Star-gazing for 2024: Here are 99 area high school athletes to keep an eye on this year

Here, in our opinion, are 99 high school student-athletes from The Patriot Ledger/Enterprise area who will be in the spotlight in the calendar year of 2024.

A few ground rules before we begin.

First, this is hardly a science. Ninety-nine is a random number, and obviously there are far more than 99 exciting high school student-athletes around here who will be worthy of your attention in 2024. If your favorite shooting guard/goalie/third baseman/javelin-thrower didn't make the list, it's probably because of a simple numbers crunch.

We tried to hit as many sports as possible, have as many schools as possible represented and keep a balance between boys (50) and girls (49). No two players from the same team are allowed, unless one of them is being highlighted for his or her work in a different sport.

Oh, and we steered clear of seniors whose primary sport (in our opinion) is played in the fall, since the next time they shine would be in college.

Now, for the 99 names to know ...

Camren Allain, Carver – Senior, who is headed to UMass-Lowell, is a high-jump star in indoor and outdoor track. He was 4th at New Englands last spring, clearing 6-3, and won the Div. 6 state title at 6-6. He was third at New Englands last winter at 6-5 and has starred on the national level as well. Also a standout in football.

Eleanor Angeles-Whitfield, Marshfield – Junior three-season running star was 9th in the 2-mile at the indoor MIAA Meet of Champions last winter. In the spring she was the Patriot League mile champ.

VOTE: Student of the Week for the South Shore

Kaiky Araujo, Rockland – Promising sophomore soccer striker had 14 goals this fall and figures to be a big part of the Bulldogs' attack in future seasons.

Nathan Askjaer, Cohasset – Junior soccer striker scored 34 goals en route to being named MVP of the South Shore League. Was selected to the All-State team for the second consecutive year.

Katie Babanikas, Oliver Ames – Senior gymnast will look to improve on last year's 11th-place finish in the all-around at the individual state tournament. Last winter she led OA to a 7-1 record and its first Hockomock League crown.

Ryan Baker, Whitman-Hanson – Sophomore basketball forward averaged 18.6 points per game last winter. Also plays baseball.

Tess Barrett, Cohasset – Soccer midfielder/striker was an All-New England selection this fall as a junior and repeated as the Div. 4 Player of the Year. She had 43 goals and 29 assists.

More: Cohasset's Tess Barrett commits to major Division 1 college soccer program

Reese Bartlett, Bridgewater-Raynham – As a junior last winter, she averaged 10.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.4 steals per game while leading the B-R girls basketball team to the Div. 1 Elite Eight and an undefeated SEC league title.

Jen Birolini, Pembroke – Junior ice hockey star recently netted her 100th career goal. As a sophomore last winter she had 40 goals and 17 assists while being named co-MVP of the Patriot League Fisher Division.

Ezra Blasko, East Bridgewater – As a senior this fall, he was 7th at the Div. 3 cross country state championships and broke EB's home-course record that had stood since 2006. Also a star in track.

Lilly Blow, Fontbonne Academy – Senior basketball center from Hanover has been churning out double-doubles this winter, including in a big OT win over Pembroke (20 points, 16 rebounds).

Cole Bohane, BC High – Third baseman from Hingham was the Catholic Conference baseball MVP as a junior last spring when he hit .402 with 5 homers and 22 RBIs.

D.C. Brown, Plymouth North – As a junior last spring, this left-handed pitcher went 6-2 with a 1.00 ERA for the Blue Eagles baseball team. Was named the Old Colony Memorial Plymouth North Male Athlete of the Year.

Hanelie Cadet, Avon – Junior basketball guard led Panthers to their first tournament appearance since 2010 last winter when she averaged 13 points and 7 steals per game.

Harper Capilli, Duxbury – Senior golfer went 12-2 for the Dragons last spring, pushing her career record to 37-2. She was the Patriot League MVP runner-up. In November she finished 21st at the New England Golf Championships in Connecticut.

