HARD DRIVING: Hun School girls’ basketball player Nicole Angelini drives to the hoop in action last season. Hun is depending on sophomore guard Angelini, who also stars at soccer, to provide athleticism and hustle. The Raiders get their 2017-18 season underway this week by hosting Germantown Friends (Pa.) on November 28 and then playing at Padua Academy (Del.) on December 2 and at Lawrenceville on December 5. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Last winter, the Hun School girls’ basketball team authored an inspiring turnaround story, posting a 10-14 record after going 1-22 in 2015-16.

Adding some promising newcomers to go with a superb contingent of returners, the Raiders are poised to make more progress this season.

“It is a terrific balance between perimeter players as well as interior players,” said Hun head coach Bill Holup, whose team gets its 2017-18 season underway this week by hosting Germantown Friends (Pa.) on November 28 and then playing at Padua Academy (Del.) on December 2 and at Lawrenceville on December 5.

“We do have people that score outside and we have people who can score inside. It is just a matter of maintaining consistency.”

The team’s top perimeter threat, junior guard Jada Jones, is bringing a diversified game into the season.

“Jada has really worked on her ball handling to be able to take over that position when need be,” said Holup, noting that Jones had to play point guard last season when post-graduate star Anna Maguire was sidelined by injury.

“Jada was always a shooting guard and she wasn’t somebody that felt very comfortable playing point but she was our best ball handler overall. Her ball handling has really improved and she still has the shooting and scoring skills.”

The Raiders boast two more skilled guards in sophomore Nicole Angelini and freshman Kennedy Jardine.

“Nicole has been terrific,” said Holup, who will also be using sophomore Emily Buckley and Alexis English in the backcourt.

“She is somebody that I can count on to step in there and help out when need be. She will be a really good player for us. Kennedy can score and handle the ball. She just has to continue to learn the nuances of the game. She is very confident in her abilities and her teammates are very confident in her shooting the ball and handling the ball as well.”

The addition of 6’4 post-grad Kai Volcy gives Hun a scoring threat in the paint.

“Kai moves very well, she has got good hands for somebody her size,” said Holup.

“She is very athletic and she has really been improving with her post moves. Every weekend, she would go home and work out with her AAU club. She will really help us out.”

Volcy’s presence should help returning sophomore star Alexis Harvell.

“Alexis is back and looking better than last year,” said Holup. “She doesn’t have to carry everything in the post for us. Kai has taken a lot of that and Alexis is given a little more freedom.”

Junior returner Leah Sutphen and junior transfer Erin Harrigan give Hun a lot of depth in the frontcourt.

“When Leah is out there, she brings so much; it is just her all-around hustle. She makes things happen,” said Holup, who is also welcoming back senior Lauren Cunniff at forward.

“She gets rebounds, gets steals, and does a lot of that dirty work that is out there. It really creates things for us. Erin is about 5’10; she gives us good size and runs the floor well. She has a great attitude and personality. She is physical and experienced.”

Holup, for his part, is confident that the Raiders can get better and better as the season unfolds.

“I am excited for the season to get underway; they are jelling well together,” said Holup.

“We will be playing a tough schedule so hopefully we will just continue to improve and have everything balanced out by the end of February.”