City of Basketball Love

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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(Ed. Note: This article is part of our 2021-22 season coverage, which will run for the six weeks preceding the first official games of the year on Nov. 9. To access all of our high school and college preview content for this season, click here.)

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Philadelphia basketball is everywhere.

More than 150 student-athletes who are from the Philadelphia area are playing Division I men’s and women’s hoops this year, spread throughout many of the country’s 30-plus conferences and 350-plus D-I programs. There are players in their seventh year of college, those primed for a breakout year, those who’ve already become legends at the schools they attend, and everything in between.

We’ve split the area’s current Division I players into a multi-part list, something we’ve done for several years on the men’s side and are now doing for the first time on the women’s side, with more than 50 local prospects now playing at the highest levels of collegiate basketball. Here’s the second half of our women’s roundup:

(This is our first attempt at a women’s alumni list, so we're sure the list isn't complete. If we’re missing someone, let us know: cityofbasketballlove@gmail.com)

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2021-22 Alumni Roundup
Men’s: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Freshmen
Women’s: Part 1 | Part 2

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Emily McAteer (Jr./Loyola)
McAteer returns off a shortened season where she ranked second on the Greyhounds with 9.2 ppg and 5.4 rpg. The 6-foot forward led Loyola with 12 blocks and scored double-figures in seven of the team's 13 games, starting in all of them. The all-time leading scorer at Garnet Valley, McAteer is a perimeter threat and was a member of the Patriot League All-Rookie team in 2019-20.

Dakota McCaughan (Soph./USC Upstate)
The sharpshooting guard, who finished her high school career at Ridley after three seasons with Bonner-Prendie, led the Spartans with 34 made 3-pointers in 18 games. A 1,000 point scorer in high school and Ridley's single-season record holder with 92 treys as a senior, McCaughan also had 45 assists and 22 steals in her first college season.

Mandy McGurk (Jr./Penn)
Two years ago, the Notre Dame de Namur graduate appeared in 12 games for the Quakers as a reserve guard. The Ivy League did not play last year, but McGurk will look to build on her first season as new-look Penn returns to action this winter.

Destiney McPhaul (Fr./Temple)
Will sit out this season after transferring from Virginia Tech at the start of fall semester. West Catholic grad helped the Burrs to the 2020 PCL title and 2021 PIAA Class 3A title.

Erin Morgan (Sr./La Salle)
Joined the Explorers as a freshman walk-on after helping Archbishop Wood win two state titles. Did not play last season but returns to give La Salle some depth at guard and has made 43 career appearances in two seasons on the roster.

Paige Mott (Soph./Northwestern)
Made 16 starts in 25 appearances in her first season in Evanston, Ill. A tremendous defender, the Abington Friends School graduate averaged 3.6 ppg and 3.4 rpg while tallying 16 blocks and 16 steals. Should continue to be a part of the Wildcats' rotation. The 6-foot-1 forward helped the Kangaroos to a PAISAA title as a senior.

Brooke Mullin (Jr./Villanova)
Carved out a role in the first five last fall, starting 20 of 23 games. A standout at Neshaminy, Mullin has a versatile skillset and will look to increase her numbers across the board. Trips to St. John's are always interesting, as her uncle is Red Storm legend and basketball Hall of Famer Chris Mullin.

Kaliyah Myricks (Fr./Georgetown)
The first female athlete in the 128-year history of The George School to earn a Division I basketball scholarship, the 6-foot-2 forward brings a strong all-around game to the Big East. Myricks was a first team all-state Class A selection after averaging 17 ppg, 12 rpg and 6 apg.

Alexa Naessens (Sr./Colgate)
With her team's roster ravaged by injuries last season, Naessens played important minutes before Colgate opted to end its campaign early. The 6-foot-1 Germantown Academy graduate has battled injury throughout her career, but always gives her all and will serve as a team captain this coming season.

Grace Niekelski (Fr./Dartmouth)
A dynamic scorer at Mount Saint Joseph's, where she surpassed 1,000 points and earned two Class 5A all-state nominations, Niekelski brings three-level ability with her to the college level.

Hannah Nihill (Fifth-Year Sr./Drexel)
The Cardinal O'Hara graduate is back, when she's done with her field hockey season of course, to terrorize CAA opponents for one more year. The 5-foot-3 reigning conference Defensive Player of the Year led the Dragons to the NCAA tournament and led the team in four separate categories, including points per game (16.3), three-point shooting percentage (.368), assists per game (3.8) and steals (65). Nihill became the first Dragon to score 20 in an NCAA tournament game.

Taylor O'Brien (Sr./Bucknell)
The top scorer — male or female — in Plymouth Whitemarsh history has been a key contributor to the Bison since arriving on campus. The 5-foot-9 guard, who also owns Bucknell's program record in the high jump, had her best season as a junior, earning First Team All-Patriot League honors and pacing the Bison with 16.3 ppg. She also led the team in steals, was second in rebounding and shot a Patriot League-best .871 percent from the free-throw line.