Carter Carroll, BC High – Junior quarterback threw 25 TD passes and passed for more than 2,500 yards in the fall.

Sunali Carter, Brockton – This 5-5 senior basketball forward is leading an uptick in the program's fortunes. She just had 19 points and 11 rebounds in a win over Durfee and posted big numbers vs. Cardinal Spellman (16 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals).

Sam Caulfield, Milton Academy – Junior hockey goalie was the Flood Marr MVP, ISL Keller Division MVP and New England MVP winner last winter. He's No. 32 among North American goalies on the NHL Central Scouting's midterm rankings of players eligible for the 2024 NHL Draft.

Skye Cerow, Duxbury – Junior volleyball middle hitter was a Div. 2 All-State selection by the state coaches association in the fall. Also captains the girls basketball team.

Lila Chamoun, Milton – As a junior ice hockey goalie last winter she posted an 18-2-4 record with a 0.92 goals-against average and .970 save percentage with 10 shutouts.

Kaelyn Chase, Hanover – Softball standout was the Patriot League Fisher Division MVP as a junior last spring when she hit .622 with 23 RBIs. Also plays volleyball.

Sarah Chenette, Cohasset – Senior just became the girls basketball program's all-time leading scorer (1,153 points) in a 48-18 win over Randolph. She's a three-time All-Scholastic pick.

Sarah Claflin, Pembroke – Senior is the reigning Patriot League Fisher Division MVP for indoor track and was the outdoor 100m champ at the MIAA Meet of Champions last spring. Coach James Rooney calls her "simply the best sprinter in Pembroke High history."

James Curry, Braintree – Junior running back broke school records for rushing yards (1,750) and TDs (23) this fall and will try to better those numbers in the fall.

Izzy Cusack, Canton – As a freshman ice hockey forward last winter she had 7 goals and 8 assists for 15 points while helping drive the Bulldogs to the Div. 2 state title game.

Caroline Doherty, Hingham – Junior ice hockey forward is coming off a huge sophomore season when she had 47 goals and 18 assists for 65 points.

Gill Dolan, Weymouth – A standout guard in basketball, this senior also needs just 21 hits this spring to become the baseball program's all-time leader. He batted .506 last season and will play baseball at UMass-Amherst.

Taylor Dolan, Cardinal Spellman – As a junior pitcher/center fielder last spring she hit .681 with 8 homers, 18 RBIs and 34 stolen bases while posting an 8-5 record with 1.94 ERA. Also plays soccer.

Megan Doyle, Weymouth – Yale-bound senior lacrosse star was a USA Lacrosse All-American and Academic All-American who had 107 goals last spring. Also a standout forward in basketball, where she's averaging a double-double this winter.

Ella Dunbury, West Bridgewater – Senior three-season runner was 2nd at the Div. 3 cross country state championships in the fall. She stars in the mile and 2-mile indoors and outdoors. Coach Jon Pike calls her "the best distance runner our school has ever produced."

Emilee Dunham, Rockland – Junior soccer forward scored 28 goals in the fall while leading the Bulldogs (9-9-2) to the Div. 4 Round of 16.

Paul Dzavik, Hingham – Senior captain had 8 goals in the Harbormen's first 8 games this season.

Todd Egan, South Shore Tech – After a record-breaking performance at quarterback in the fall (he generated a program-record 24 TDs), he'll hit the lacrosse field in the spring looking to better his 71 goals from last season.

Kylie Fuller, West Bridgewater – Soccer star set the bar high for her senior season by netting 29 goals as a junior this fall.

Mike Galligan, North Quincy – As a junior quarterback this fall he threw for 1,904 yards and 21 TDs (a single-season program record). NQ is expecting big things from him as a senior.

Nathanyel Gomes Correia, Randolph – Junior running back had a breakout season in the fall by rushing 136 times for 1,272 yards and 14 TDs.

Hunter Grafton, Abington – Lacrosse midfielder has 295 career points entering his senior season in the spring. Scored 120 goals last season. Also a standout golfer who was the SSL Tobin Division Player of the Year this fall. Just had a hat trick in hockey as well.

