Big 8 Preview: Sun Prairie’s Most Intriguing Prospects
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Sun Prairie Girls Basketball is filled with prospective college players — from highly skilled guards to dominant bigs the program is poised to take a big step forward in 2021-2022. The variety of skill sets across positions makes Sun Prairie…
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Continue ReadingSun Prairie Girls Basketball is filled with prospective college players — from highly skilled guards to dominant bigs the program is poised to take a big step forward in 2021-2022. The variety of skill sets across positions makes Sun Prairie a contender if not the contender for the Big 8 title this upcoming season. Here are the Cardinals most intriguing varsity prospects for the upcoming season.
(Note: Intriguing is entirely subjective but in this article it stands as I define it. When I say intriguing I mean to say that a player has demonstrated some kind of potential — either consistently or inconsistently — and I see that potential as a launching pad to a higher level of basketball. The rankings on this list aren’t reflective of how impactful the player is right now, but simply their intrigue level of what they could be)
1. Makiah Hawk Makiah Hawk 6'1" | SF Sun Prairie | 2023 State WI — Forward — 6’0” — Class of 2023 — #48 overall recruit and #5 SF
Hawk is a bit of a defensive unicorn. She’s incredibly long, and while her size may dictate her guarding frontcourt players, she will absolutely swallow up guards. And when given the assignment, she has help-side instincts that you just can’t teach, especially as a rim protector. Ambidexterity is usually a term used in an offensive context regarding finishing at the rim, and while Hawk certainly has that in her bag, what’s more impressive is her ability to rim protect with either hand. The ability to shut down finishing angles on either side of the rim is extremely rare and Hawk has it down.
With Hawk, the question will be how she develops offensively. Her length has obvious benefits defensively but can also be seen as an offensive tool. She can pass over the top of a defense and has surprisingly keen vision, but will need to develop a go-to move around the block to maximize the efficacy of this tool. Her footwork is choppy at times and for a player with her speed, quickness, and frame, improvement in this area could take her to another level offensively.
2. Rachel Rademacher — Guard — 5’7” — Class of 2022 — Unranked
Rademacher is one of the most under-the-radar guards in the conference — plain and simple. Some players just know where to be and how to position themselves on the defensive end Rademacher is undoubtedly one of those players. She has quick feet and great side-to-side mobility that makes her a great defensive complement to Sun Prairie’s lead guards (more on them later). She’s also shown flashes of some really tight ball-handling out of full-court press sets and is a reliable playmaker in the halfcourt.
Rademacher has to be able to answer the question “what is my role on offense” for her to maximize her playing time. SP rosters the #3, #7, #29, and #48 ranked players in the class of 2023 and as the senior guard of the team’s core, part of the responsibility to realize the latent potential of this team rests on her shoulders. Is she a pass-and-cut type of player? A spot-up shooter? A true playmaker? The tighter she can narrow down her room and provide ample space for others to operate will be her biggest individual mark in 2021-2022.
3. Lexie Wilberding — Guard — 5’7” — Class of 2022 — Unranked
Wilberding does a lot of things well but one thing really brilliantly. On the defensive end of the floor, she is adept at feeding her help-side defenders. She ushers the ball handler into a shot-blocker or into a wing defender — while she doesn’t reflect the classic idea of a smothering on-ball defender this bit of high basketball IQ to lead offensive players into traps and shot blockers makes her a disruptor nonetheless.
She faces similar questions as Rademacher in that her offensive role is still unclear. And that’s part of what makes her an intriguing prospect. That on a team full of talent across the board she’s still earned a rotation spot despite the fogginess of her offensive skill set. She rarely makes mistakes on that side of the floor but doesn’t make a definitive impact either. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of statement she makes on the offensive end this season.
4. Antionique Auston Antionique Auston 5'8" | CG Sun Prarie | 2023 State WI — Guard — 5’9” –Class of 2023 — #7 Overall Recruit #3 Combo Guard
One of the smoothest offensive players in the state with a bag deeper than Christian Dior. Her combination of shooting touch, strength, and footwork make her one of the most refined scorers in the state of Wisconsin. To have as reliable a step-back jumper with range at her age is truly remarkable. A classic example of a shoot first-shoot second guard who can make her own offense without the need of a screener.
What intrigues me the most about her is seeing just how far she can take her game. She’s at the point where she can get any shot she wants, but can she take her game to the next level: creating consistently for others. She already has really good court vision, however, that skill is limited by her inconsistent accuracy and shaky decision-making. The same confidence that enables her to stroke a 23-foot step-back three-pointer is the same confidence that has her throwing passes into triple coverage. It’s not that this is a turnover every time, but she could become even better by eliminating these 50/50 plays from her game in favor of simpler, more effective reads.
Honorable Mention: Avree Antony Avree Antony 5'10" | SG Sun Prarie | 2023 State WI — Combo Guard — 5’9” — Class of 2023 — #3 overall recruit #1 CG
It feels plainly wrong to write any kind of preseason preview for Sun Prairie without mentioning one of the most dangerous players in the state regardless of class. Antony has it all on both ends. On offense, she’s a three-level scorer with elite handles and elevates the play of those around her as well. On defense, she’s a swarming on-ball presence with quick hands and a constant threat in the passing lanes. She doesn’t make the list because of how incredible she already is, but she deserves the recognition nonetheless. Her intrigue level couldn’t possibly match the known value that is the excitement she brings to every play.