Kaitlyn Orihel (Fr./Villanova)
The all-time leading scorer at Archbishop Wood is staying close to home for college. A downhill scorer with the ability to hit an outside shot, Orihel should battle for playing time. Was the 2019-20 Class 5A and 2020-21 Class 4A state player of the year with Wood.

Lizzie Oleary (Grad./Delaware)
The Abington graduate had her most impactful season as a senior and returns for an additional year as the Blue Hens look to build on their CAA regular season title and WNIT appearance. A 6-foot-2 post player, Oleary averaged career highs with 7.2 ppg and 6.0 rpg and started all 29 games.

Lucy Olsen (Fr./Villanova)
From Royersford to Villanova, Olsen figures to get an early look running the point for the Wildcats. A two-time first team all-state Class 6A selection at Spring-Ford, Olsen broke the Rams' scoring record — for boys and girls — with 1,699 points and helped her team reach the 2020-21 PIAA title game.

Maggie Pina (Jr./Boston University)
The 2020 Patriot League Rookie of the Year continued to be an all-around scoring option in her sophomore season. Pina, a Notre Dame de Namur graduate, averaged 9.3 ppg while starting all 15 games in 2020-21. The 5-foot-7 West Chester native's 11.5 ppg average in 2019-20 led all Patriot League freshmen.

Cat Polisano (Sr./Fordham)
The 2017-18 Inter-Ac MVP at Germantown Academy, Polisano has made 30 appearances as a reserve guard in her three years with the Rams.

Jonelle Price (Fr./Loyola): Joins the Greyhounds after a career at Neumann-Goretti that included a state title and three District 12 titles. Averaged 15 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals per game in her final season with the Saints.

Mary Sheehan (Grad./Saint Joseph's)
The "Mare of Hawk Hill" is back to continue representing the program with relentless effort on the court. Sheehan has made 86 appearances for St. Joe's, including 17 last season. The Cardinal O'Hara graduate isn’t a stat-stuffer, but does a lot on the floor and will enter her third season as a team captain.

Mary Sheehan, dribbling, has been a mainstay at St. Joe's for the last four years, making 86 appearances. The Cardinal O'Hara graduate returns for her final college season, and her third as a team captain. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

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Jordan Smith (Soph./Western Kentucky)
Appeared in 19 games for the Hilltoppers after missing her senior season at Abington Friends School with a knee injury. The 5-foot-10 guard will seek a bigger role with a full offseason behind her.

Bella Smuda (RS-Fr./Liberty)
A dominant force at Downingtown East, the 6-foot-5 Smuda carried it over to her first college season. The center was a unanimous ASUN All-Freshman selection and led the Flames with 29 blocked shots. Played in all 27 games, averaging 7.5 ppg and 4.4 rpg in just 13.7 minutes per game.

Elle Stauffer (Fr./Harvard)
The 219 Inter-Ac MVP had an injury-marred senior year at Germantown Academy followed by having her college career postponed by a year with the Ivy League not playing in 2020-21. The 5-foot-11 wing should be a transition threat with her ability to run the floor and finish around the rim.

Erin Sweeney (Soph./Drexel)
Sweeney will seek a bigger role in her second season on campus after playing in seven games as a freshman. Sweeney had a standout career at Archbishop Carroll which included a 2019 PCL title and PIAA 5A title game appearance.

Nadjy Tyler (R-Fr./Coppin State)
Tyler joins the Eagles after two seasons with Dayton, where she redshirted her first year on campus and debuted last year, playing in eight games. The 6-foot-3 forward is an Imhotep Charter graduate and helped the Panthers to a pair of Public League titles.

Maddie Vizza (Soph./Northeastern)
Maddie "Threeza" lived up to her nickname as a freshman, becoming the program's single-season 3-point percentage record holder at 44%. A four-year starter, 1,000-point scorer and two-time All-Inter-Ac selection at Germantown Academy, the 5-foot-6 guard started 13 of 20 games for the Huskies and made 40 of her 91 attempts from 3-point range to earn CAA All-Rookie honors.

Courtney Warley (Grad./Manhattan)
Warley heads into the final year of a storied career with the Jaspers having scored 960 points and ranking fourth in program history with 890 rebounds and 133 blocks. The second player in program history to be named MAAC Defensive Player of the Year (2018-19), the Bishop Shanahan graduate is a three-time All-MAAC selection. A 6-foot-2 forward, Warley is an outstanding two-way player who figures to be a major piece once again.

Denijsha Wilson (Sr./USC Upstate)
The Audenried Charter graduate was an immediate impact player in her first year with the Spartans after transferring from Labette Community College. Wilson led USC Upstate with 288 points, starting 22 of 23 games and also posted a team-high 54 assists and 28 steals.