Maddie Greenwood, Duxbury –  Junior ice hockey forward scored 18 goals and added 9 assists as a sophomore last winter in leading the Dragons to a state crown. Plays goalie for the lacrosse team.

Kenny Guan, North Quincy – Senior swimmer, who competes for the Quincy/North Quincy co-op program, is the reigning Patriot League MVP after going undefeated in the 50-yard freestyle last winter. Also plays soccer.

Antonio Guarino, Archbishop Williams – Junior soccer forward had 12 goals and 13 assists this season. He was the second-leading goal scorer in the Catholic Central League.

Jane Hilsabeck, Notre Dame Academy – Senior is starring in basketball right now. In the spring she'll try to top her 2023 totals (51 goals, 25 assists) that earned her a USA Lacrosse All-American spot. She's committed to Clemson for lacrosse.

Alyssa Hopps, Quincy – Junior basketball forward is the reigning MVP of the Patriot League Fisher Division. As a sophomore last winter she averaged 13.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Just had 19 points in a big road win vs. Pembroke.

Alex Huynh, Stoughton – As a junior last spring he had the best finish of any local athlete at the New England outdoor track championships, placing 3rd in the long jump (21-10.5). Also stars in indoor track and football.

Cameron Johnston, North Quincy – In the spring, this senior volleyballer will be looking to build on a standout junior campaign when he made the MAVCA All-Star game and led the Raiders (19-3) to the Div. 2 Elite Eight.

Trevor Jones, Duxbury – As a sophomore last winter he averaged 15.8 points and 4 assists per game for the boys basketball team. Also quarterbacked the Dragons to a state title in football this fall as a junior, accounting for 26 TDs.

Clare Kavolius, Oliver Ames – Junior volleyball setter led the Hockomock League with 651 assists in the fall, becoming the fifth player in program history to eclipse 1,000 for a career.

Emily Keefe, Bridgewater-Raynham – As a sophomore in lacrosse last spring she exploded onto the scene with 77 goals and 27 assists after scoring 19 points as a freshman. Also plays field hockey and runs track.

Finn Kelly, Archbishop Williams – Senior hockey center is leading the Bishops in scoring this winter after topping the team last season with 18 goals.

Gabe Knudsen, Hanover – This pitcher appears primed for a big senior baseball season. The right-hander was 6-2 with a 1.13 ERA last spring for the Hawks (13-6), who qualified for the Div. 3 playoffs.

Max Kupferman, Canton – Senior tennis player will be aiming for his third straight Hockomock League MVP this spring. Was undefeated at No. 1 singles last season.

Justin LaChance, Plymouth South – This senior stars in football, basketball and outdoor track (100-meter specialist). Last winter he averaged 12.5 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists per game as a guard.

Declan Lee, Cohasset – Senior lacrosse defender has shut down some of the area's top scorers. Last spring as a junior he collected 60 ground balls and caused 64 turnovers as the Skippers allowed an average of 4.8 goals per game.

Tyler Lennox, Carver – This senior's days as a star high school quarterback are over after leading the Crusaders to a Div. 8 Super Bowl appearance in the fall. But he's still got some hoops left in him – he averaged 17 points and 4.6 assists per game last winter.

Scott Longo, Milton – As a sophomore transfer from Catholic Memorial last spring he went 8-0 on the mound with a 1.71 ERA in helping the Wildcats win a second straight Div. 2 baseball state crown. Junior left-hander has committed to Northeastern for baseball.

Edric Louissaint, Weymouth – This 6-3 senior basketball swingman averaged 17.6 ppg as a junior when he was a Bay State Conference First Team All-Star. Had 28 points in a recent win over Walpole.

Matt Lydon, Bridgewater-Raynham – Sophomore golfer tied for first at the Southeast Conference tournament with a 72. Will be a team captain as a junior next fall.

