Spring Preview: Top North Carolina girls prospects for ’22 season

The North Carolina high school season recently started and here are 21 players to watch for the next few months: <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>F [player_tooltip player_id="24871" first="Kennedy" last="Bell"], Hough, Jr., Maryland</b></span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">This one-time UNC commit is off to a solid start this season for Hough, which is coming off a 16-1 showing in 2021. Bell played sparingly last season, but in the early going of 2022, she has four goals in four matches.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>D [player_tooltip player_id="24855" first="Katie" last="Bengough"], South Mecklenburg, Sr., Furman</b></span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Furman signee anchored a defense that allowed only three goals and sported an undefeated record during the regular season. South Mecklenburg eventually lost in the playoffs to finish 12-1-1.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>F [player_tooltip player_id="24612" first="Summer" last="Bowman"], Wheatmore, Jr., Appalachian State</b></span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Appalachian State signee scored 34 goals and added nine assists as Wheatmore posted a perfect record during the abbreviated regular season before falling in the playoffs. The team ended 11-1. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>M [player_tooltip player_id="25069" first="Taylor" last="Chism"], Laney, Sr., North Carolina State</b></span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Chism was one of the state’s top Class of ’22 prospects. During the high school season in 2021, she scored 22 goals as Laney went 13-4.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>D [player_tooltip player_id="24923" first="Madeline" last="Eastman"], Charlotte Country Day, Sr., Kentucky</b></span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">While defenders often go under-appreciated in the postseason honors, it was impossible to overlook this Kentucky-bound senior last spring. In addition to her defensive role, she scored six goals and had four assists.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>M [player_tooltip player_id="24671" first="Ava" last="Hellner"], Providence Day School, Sr., Kentucky</b></span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Hellner was one of four Providence Day players and the only junior from the team to receive NCSCA Private School All-State honors. She posts modest stats but plays a pivotal role in controlling the play. Providence Day went 19-0 last season.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>M [player_tooltip player_id="24738" first="Eliza" last="Rich"], Lake Norman Charter, Sr., North Carolina State</b></span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">The NC State signee put up monster numbers at Lake Norman Charter last spring, scoring 32 goals and adding 22 assists in a 19-0, state title-winning season. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>M [player_tooltip player_id="25073" first="Taylor" last="Suarez"], Ardrey Kell, So.</b></span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Suarez is the top prospect in the state’s Class of 2024. She has transferred from Charlotte Christian, where she was an all-state performer last year, to Ardrey Kell this season. Last year, she had 15 goals and nine assists.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>F [player_tooltip player_id="25079" first="Zoe" last="Susi"], Wilkes Central, Sr., Arkansas</b></span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Susi might fly beneath the radar by virtue of attending Wilkes Central, a small school far removed from the state’s major population centers. However, she’s made a name for herself on the club scene and has signed with Arkansas. Last high school season she scored 46 goals and had 29 assists. She enters the 2022 season with 125 career goals. </span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>M [player_tooltip player_id="24890" first="Laura" last="Westerbeek"], Athens Drive, Sr., Charlotte</b></span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">A returning all-state performer, Westerbeek scored 14 goals and added nine assists as Athens Drive went 14-2-1 in 2021. </span></p> <p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">Others to Watch</span></strong></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">F [player_tooltip player_id="24960" first="Michaela" last="Deas"], Community School of Davidson, Sr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">M [player_tooltip player_id="29405" first="Gabrielle" last="Lassiter"], Cuthbertson, Sr., Army</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">GK [player_tooltip player_id="24724" first="Chloe" last="Leffler"], New Bern, Sr., Gardner-Webb</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">D [player_tooltip player_id="24925" first="Madisen" last="Milliron"], Hickory Ridge, Sr., East Carolina</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">D [player_tooltip player_id="24710" first="Carly" last="Montgomery"], Ardrey Kell, Jr., Florida</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">F Charlotte Simas, Myers Park, Jr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">GK [player_tooltip player_id="25037" first="Sarah" last="Wommack"], Northwest Guilford, Jr.</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">GK Alexis Wolgemuth, Fred T. Foard, Sr., Marshall</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">M [player_tooltip player_id="24873" first="Kennedy" last="Yon"], Durham Academy, Sr., Florida International</span></p>