Few NEPSAC programs are rising up the ranks as quickly as Darrow.
In just two seasons, the Ducks have gone from an afterthought in girls basketball to one of its elite programs. That culminated with a convincing Class AA championship victory last winter.
But Darrow and then-coach Abby Streeter parted ways early in the offseason. The Ducks also moved up to Class AAA, placing them back as newcomers to NEPSAC's strongest division.
Can they hang? Here's what new coach Jelani Williams told us about the squad's outlook.
State of the program
The Ducks have very suddenly become a force to reckon with in girls basketball.
Though Darrow did win a Class E title in 2020, the program was far from relevant at the wider NEPSAC level. Then Streeter's hiring in 2024 came with a renewed investment in the girls side that followed a similar recent push with the boys. Right away, Darrow took off as a 2025 finalist and 2026 champion in Class AA.
Those teams were led by Amanda Smith, a 2025 graduate now at Northeastern, and Jill Dingler, who begins her freshman year at Central Connecticut. Washington center Daniella McLean also played for Darrow two years ago.
The move up to Class AAA represents the latest milestone in Darrow's ascension, though it comes with a new head coach.
The coach
Jelani Williams comes to Darrow after spending three years as a boys assistant at Northfield Mount Hermon. There, Williams told us, he often stopped by NMH coach Grace Rehnquist's practices, and he's using his observation of her program to help build his own.
Williams played Division 2 basketball at Queens as has strong connections in New York through training and player development work with his father, Mark. That's shown in the recruiting Williams has done at Darrow so far.
"The team is very hardworking. They want to get better. Open gyms have been very smooth," he said. "I recently hired my assistant Ciara Rosten, who is going to be very influential for the for the ladies coming from a background of professional experience, and she was a Division 2 All-American. So I'm really leaning on her to help with everything going on into the season."
The star players
Daniella "DD" Harcourt is among the most imposing center matchups in NEPSAC. The 6-foot-3 Oregon State commit is strong, tough and consistent in her work on the boards, as well as both scoring at and protecting the rim.
Williams wants the senior to be confident in expanding her game this season.
"She is more than just a back-to-the basket threat. I think she is more versatile than she gives herself credit for," he said. "I think she can drive from the perimeter. I think she can drive from the elbow down and make decisions as, not a primary ball-handler, but somebody with the ball in their hands, from the perimeter. And she's an exceptional passer from the post as well."
Harcourt is surrounded by a trio of small guards who helped Darrow capture last year's AA title. They're all on Division 1 trajectories but unique in their own ways.
There's Dior Dobere, a ferocious two-way 2028 guard with offers from Stony Brook, Mercyhurst, Central Connecticut, Northeastern and Sacred Heart. She pays with the most physicality and quickness defending the perimeter. Taelor Arnold (Hartford, Conn.), a senior and Wagner commit, is a similar tenacious defender who has a great handle and court vision. Alongside those two is sharpshooter Brooke Lilley, a recent 2028 reclass who made our All-AA Second Team last season.
"Their energy and their connection is unmatched, and they bring that same fire that they had last year, and they bring it into this year," Williams said. "Especially with a new group, I think it's good for them as leaders to be able to be the most connected people on the team."
Under-the-radar player
Darrow only has five returners and Gwen Case will unfortunately miss time again with a knee injury. You could go with anyone among the aforementioned guard trio as underrated and in line for a step forward. Dobere will be critical for Darrow's defensive and transition success, though, and she should feel more comfortable in her second NEPSAC season.
"I think Dior is going to be the catalyst for us this year," Williams said. "She's a maestro in the in transition, and that's to say the least. Her speed and her quickness on the offensive end and in transition is unmatched."
Top newcomers
This is where the Ducks could really surprise people. Their transfer class has a sky-high ceiling.
First up is 6-foot-2 forward Malia Jackson, one of Darrow's primary standouts when the team turned heads at June's NEPSAC Scholastic Showcase. Jackson holds six Division 1 offers from American, Bryant, Canisius, Siena, Monmouth and Marist. She was an elite New York public school star at Shaker before reclassifying to 2028 and transferring.
Williams believes Jackson could play both the 4 and 5 in spots at Darrow. She's also quickly become an important locker-room presence for the Ducks.
"She's probably one of, if not the most social people on the on the team, and her personality just shows through her smile. She's one of the most energetic people to be around," he said.
Loren Green adds to the guard arsenal and showed some great flashes at the NEPSAC showcase. The Rochester, N.Y., native is a 5-foot-8 2028 guard who Williams believes is the best 3-point shooter on the roster. Williams also went to bat for Kyann Senior, a 5-foot-9 senior hailing from Marietta, Ga. Senior who has standout athletic gifts and a furious work ethic.
"Probably the hardest-working player I've ever coached in my life," Williams said of Senior.
And there's even more talent among the younger classes. Ana Sonko, a 6-foot-5 center who starred at Cornwall in New York, has reclassified to 2029. She's already got offers from UCF and Sacred Heart.
"Very new to the game, but you can see that she has all the tools to be able to be a high-major player one day, and already has high-major interest as a sophomore," Williams said.
And unlike Darrow's other guards, 2030 Amaya Harris from Troy, N.Y., brings a legitimate size advantage at six feet. She also holds two offers from Towson and Siena, and Williams genuinely believes Harris could end up one of the best guards in the country.
Our expectations
Darrow starts on the lowest rung in Class AAA kind of by default, because there are no weaknesses among the established seven opponents in this class.
But don't mistake it: The Ducks are just as talented as any other team at the top. They might have the deepest stockpile of size in AAA with Harcourt, Jackson and Sonko. Their small guards are absolute pests in the best ways, and it sounds like Green and Senior will mesh well. If Harris blossoms early, she could be a game-changing depth piece at the very least.
Williams will surely endure some bumps in his first year as head coach. But by March, I wouldn't be surprised if Darrow is competing with, and beating, some of NEPSAC's traditional powers.