Tor Maas, Marshfield – Junior quarterback helped the Rams reach the Div. 2 Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium this fall. He threw for over 2,000 yards and 19 TDs and ran for 566 yards and 7 scores.

Lily MacDonald, Norwell – Senior track star had a tremendous postseason last spring as a junior, finishing second in the triple jump at both the New England championships and the MIAA Meet of Champions. Also a standout diver for the swim team.

Anthony Mann, Hanover – Senior wrestler is the defending Div. 3 state champ at 145 pounds. Was fourth at All-States last winter.

Jake McConville, BC High – Junior soccer goalkeeper was an All-State pick in the fall for the Eagles.

Drew McGourty, Braintree – Senior wrestler is the reigning 152-pound Div. 1 South Sectional, Div. 1 State and All-State champion. He was 53-1 last winter.

Jake McGuirk, Norwell – Freshman lacrosse attack made a big impact offensively last spring despite being only 5-1 and weighing 100 pounds.

Delaney Moquin, Silver Lake – Last spring as a sophomore, this softball pitcher from Kingston was the Patriot League Keenan Division MVP. She was 15-2 in the circle with a 1.37 ERA and hit .518 with 41 RBIs. Committed to Div. 1 Fairfield University for softball.

Hannah Morse, Norwell – Made a huge splash as a freshman soccer forward this fall, leading the Div. 3 state champs with 21 goals, including 5 in the playoff run.

Elle Murphy, Cardinal Spellman – Lacrosse midfielder will enter her junior season this spring as the program's all-time leading scorer with 127 goals. She had 92 last year.

Kathleen Murphy, Blue Hills – Off a 24-goal junior campaign, she will enter her senior soccer season as co-holder of the program's all-time record for goals with 70.

Kenzie Murphy, Thayer Academy – Junior cross country standout was named All-Independent School League and All-NEPSAC for the second season in a row in the fall. Coach Jeff Browne calls her the "cornerstone" of the team.

Alessandro Neyra, Hingham – Junior soccer midfielder was named the Patriot League Keenan Division MVP in the fall. He had a league-best 15 goals and 8 assists.

Autumn O'Campos, North Quincy – Senior basketball star also had 66 goals in lacrosse last spring. She plays volleyball, too.

Matt O'Donnell, Cardinal Spellman – As a junior last spring this lacrosse midfielder led the Cardinals with 68 goals and was second with 22 assists. Also plays basketball.

Maddie Oliver, Norwell – She was the South Shore League's Sullivan Division girls basketball MVP as a sophomore last winter when she averaged a double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds) and helped the Clippers reach the state semifinals for the first time since 1989.

Jill Ondrick, Archbishop Williams – Her freshman softball season was a standout one as the pitcher/third baseman was 10-2 with a 1.15 ERA last spring while hitting .589 with 10 homers and 43 RBIs.

Ava Orlando, Notre Dame Academy - Junior point guard in basketball is already a 1,000-point scorer after averaging 20.2 points, 6.5 assists and 6 steals per game last winter. She's been a star on offense and defense so far this season.

Mia Ortega, Southeastern – Sophomore basketball point guard was a standout as a freshman last season, averaging 17 points, 6 steals and 6 assists per game while leading the Hawks to their first winning record and playoff appearance in more than 10 years.

Connor Pease, Abington – Senior basketball center averaged 18 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocks per game last season. He also was a star tight/end defensive end in football in the fall.

Armani Perkins, Holbrook – Senior basketball guard recently reached the 1,000-point mark for his career. He averaged 22 ppg last winter.

Lauren Raffetto, Canton – Freshman emerged as a cross country star in the fall, finishing 4th at the Div. 2 state championships with the third-best time by any Patriot Ledger/Enterprise girls runner at any of the state meets.

Gracie Richard, Weymouth – Junior is a three-season running star for the Wildcats. She was 5th at the Div. 1 cross country championships in the fall. In track she excels in the 1,000m indoors and the 400m and 800m outdoors.

