobu                            5-7           Fr.        G Sienna Golizio                          5-6           Fr.        G Head Coach — Sean Costello (third season). Assistant Coaches — Curtis Hobdy, Chantille Kennedy, Krista Sahrbeck. Last Season — 10-14 overall, 4-2 in Mid-Atlantic Prep League, Mercer County Invitational semifinalist, 3-3 vs. Prep A opponents, No. 12 in Trentonian Top 15. Outlook — The Raiders graduated two and have six returning who are looking to turn this season in a positive direction. The schedule is loaded, so Hun will be tested, but it has talent ready for a challenge. LAWRENCEVILLE Player                                    Height       Yr.      Pos Jesslyn Bentum                        5-8          Sr.       C/F Alice Kizilbash                          6-1           Sr.        C Reagan Daly                            5-8           Sr.       F/C Yijia Song                                 5-8           Jr.      G/F Leeza Klochkov                       5-7           Jr.      G/F Kendall Sorrentino                   5-7           Jr.        F Audrey Shueh                         5-10         So.        F Aryana Iyer                              5-5          So.        G Duru Develioglu                      5-10          So.       F Kelsey Mathu                          5-7           So.      G/F Talbot Card                              5-7           Fr.        G Sheridan Owen                        5-9           Fr.      F/C Fatima Ramirez Elizondo        5-10          Fr.       F Head Coach — Tripp Welborne (third season). Assistant Coaches — Atisha Fitch, Charise Hall. Last Season — 8-19 overall, 1-5 in Mid-Atlantic Prep League, 1-5 vs. Prep A opponents, Mercer County Invitational runner-up, No. 13 in Trentonian Top 15. Outlook — The Big Red graduated four, including their talented backcourt. L’ville will need leadership from its seven returnees and contributions from the entire roster as it aims to continue its growth this season. PEDDIE Player                          Height        Yr.      Pos Chloe Salapatas             5-3            Sr.       G Lexie Loughran              5-9            Sr.        F Sarah Naddelman          5-6            Sr.       G Aisha Caban                  5-5            Sr.       G Sophia Pei                     5-4            Jr.        G Natalie Muenzen           5-1            Jr.        G Saanvi Gudapati           5-6            Jr.        G Samantha Forte            5-9           So.        F Ella Ingram                   5-4           So.       G Lily Ingram                    5-4           So.       G Risha Ajmera                5-5           Fr.        G Bella Borde                   5-5           Fr.        G Minh Le                         5-3           Fr.        G Samantha Wetmore      5-5           Fr.        G Head Coach — Bridgette McKnight (second season). Assistant Coaches — Richard Biddulph, Eric Gustavson. Last Season — 4-14 overall, 0-6 in Mid-Atlantic Prep League, 0-4 vs. Prep A opponents. Outlook — The Falcons saw four players graduate with nine back from last season and another key returnee from two years ago. A later start should help Peddie prepare for a more consistent campaign. PENNINGTON Player                                    Height       Yr.      Pos Izzy Augustine                          5-7           Sr.        G Caiden O’Connell                     5-6           Jr.        G Anna Hokkanen                        5-6           Jr.        G Sara Surtz                                5-2          So.        G Laila Wingfield                          5-6          So.        F Maura Halpin                            5-3          So.        G Maia Davis                                5-5          So.        F Tara Raman                              5-0           Fr.        G Dayonna Doggett                     5-10          Fr.        F Eden Ashiavor                          6-0            Fr.       C Lily Cardoso                              5-8           Fr.        F Head Coach — Markie Watson (second season). Assistant Coach — Shane Taggert. Last Season — 13-11 overall, 2-4 Mid-Atlantic Prep League, MAPL Tournament semifinalist, 3-1 vs. Prep B opponents, NJISAA Prep B Tournament runner-up, Mercer County Invitational champion, No. 4 in Trentonian Top 15. Outlook — The Red Hawks graduated two, but one of them was their all-time leading scorer. There are still weapons in Pennington’s arsenal, but all of its players will need to produce offensively or defensively. STUART Player                                    Height        Yr.      Pos AnnaroseBourgoinStMaurice    5-5           Sr.         G Rachel Enimil Ashun                 5-7           Sr.         F Lola Lopez-Spencer                  5-8           Sr.         F Taylor States                            5-10           Jr.         F Abby Chirik                               5-6            Jr.         G Leila Hernandez-Lewis             5-7            Jr.         G Myah Chennault                       5-9           So.         F Hadassah Broughton               5-5           So.         G Betsy Murphy                           5-7           So.         F Cecilia Struve-Auletta              5-6           So.         G Lia States                                 5-5           Fr.         G Aurelia Lopez-Spencer            5-8            Fr.         F Claire Enimil Ashun                 5-8             Fr.        F Ola Nwagwu                            5-7             Fr.       G Thalia Hernandez-Lewis         5-9              Fr.       F Head Coach — Tony Bowman (seventh season). Assistant Coach — Robert Rogers. Last Season — 6-7 overall, 0-3 vs. Prep B opponents. Outlook — The Tartans did not graduate a single player last year and will have dual membership in the NJISAA Prep B and the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association this season. Experience, along with a deeper lineup and schedule, should help Stuart prepare for its new and difficult challenge.