We're only a week and change into basketball season, but several midstate players have already set themselves apart during the first games of the season.
Heading into the New Year, here's a look at top performers who have made a name for themselves early. Just five of last year's Big 15 first teamers were underclassmen, which leaves plenty of room for younger players (and senior leaders) in this season's Big 15 watch. .
Big 15 Watch, Dec. 17:
Leah Springer, senior, Camp Hill: She was a second-team selection last season on 15 ppg, and is averaging 21.8 through five games this season. Her strongest showing came Tuesday night, with a season-high 27 points and eight rebounds in a win against defending Mid-Penn Capital champs Middletown. The Lions are 5-0 and will face East Pennsboro and Trinity in the next week.
Victoria Varner, senior, Juniata: No surprise to see Varner, a York commit and Big 15 first teamer as a junior, on top of the leaderboard after three games. She's averaging 25.7 points after three games (a slight jump from 23.6 at the same time last year) and is shooting 87.5 percent from the free throw line.
Emily White, junior, Cocalico: White averaged 12.0 points last season; she's averaging 21.3 in Cocalico's 3-0 start. On Monday she poured in a career-high 34 points against Pequa Valley. That's more than 2.5x her scoring output at this point last season.
Rylee Derr, sophomore, Warwick: 100 points in the first five games of her sophomore season for a 20.0 points average flat, including 12 3s.
Alyssa Hershey, junior, Pequea Valley: Averaging 19.8 points after five games, despite a 1-4 record.
Kyla Irwin, junior, State College: A Big 15 first team selection last year, the Connecticut commit is sixth in point averages so far with 19.7 ppg. She hit a career-high Tuesday with 31 points against Chambersburg.
Rileigh Devine, junior, Red Land: She's not high up on the overall points board (sitting at 28th with 14.3 points per game) but Devine's 17 3s put her at top of the 3-point field goal leaderboards. She hit her career-high for 3s in one game with six against Mechanicsburg.
Tysha Brown, junior, Harrisburg: Speedy guard was an underclassmen selection last year and is averaging 19.2 points in five games. She averaged 12 points last season.
Jenay Faulkner, sophomore, Greencastle-Antrim: Faulkner already has 11 3s in five games--almost a third of her total 3-pointers for last year. She's averaging 19.2 points per game in Blue Devils' 5-0 start.
Brittany Robinson, senior, CD East: The 6'1 IUP commit has a 17.8 points per game average in six games, including two 23-point showings.