William Robinson, Scituate – As a sophomore attackman in lacrosse last spring, he tallied 77 goals and 22 assists. Also stars as a football running back.

Soley Rodriguez Martinez, Canton – Freshman volleyball libero made the Div. 2 All-State team in the fall when she was 2nd in the Hockomock League with 291 digs and 74 aces. Led the Bulldogs to the state final.

Ronan Sammon, Milton – Already one of the state's best receivers as a sophomore, he had 72 catches for 1,058 yards and 14 TDs this fall for the Div. 3 football state champs.

Will Savage, Weymouth – Senior basketball standout (he's a 6-2 forward) also stars in rugby; last spring the fly half had 40 conversion kicks and 11 tries in leading the Wildcats (9-1) to a second straight Div. 2 state title.

Maggie Schlossberg, East Bridgewater – Last spring as a freshman this softball pitcher tossed four no-hitters and was 14-7 with a 1.74 ERA and 209 strikeouts. Also was an All-Scholastic in field hockey in the fall.

Katie Sobieraj, OA – Senior three-season running star has completed her decorated cross-country career but will try to finish strong in indoor track (4th in the mile at the Meet of Champions last year) and outdoor track (7th in the mile at the MOC last year).

Annie Spencer, Marshfield – As a sophomore gymnast last season she won the state individual championship on balance beam with a score of 9.475.

Sam Steinman, Middleboro – Junior hockey forward led Middleboro/Carver/Wareham in scoring last season as a sophomore with 21 goals and 11 assists over 20 games. Just had a hat trick in a win over Stoughton/Brockton.

James Sullivan, Scituate – Senior hockey forward had 13 goals and 31 assists for 44 points last winter as a junior in leading the Sailors to the Div. 3 state final. Also plays lacrosse.

Eva Surette, Braintree – Senior ice hockey goalie was our Preseason Girls Hockey Player of the Year in online voting. Has a 2.00 goals-against average so far this season.

Caroline Sutliffe, Duxbury – Tennis star will enter her senior season with a 53-1 career record. She won her second straight Patriot League MVP award last spring.

Brendan Thomas, Oliver Ames – Senior track athlete starred in the indoor mile last winter when he was 6th at New Englands in 4:19.34. Also a standout miler outdoors.

Elly Thomas, Hull – Junior soccer forward broke out with 33 goals and 11 assists this fall in leading the Pirates to the Div. 5 state semifinals. Plays basketball and lacrosse; she had 46 goals and 33 assists in the latter last spring.

Brendan Tourgee, Canton – Hockey forward had 10 goals and 13 assists last winter as a junior as the Bulldogs won the Div. 2 state crown. Had 8 goals through the first seven games this winter.

Brent von Magnus, Bridgewater-Raynham – Junior wrestler was the Div. 2 state champ and South Sectional champ at 120 pounds last winter.

Isabelle Wheeler, Middleboro – As a junior indoor track athlete last winter she was the lone local to place in two events at the New England championships -- 6th in the long jump and 9th in 55m hurdles.

Maeve White, Archbishop Williams – Junior soccer striker had 24 goals and 16 assists in the fall. She's already the program's all-time leading goal-scorer with 93.

Haylen Wilson, Hingham – Junior field hockey left wing led the Patriot League in scoring this fall with 30 goals and 11 assists. She drove the Harborwomen to the Div. 2 state semifinals.

John Wilson, BC High – This junior from Norwell was 4th in the Div. 1 cross country state championship meet. He led the Eagles to a third-place finish in team scoring -- BC High's best showing in 30 years.

Evan Yakavonis, Whitman-Hanson – Baseball pitcher was 6-0 with a 1.86 ERA as a junior last spring in leading the Panthers (19-5) to the Div. 2 state semifinals. Also plays basketball.

Matt Youngquist, Middleboro – Senior basketball guard averaged 15 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists per game last winter and is off to solid start this season, including hitting the key late bucket in an opening win at Randolph.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Here are 99 local high school athletes to watch for in 2024